Columbus State University Announces New Master of Arts in Communication
Thursday, November 12th, 2020
Columbus State University is pleased to announce a new degree program; the Master of Arts in Communication. The 30-hour MA in Communication was approved at the November USG Board of Regents meeting and now is seeking final approval from CSU’s accrediting body, SACSCOC. The program has two concentration areas, Strategic Communication Management and Creative Services Management. Offered courses will enhance graduates’ marketability in a variety of industries including public relations, corporate communication, and creative media production. The program is accepting applications for the Fall 2021 semester.
“We are very excited to offer the MA in Communication,” said CSU Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Deborah Bordelon. “This will be the first graduate degree program in the Department of Communication. The MA in Communication will provide a clear pathway for individuals looking to advance in the areas of strategic communication and creative services management. This program truly strengthens and broadens our impact on workforce development in the Columbus region.”
The Communication Department, housed in CSU’s College of the Arts, began work on the MA program proposal in Fall 2019. Concentration areas were developed using market analysis of regional Communication master’s programs and focus groups comprised of communication professionals and community leaders. Both concentration areas will serve students seeking to advance in the top 10 high demand career areas with growth potential in our region.
Dr. Danna Gibson, chair of the Communication department, recognized the vital support of community partners in developing the MA curriculum. “We are grateful to the many community partners whose contributions are incorporated into our graduate curriculum. We are eager to expand our popular BA program and provide a graduate degree that expands management potential for our graduates while supporting ongoing Columbus 2025 workforce development initiatives,” Gibson said.
According to Dr. Sarah Smith-Frigerio, Graduate Program Coordinator for the new MA in Communication, the structure of the program and concentration areas were developed to meet the needs of working professionals and traditional graduate students.
Smith-Frigerio said, “Students in our master’s program will be able to hone their professional skills and make themselves more marketable for positions within the field of communication while continuing to work. We have built a lot of flexibility into the program to meet these student’s needs. Students will be able to complete the program on a part-time or full-time basis and many classes will be offered in the evenings, online, and even during the weekends.”
Anyone interested in receiving more information about the MA in Communication can contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, Dr. Sarah Smith-Frigerio, at smithfrigerio_sarah@