Communication Studies at
Kent State University
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES
The school has a long history of producing highly-trained
communication scholars who go on to earn doctorate degrees
The graduate program within the School of
at prestigious universities, remain active in academia or higher
Communication Studies provides a theory-
education and excel in their careers. Alumni work in areas including
marketing, public planning, fundraising, event planning, non-profit
based approach to a variety of communicative
organizations, sales and campaign teams where research skills and
communication knowledge are a plus.
phenomena and helps students apply their
research and education to their chosen fields.
Students in the graduate program typically pursue one or more
Whether your background is in communication,
areas of study. Alternatively, students customize their degree
journalism, psychology, sociology, public
complete foundational coursework and a capstone experience
health, family studies or another social science,
you will find a Master of Arts degree in
communication studies adds to your forté and
makes you more marketable.
program to meet their professional or academic goals. All students
(thesis, research project, internship or coursework-only).
Find details about the School of Communication Studies, its graduate programs, admission requirements,
assistantship availability and more by visiting www.kent.edu/comm. Connect with the school on social media at
www.kent.edu/comm/social-media.
Completing a Master of Arts degree is an investment in your future
A doctorate degree is available through the College of Communication and Information at Kent State
University. The program provides students with a foundation in communication and information. Learn more at
www.kent.edu/cci/phd-communication-information.
Email: comm@kent.edu • Phone: 330-672-2659
Fax: 330-672-3510 • International Phone: 00 1(330)6722659
135 Taylor Hall 300 Midway Drive P.O. Box 5190 Kent, OH 44242
– providing opportunities for increased marketability, salary and
mobility. The degree can also lead to matriculation into a Ph.D.
program. Learn more by visiting www.kent.edu/comm.
Graduate Programs
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
MEDIATED AND MASS COMMUNICATION
This emphasis addresses areas such as how media messages affect understanding of risk, health, illness
and disease, how healthcare providers communicate with their patients and how to design effective
messages to reduce, prevent disease and promote health.
Sample Courses:
Health Communication and Media Effects
Interpersonal Communication and Health
Public Communication Campaigns
Future Career Paths:
Health Marketing
Patient Advocacy
Public Health
The study of mediated and mass communication examines a wide range of media uses and effects,
including the use of media for mass, interpersonal, organizational and group communication. This
emphasis addresses various communication tactics used by individuals, organizations and government
to reach and influence the public.
Course work introduces students to theory and practice related to persuasive communication and the
analysis of media processes uses and effects.
Sample Courses:
Communication in an Information Society
Mass Media Effects
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Within this emphasis, students study interpersonal relationships, family and intergroup communication,
communication and cognition and communication via social media. Students explore theory and
research on verbal and nonverbal messages, the production of messages in culturally-sensitive contexts,
and the intended and unintended effects of messages using new communication technologies.
Sample Courses:
Family Communication
Communication, Uncertainty, and Privacy Mang.
Communication and Cognition
Future Career Paths:
Human resources
Sales
Counseling
GLOBAL COMMUNICATION
Students examine both traditional and new media systems and organizations, inter-cultural interactions
and messages and information flow across the world. This emphasis includes a Global Experience
requirement – a study abroad course or an internship with global reach.
Sample Courses:
Communication in an Information Society
Intercultural/International Communication
Communication in a Global Society
Future Career Paths:
Globally-held corporate communications
Corporate or governmental documents translation
Multicultural management
Personal and Mediated Communication
Future Career Paths:
Community Outreach
Lobbyists
Public Affairs
MA/MBA DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAM
The School of Communication Studies and College of Business Administration offer a dual degree
program for students to obtain a Masters of Arts in communication studies and a Master of Business
Administration.
This program is particularly useful for professionals, managers and students with a Bachelor of Arts
wanting to improve their communication abilities to influence business in global markets while
developing skills to enhance their professional careers.
Students will fulfill a Global Experience requirement (a study abroad course or internship with global
reach) and take courses in area of communication theory, media and information dissemination,
business fundamentals and more.
Sample Courses:
Financial Accounting for Managerial Action
Professional Development I
The Legal and Ethical Environment of Management Decisions
Marketing Management
Theories of Communication
Organizational Communication
Future Career Paths:
Business managers
Corporate communications
Marketing