Online Master of Arts in Communication: Education Emphasis
Explore the Connection Between Communication and Education
GCU's Master of Arts (MA) in Communication with an Emphasis in Education gives you the opportunity to turn your interest in communication into a path toward teaching and sharing knowledge with others. Taking courses that focus on communication in education can help prepare you to teach at the postsecondary level for either two-year or four-year institutions. Some postsecondary teaching positions may require candidates to have a doctoral degree.
This program is also designed for current K–12 teachers who want to continue teaching while expanding their expertise in communication and education. In addition, you may have the capability of teaching both in person and online. Critical thinkers with an interest in leadership and building community may be ideal candidates for this communications master’s degree program.
Online: $600 per credit [More Info]
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
- Undergraduate Degree*
- 2.8+ GPA
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
- GMAT: 500
- GRE: 300 combined**
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
Benefits of Building Instructional and Communication Skills
GCU’s Master of Arts in Communication: Education emphasis program helps you elevate your instructional and communication skills through a faith-integrated curriculum. You can benefit from flexible online coursework, where you will explore strategies for presenting, leading discussions and keeping learners engaged.
GCU aims to provide you with an education that integrates learning with a Christian worldview. As you progress through the master’s in communication: education emphasis, you will be taught the importance of ethical communication, civil discourse and the appropriate styles and formats of communication for different audiences. You will also have the opportunity to complete coursework designed to help you develop personally, spiritually and professionally.
You can complete your MA in Communications with an Education emphasis online. You will have access to various academic tools, resources and support throughout your studies. Completing your degree online can be a great way to incorporate flexibility and convenience into your busy schedule.
Online MA in Communication: Education Coursework
Coursework in this online master's program blends theory with practical teaching and communication skills. You’ll study topics such as instructional design, educational technology and effective message delivery. The program teaches you how to engage learners and apply communication principles in educational settings.
The communication education curriculum teaches key competencies, including:
Adult-learning theory
Best practices for teaching adult learners
Teaching in communication online programs
Communication theory and cultural uses of communication
Organizational and societal uses of communication
Corporate social responsibility and public policy
Ethics and messaging
Media literacy and consumption
Career Opportunities for Graduates in Communication Education
GCU graduates with a master’s in communication: education emphasis can be equipped for a variety of career opportunities. This program blends communication theory with practical teaching strategies to empower professionals to design effective messaging, whether you work in education, nonprofit organizations or corporate environments.
Communications educators often work in public and private community colleges, universities, technical and vocational schools and programs.(See disclaimer 1)
Careers for graduates of this program include:
Postsecondary communications teachers
Fundraising managers
Public relations managers
News analysts, reporters and journalists
Writers and authors
Editors
Number of new jobs estimated to open for postsecondary teachers from 2024 to 2034(See disclaimer 2)
Median annual wage for postsecondary teachers in May 2024(See disclaimer 3)
Earn Your Degree From an Accredited University
GCU has been institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read through our frequently asked questions to learn more about earning an online MA in Communication: Education emphasis and preparing for the next stage in your career.
What kind of jobs can you get with an online communications master’s degree with an education emphasis?
Is an online communications master’s degree with an education emphasis a respected degree?
Program Curriculum
Core Courses
Step into your future as a communication educator and earn your Master of Arts in Communication with an Emphasis in Education at GCU.
1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). Postsecondary Teachers: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved October 2025.
2. COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Teachers, retrieved October 2025.
3. The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Postsecondary Teachers as of May 2024, retrieved October 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as postsecondary teachers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
4. Muniz, H. (2022, Feb. 8). How Does Online College Accreditation Work? BestColleges. Retrieved October 2025.