Curriculum: Overview

Master of communications and information studies (M.C.I.S.) students complete 36 credits to earn their degree, taking a minimum of 3 credits and a maximum of 12 credits per semester. There is one general and three specialized tracks available. Students are admitted to the general program and may choose a generalist program, a specialized track, or combine tracks to focus on multiple areas of interest. All core and elective courses in the three specialized tracks are taught online and/or in the evening (between 6:20-9:00 p.m.) on weeknights. Some electives are cross-listed with the doctoral program in the school, but many are restricted for master's students only.

General

In the general track students take a self-designed course of study drawing from any of the specialized M.C.I.S. tracks as well as courses in other areas of the school. Courses in organizational communication, mediated communication, health communication, social interaction, knowledge management, and media studies are offered throughout the year. Many of them are taught in the afternoons, but some are evening offerings.

Strategic Organizational Communication

In the strategic organizational communication track, students are able to emphasize theory-based study of organizational process, structure, and interaction as well as use of new communication technologies in organizational and societal contexts. Courses examine organizations in a variety of contexts including businesses, nonprofits, civil society, and government. This track may be especially appealing for those whose have goals for careers in corporate communication, strategic use of social media in organizational settings, advocacy and promotion of advocacy, community-based, and nongovernmental organizations.

Electives in this track include courses dealing with organizational leadership, organizational decision making, interorganizational relationships, organizational change, organizational training and development, persuasion and advocacy, networks, collaboration and conflict, global organizations, virtual organizing, work and technology, knowledge management, information policy, competitive intelligence, and social media.

Digital Media (available online)

The digital media track is designed for journalists and other communication specialists who wish to retool and gain understanding of 21st-century media. The coursework includes study of grassroots reporting and advocacy. The track will ensure students are conversant in digital video capture, editing, and production as well as social media management. It is possible to complete the digital media track completely online, although face-to-face or online electives in other tracks are available for those students who want them.

Electives in this track include digital advocacy and persuasion; digital journalism; globalization, media, and social change; critiquing marketing communications; and digital media innovation.

Health Communication

The health communication track is intended for students who wish to specialize in various contexts related to community wellness and health interaction such as public health communication, facilitated provider-patient communication, health campaigns and advocacy, and community health and wellness.

Electives in this track include persuasion and advocacy, public health, interpersonal health, health campaigns, mediated health communication, health informatics, social informatics, and records management. Students who have interests in health organizations may wish to combine study in this track with study in the strategic organizational communication track.