Master of Arts in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
Overview
Lead in Communication Studies and Education
Grand Canyon University’s Master of Arts in Communication with an Emphasis in Education degree program provides students who have a passion for communications with the opportunity to pursue a career in teaching. This masters in communications program, offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, prepares students to teach undergraduate courses at a two-year or four-year institution, specializing in both traditional campus and online modalities.
Students will engage in a balance of communication content and pedagogy with the goal to gain expertise in understanding, demonstrating and effectively teaching all aspects of communication. This postsecondary communications teacher program shapes students into critical thinkers who examine the role and impact of communication on culture and society. Various types of communication addressed include interpersonal and relational, strategic, intercultural and media communication.
Moving through the program, students will address course topics such as:
- Workplace relationships and social influencing
- Application of pedagogical knowledge through situational case studies
- Practices of argumentation, persuasion and behavioral change through organizational messaging
- Student learning and comprehension
- Media consumption (role and influence of TV, radio, social media, blogs, websites etc.)
Degree Outcomes
Gain Strong Communications Skills, Impact Student Learning
Graduates will possess various communications skills that are required for professional success and beneficial for personal wellbeing. Equipped with these skills, graduates will also have a deep understanding of research-based pedagogical practices (such as distance learning and the use of technology) and curriculum development with the goal to impact university-level classrooms.
This program also integrates GCU’s distinct Christian worldview to emphasize the importance of moral character and ethical decision making. This means our graduates are inspired to lead in service to others, give attention to sensitive message construction and contribute to a healthy global community.
What You Will Learn
Learn to Craft Ethical and Effective Communication
Three main domains make up this Master of Arts in Communication with an Emphasis in Education degree program to ensure students are well-prepared to lead in communication messaging: pedagogy, theory and practice. Students receive pedagogical training in strategic curriculum design, diverse adult learning theories and best practices for incorporating technology for online learning environments.
Theory also plays an important role in the communications discipline. Students learn to express knowledge in organizational culture theory, as well as comparing and contrasting the application of differing theories.
The masters in communication program’s practice domain ensures students can perform communication skills in both professional and personal context. These include conducting audience analysis, measuring learning and assessing communication campaigns.
Career Outcomes
Pursue Your Passion to Teach Communications
Graduates will be able to move into leadership roles at colleges and universities with the skills and knowledge to teach a diverse and eclectic range of communication courses. This program also satisfies requirements necessary for ongoing professional development. Students may choose to pursue continuing education to grow their expertise within their specialty.
Course List
Program Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the liberal arts. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
This course focuses on theories of interpersonal communication and their application in a variety of professional contexts. The course builds upon a foundation of relational communication theories to address problems that arise in workplace relationships, including leadership communication, managing emotions at work, working in groups, and becoming social influencers. The course builds skills in direct and indirect messaging, listening, managing perceptions and workplace identity, negotiating conflict, and more.
Course Description
This course covers theoretical approaches to organizational culture; the processes by which organizations, create, manage, and modify organizational culture; and the ways in which organizational culture is communicated to both internal and external audiences. The course also investigates organizations’ larger relationships with society through examining corporate social responsibility, public policy, and ethics and by considering how organizations manage these spheres of influence and weigh business decisions in the larger context of the collective community in which organizations operate.
Course Description
This foundational course covers adult learning theory and pedagogical practices that are research-based and proven effective in higher education. Technology, distance learning, and effective pedagogy for online and traditional instruction are emphasized. Candidates research learning paradigms, personalized learning, and andragogy and are asked to apply their knowledge through situational case studies.
Course Description
This course focuses on the concepts and theories of strategic communication and their relevance for constructing effective and ethical organizational messages for diverse audiences. The course prepares communicators to make organizational messages meaningful to stakeholders within organizations as well as stakeholders outside organizations. Through an emphasis on real-world applications, students learn how to ethically and effectively persuade through carefully crafted, contextually sensitive messages. The course does so by examining principles and theories of argumentation, persuasion, and behavior change. Students practice skills associated with these concepts as they apply to future career contexts.
Course Description
This course emphasizes principles of pedagogy and student learning in the context of communication studies. Students are encouraged to apply education frameworks and praxis-based training to a communication classroom. Through an emphasis on real-world organizational development, traditional theories of student comprehension, and modern pedagogy, this course prepares students to teach a diverse and eclectic range of communication courses.
Course Description
This course covers curricular alignment, instructional design, and effective communication and collaboration amongst university stakeholders. Creating learning goals, developing student outcomes and assessments, and giving effective feedback are emphasized. Candidates are asked to collaboratively develop activities, assessments, lesson plans, and syllabi that would be appropriate for a course taught at a community college or university. Prerequisite: EDU-534.
Course Description
Students in this course learn the underlying theories, methodologies, and effects of media consumption. This course emphasizes the role and influence of television, radio, social media, internet blogs and websites, and other media outlets on a globalized, interconnected world. The course builds on these concepts by encouraging students to critically evaluate ever-present media messages through applied projects and group work.
Course Description
This course investigates the interactions between organizational structure and communication within organizations. Theoretical and methodological analyses are emphasized. Specifically, students in the course examine how discourse, meanings, symbols, and information flow in organizational context.
Program Locations
Online
Evening
* Please note that this list may contain programs that are not presently offered as program availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability of the program.
* The Department of Education defines how an institution must calculate a program's On-Time Completion rate for federal disclosure purposes. The On-Time Completion rate is based on a program's published required number of months to complete all degree requirements as provided in the institution's catalog. Completion statistics are updated every January and are based on the cohort of students who started the program in the same year and then graduated within the published program length.
Online and Evening program disclosures (18 months)* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.