The MA in Professional Communication is an accelerated, one-year online master’s degree with curriculum formed around the latest industry developments and trends in external and internal communications. The program is designed for busy working professionals whose aim is to assume communication manager, director level and associated leadership positions in communication departments and teams in a range of workplaces, including companies and startups, agencies or consultancies, and non-profit organizations.
Students in this program progress through the innovative online curriculum together as a cohort, taking courses in a pre-set sequence that takes full advantage of the DePaul academic calendar. Taught by award-winning faculty with industry connections and a commitment to student success, the professional communication program begins and ends with weekend virtual or in-person residencies in Chicago, which allow students to further connect with fellow classmates, professors, college alumni and industry professionals.
For the final project in the program, students work on a real-world workplace communication challenge that benefits an organization and its stakeholders. This project also gives the student an opportunity to build their portfolio and further network within the profession. Approved project partners include world-class organizations.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Degree Requirements | 46 |
| Total hours required | 46 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Enhance the effectiveness of internal and external professional communication.
- Facilitate collaboration and decision-making among organizational stakeholders.
- Apply ethical and legal principles to professional communication problems and challenges (e.g., diversity, equity, inclusivity, privacy, etc.).
- Generate relevant questions and pursue evidence-based solutions to improve professional communication practices.
- Design and adapt effective messages in face-to-face, digital and hybrid contexts.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in Professional Communication (PROCMN) requires 12 courses (46 credit hours).
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Quarter | ||
| PROCMN 500 | PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION ORIENTATION AND RESIDENCY I 1 | 2 |
| PROCMN 501 | THE FUTURE OF PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| PROCMN 510 | DIGITAL MEDIA SKILLS FOR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| December Session | ||
| PROCMN 520 | WRITING FOR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION CAREERS | 4 |
| PROCMN 530 | PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION LAW, POLICY AND ETHICS | 2 |
| Winter Quarter | ||
| PROCMN 540 | RESEARCH METHODS AND INSIGHTS FOR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| PROCMN 550 | EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN TEAMS | 4 |
| Spring Quarter | ||
| PROCMN 580 | DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| PROCMN 570 | EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH EMPLOYEES | 4 |
| Summer Session I | ||
| PROCMN 560 | TOPICS IN PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION | 4 |
| PROCMN 590 | CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: ADVISING AND COUNSELING LEADERSHIP | 4 |
| Summer Session II | ||
| PROCMN 599 | PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION FINAL PROJECT AND RESIDENCY II | 6 |
| Total Hours | 46 | |
- 1
The PROCMN 500 Professional Communication Orientation I and Residency occurs prior to the start of Autumn quarter.
Residencies
Students in the PROCMN program will participate in virtual or in-person weekend residencies at the beginning and end of the program. These residencies allow students to further connect with fellow classmates, professors, college alumni and industry professionals.
Grade Requirements
All students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.000 in their coursework. If a student's cumulative GPA falls below 3.000, the student will be allowed to complete an additional 16 credits or 3 quarters (whichever comes first) to attain the 3.000 minimum GPA. If the cumulative GPA remains below a 3.000 at the conclusion of this time period, the student may be dismissed from the program. The student's cumulative and term GPAs along with overall academic performance will be factored into the dismissal decision.