阿肯色大学小石城校区

The mission of the Department of Applied Communication is to foster the co-creation of better social worlds through positive communication. Our Master of Arts in Applied Communication Studies provides graduate students with a solid theoretical and practical understanding of how communication practices operate in everyday life. Students learn to develop positive communicative skills that are necessary to function effectively in all areas of today’s business and professional world.

We achieve this mission by having students complete class and final projects primarily focused on six communication applications:(a) communication and organizational culture analysis; (b) communication and transformation/change; (c) positive interpersonal communication; (d) conflict management; (e) crisis and renewal communication; and (f) experiential learning in presentations and trainings

Our curriculum fosters a strong knowledge base grounded in communication theory and its various applications, such as management, consulting, human resources, training, organization development, relational communication, health care, education, and public relations. An undergraduate background in applied communication is helpful but is not required.

Individualized Focus Area

The above six applications launch students into their areas of focus or emphasis. Elective courses, projects within required classes, and the final M.A. project involve students in tailoring their program to fit their goals. Students are encouraged to identify focus areas relevant to their career goals.

To support your career development, we will aid you in connecting with our diverse alumni network. You will find support for an array of emphasis areas: internal and external communication, public health, conflict mediation, business leadership and management, consulting, human resources, training, organization development, intercultural/diversity initiatives, non-profit leadership, relational communication, health care, education, and public relations.

As students enter the program, we identify ways to maximize coursework, including electives and the final project to fit their career goals. Review this sample course sequence to understand the flow of our unique blended program designed for working professionals. This sequence of courses is then adapted based on student goals.

Our program has built bridges with UAMS for those interested in health communication. In addition, students may concurrently enroll in and complete a Conflict Mediation Certificate. Furthermore, the UA Little Rock MBA program has identified a set of courses for those interested in this focus area.

We also offer a unique, concurrent program with the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. This 60 hour program provides training for students with an interest in serving communication roles in public health arena. Students participating in the concurrent programs earn an MA in Applied Communication Studies and an MA in Public Health.

Students with an interest in doctoral work gain a solid foundation in applied communication research and theory. These students benefit from the personal attention of faculty devoted to preparing them for the next step in their education. Alumni from our master’s program now serve as professors at schools ranging from Purdue and Clemson to Kansas State and the Clinton School of Public Service.

Students interested in pursuing doctoral work may complete any of the above tracks toward an M.A. We encourage pre-doctoral students to take an additional research methods course and to revise and submit major course papers to professional conferences and journals. Students with interests in doctoral work thus gain the benefit of exposure to applied communication research and theory as well as the personal attention of faculty devoted to preparing them for the next step in their education.