Master of Communication at East Carolina University

Study Communication at East Carolina University, a Master degree offered at its main campus in Greenville , United States of America. This Full Time program is delivered on campus in English and takes approximately 2 years to complete. Students benefit from a structured learning experience designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The next intake is scheduled for August 21, 2027.

About Master of Communication

Do you like to help people? Would you like to influence the nascent field of health communication?

Our innovative graduate program prepares you to address the important issues that emerge at the intersection of health and communication. The health issues facing us today are complex and have important implications for our future. The School of Communication offers a master of arts degree in communication with an emphasis in health communication. Graduates integrate communication theory and research into practice and influence the direction of the field of health communication.

Develop knowledge and skills to evaluate the role of communication in health-related contexts. Our program examines communication issues that exist between and among patients, providers and family members; how the media influences health decision making; the effects of organizational structures in health communication; the creation and dissemination of health information; and multiple influences of culture on health communication.

Department Website
College Website
How Do I Apply
Apply Now

Note: This program is in the process of discontinuing the health communication concentration and will no longer accept students effective fall, 2023. Students interested in applying to the strategic communication concentration can contact the program coordinator for more information.

Program Coordinator: Keith Richards (102 Joyner East; 252-737-4641; [email protected])

The Communication, MA prepares students for careers or advanced academic training in communication. Students select a concentration in either health communication or strategic communication. The program provides thesis and non-thesis options.

Minimum degree requirement is 30 s.h. as follows:

I. Required courses - 6 s.h.

COMM 6000 - Communication Theory
COMM 6030 - Research Methods

II. Concentrations - 12 s.h.

Select a concentration from the following:

A. Strategic communication concentration

Strategic communication core (3 s.h.)

COMM 6310 - Strategic Communication

Strategic communication electives (9 s.h.)

Select 3 courses from the following:

COMM 6124 - Organizational Communication
COMM 6131 - Social Influence
COMM 6140 - Special Topics in Communication
COMM 6211 - Health Communication Campaigns
COMM 6312 - Risk and Crisis Communication

B. Health communication concentration

Health communication concentration electives (12 s.h.)

Select 4 courses from the following:

COMM 6210 - Media and Health Communication
COMM 6211 - Health Communication Campaigns
COMM 6215 - Communication Approaches to eHealth
COMM 6216 - Community Engagement and Health Communication
COMM 6220 - Interpersonal Health Communication
COMM 6221 - Intercultural Communication in Health Contexts
COMM 6222 - Family Communication and Health
COMM 6224 - Communication and Health Organizations
COMM 6226 - Communication Approaches to Health Advocacy
COMM 6230 - Introduction to Health Communication
COMM 6240 - Special Topics in Health Communication

III. Options - 12 s.h.

Select an option from the following:

A. Thesis option:

COMM 7000 - Thesis - 3-6 s.h.
Electives (COMM or related areas) - 6-9 s.h. *

B. Non-thesis option:

COMM 6999 - Applied Communication Capstone (3 s.h.)
COMM or related areas electives (9 s.h.)*

Note:

*Electives are chosen in consultation with the graduate program coordinator/director. A maximum of 6 s.h. may be in related areas (outside of COMM) and must be at the 5000 level or above. A maximum of 3 s.h. may be taken at the 5000 level.

Comprehensive assessment requirement

All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The assessment for this program is the successful completion of COMM 6999 (non-thesis option) with a grade of B or better or the successful completion of COMM 7000 (thesis option).

For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Communication at East Carolina University

Entry Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, international graduate applicants follow the same steps as a U.S. applicant with a few exceptions as identified in Red font. Step by step instructions are identified below:

Complete the ECU Online Graduate School Application: One application fee and one set of supporting documents should be submitted for each program of study applying to.
Pay the Application Fee: Payment will be made through the self-service portal prior to submission of the application. The payment portal accepts debit or credit card only.
Provide Foreign Transcript Evaluation:

An official course by course credential evaluation of all foreign transcripts indicating that, at minimum, the US equivalent of a bachelor’s degree has been awarded by an accredited college or university is required.

Provide Official Transcript(s) & Diploma Copy: A copy of your transcript(s) and diplomas showing a full education history issued in your native language as well as a notarized or certified copy in English must be uploaded to your application.
Provide Evidence of English Proficiency: If English is not your native language and you have not completed at least one year of education (minimum of 18 credit hours) at a United States school, you are required to take a standardized English language exam or complete the ECU Language Academy (ECULA).
- Language Exam Options: The Graduate School accepts either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Duolingo English Test or Pearson Test of English (PTE) and scores must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. The paper- or computer-based TOEFL exam is accepted by request only.
ECU Language Academy: You may choose to attend the ECU Language Academy instead of taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Also, if you do not obtain the required score on the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, at least one session of the ECU Language Academy may be required prior to the start of your program. Successful completion of all levels of the ECU Language Academy is required for admission without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. More information on the ECU Language Academy, including the ECULA application, is available on the Intensive English Program website. Individual programs may have higher minimum requirements.
Provide Official Standardized Admissions Test Results: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange for an official score report to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service (GRE or GMAT). ECU’s institutional code is 5180. ECU does not have departmental codes.
Upload Statement of Purpose: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your personal statement (why you believe you would be a good candidate for the program) to your application. You may want to use resources to help you write a personal statement in English such as this webinar.
Provide Letters of recommendation: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange to have LOR’s submitted electronically with the online application. Review your program’s application requirements to determine the number of letters, if any, that they require.
Upload Resume: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your most recent resume to your online application.
Provide Financial information: If/when you are admitted to a graduate program at ECU you will be required to provide certified evidence of financial resources adequate to cover educational costs and living expenses. Documents only need submitted if/when an offer of admission is extended.

English Requirements

PTEMin 65
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 78

Career Opportunities after Completing Master of Communication

Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

Communications Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric

Career Opportunities

ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

NC Tower

This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

Self-employed;
Work for the federal government, including the military: or
Work outside of North Carolina.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

Degree-specific internships

For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Communication at East Carolina University

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for Master of Communication at East Carolina University

Thank you for your interest in a graduate program at East Carolina University!

Contact information for each program, along with their application deadlines, can be found on the Find Your Program feature.

Ready to apply now? Great!

If you have already created an account and/or are applying to multiple programs, please use the same account. After selecting the program of choice, simply login with your credentials.
Use a personal email account (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, AOL) when setting up your ECU application account. Please refrain from creating an account using any ECU associated emails because doing so may prevent you from receiving important email communication from us.

Master of Communication at East Carolina University

East Carolina University

United States of America, Greenville