Master of Arts in Communication Studies

Dive into a two-year M.A. in Communication Studies program at San José State University—where master’s‐level students explore rhetorical, interpretive, quantitative, critical, and pedagogical frameworks across diverse professional and academic contexts. With a curriculum grounded in interdisciplinary inquiry, students can tailor their path via internships, study abroad opportunities, independent studies or a thesis/project, and even serve as a Teaching Associate in a standalone course. Upon graduation, alumni pursue doctoral programs, community college teaching roles, and careers in Silicon Valley, including the nonprofit sector.

Students can choose from two tracks:

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Why study M.A. Communication Studies at SJSU?

Engage in Innovative Student Research

• Teaching Compassionate Listening on Difficult Topics
• Power Soccer and Disability Rhetoric in the Paralympics
• Communibiology in Feminist Self-Defense Stress Training
• Beyond the Nineveh Plains: A Podcast About Indigenous Assyrians
• Adapting to Social Spaces While Managing Persistent Social Anxiety
• Questioning the Right Hands: Cancer Prognosis Conversations with Latinx Patients
• Racial Injustice Conversations in Asian American Families After George Floyd
• Resilience and Serial Arguments Among Adult Children of Parental Alcohol Use

What M.A. Communication Studies Students Say About The Program

"I was able to gain exposure to a wide variety of scholarly perspectives and hone my area of focus. Because of this, my transition to Ph.D. work has been an enjoyable and motivating one."

Andrew Carter
’14 M.A. Communication Studies

"I have had the privilege of being part of a program in which the faculty, students, and community strive to make a positive change in the world."

David Amancio
'24 M.A. Communication Studies 

"SJSU and our Communication Studies, MA department gave me a proud community and a sense of belonging. The Communication Studies, MA program equipped me to be the best professional and scholar to make meaningful contributions to our discipline. The TA program helped me find a career and one of passion."

Nancy Park
'21 M.A. Communication Studies

M.A. Communication Studies Graduates at Work

Graduate students in San José State University’s M.A. in Communication Studies program gain a strong foundation in communication theory, research methods, and applied practice that prepares them for diverse academic and professional paths. 

Snapshot of Career Pathways

• College or Community College Instructor
• Doctoral Student or Academic Researcher
• Corporate or Organizational Communication Specialist
• Public Relations or Media Professional
• Communication Consultant or Trainer
• Nonprofit or Advocacy Communication Manager
• Research Analyst or Project Manager in Communication-related Fields

Where are M.A. Communication Studies Graduates Getting Jobs?

• Apple Inc. 
• Google 
• Meta (Facebook) 
• Cisco Systems 
• Adobe Systems 
• The Mercury News 
• KQED Public Media 
• Ogilvy Public Relations 
• Edelman Communications 
• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley 
• Sacred Heart Community Service 
• Cabrillo College 
• Foothill College 
• De Anza College 
• Mission College 
• City of San José 
• Santa Clara County Office of Education 
• Santa Clara County Public Health Department 
• Deloitte 
• Accenture 
• SPUR (San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association) 

Visit the Career Center to view all the resources available to help you explore career pathways and opportunities to engage with employers.

Admission Requirements

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communication Studies admits students for the Fall and admits a cohort of 30.

Deadlines

Deadline to apply is March 1st, 2027, unless otherwise stated on the Graduate Admissions Deadline webpage. 

Application Process

SJSU follows a two-step graduate admissions process:

Step 1

Apply through Cal State Apply.

Step 2:

Upload program-required documents in the Cal State Apply application (Quadrant 4).

Eligibility Requirements

• Step 1: University Graduate Admission Eligibility Requirements

  • a. U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or the completion of a 4-year bachelor’s degree from a recognized, accredited, and approved institution from a country outside of the U.S.

    b. A 2.5 institutional or college cumulative GPA (from the 0.0 - 4.0 U.S. grading scale) in the last degree completed, or a 2.5 GPA in the last two years of full time study. Please note that individual program requirements may have a higher GPA requirement.

    c. Good academic standing at the latest institution attended.

    d. English Language Proficiency Exam, if necessary.

    See Graduate Steps to Admission for additional documents the university requires.

    Need assistance with the university application process? Contact the College of Graduate Studies for assistance: grad-admissions@sjsu.edu.

• Step 2: Communication Studies Department Eligibility Requirements
  • 1. The minimum GPA is 2.5. If your GPA is below 3.5, this is something you may want to address in your personal statement. While a lower GPA does not disqualify you, it puts you at a disadvantage over applicants with higher scores.
    2. We do not require the GRE.
    3. A personal statement (approximately 1000 words).
    4. A writing sample (2500-5000 words).
    5. Submit two letters of recommendation (through Cal State Apply).

    See more application details and instructions on the Application Process page.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the program or need assistance, please email our team at marie.haverfield@sjsu.edu.

Start your application

Funding Resources

There are many ways you can fund your graduate education:

• Tuition and Fees are waived for students participating in the Teaching Associate program
• Calculate Your Possible Tuition
• Visit the Financial Aid office and CGS Funding Opportunities 
• Additional funding opportunities including scholarships are available through the University, College of Social Sciences, and Communication Studies Department for enrolled students

Program Courses

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communication Studies is a 32 unit program. To complete the program, students must take 3 core courses, 3 seminar courses, one elective course based on your area of interest and three options for the culminating experience (thesis, project, or exams). Descriptions of all of the courses are available on the SJSU Catalog. Program courses are subject to change.

Program Learning Outcomes

A significant part of your learning, both in individual courses and your entire program of study, will consist of achieving a level of mastery around specific content objectives. As such, the graduate curriculum is designed to enable students to be communication theorists, researchers, and practitioners with particular subject matter expertise. Descriptions of all of the courses are available on the SJSU Catalog. Program courses are subject to change.

Conceptual Foundations

1. Students will evaluate communication-related theories, their philosophical assumptions, and their potential for developing knowledge.

2. Students will distinguish the ethical implications (e.g., positionality, racial equity, social justice, accessibility, and citational politics) among specific communication-related theories, modes of inquiry, and practices.

Inquiry and Research

3. Students will justify modes of inquiry used for communication research and creative activity.

4. Students will propose scholarly research and/or creative activity of their own, employing one or more modes of inquiry.

Practical Application

5. Students will produce advanced scholarly writing that considers inclusivity amid disciplinary conventions. 

6. Students will argue their intellectual and creative contributions in scholarly conversation. 

7. Students will articulate practical application of the knowledge generated from communication research and/or creative activity (e.g., policy, pedagogy, activism).

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Faculty Spotlight

From a faculty perspective, what makes our graduate program in Communication Studies at San José State University truly compelling is not just what you learn, but who you become—an engaged scholar, a thoughtful communicator, and a professional equipped to make meaningful impact in diverse communities. Here, your ideas are taken seriously, your voice is developed with intention, and your work has the power to extend far beyond the classroom.

Marie Haverfield, Associate Professor, Health Interpersonal and Family Communication
 

About the program

The M.A. program in Communication Studies at San José State University is grounded in the theoretical and ethical foundations of communication studies; the modes of inquiry employed by communication scholars; and the practical application of these concepts and methods in professional and scholarly contexts.

We approach graduate study as an interdisciplinary exploration. Students are introduced to rhetorical, interpretive, quantitative, critical, and pedagogical frameworks.

Our curriculum is designed for new graduates, mid-career professionals, and those returning to school after a hiatus.


In addition to our seminar offerings, students may avail themselves of internships and study abroad programs, serve as research assistants, design their own independent studies, and complete an optional MA thesis/project for their culminating experience.

New and continuing students may gain experience teaching at the college level through our competitive Teaching Associate (TA) program.