Communication
Chair: Lisa B. Keränen
Graduate Director: Amy Hasinoff
Program Assistant: Michelle A. Médal
Internship Director: Lacy Lowrey
Office: Student Commons Building, 1201 Larimer Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3014
Telephone: 303-315-1919
Overview
Our vibrant community of scholars and teachers is committed to providing a real-world, hands-on, and theoretically robust master’s degree that will enrich students’ communication knowledge and skills for the twenty-first century. Our program is a 33-credit generalist degree designed to enhance students’ intellectual and professional growth through the understanding and practice of effective communication. Our faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their field. Students who complete our program often receive offers to top-notch PhD programs or accept positions related to communication management, public relations, human relations, and corporate and non-profit communication.
Graduate Program
Click here to learn about the Master of Arts in Communication.
Grade Requirements
Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher across all courses applied to a graduate degree or to a graduate certificate.
Course Transfer Policy
A maximum of 12 semester hours of relevant graduate course work may be transferred from another university. Students cannot receive credit for transferred courses in which less than a B grade was earned. Course work transferred from another university must be approved by the director of the MA program and must not have been used for another graduate degree.
Time Limits for Completion of Degree
Students have seven years from the date of the beginning of their course work to complete all requirements for a master’s degree in communication.
Graduate Certificate
Click here to learn about the Strategic Communication Graduate Certificate.
Grade and Residency Requirements for Certificates
A grade of B or better must be earned in each course completed as part of the certificate (B- is not acceptable). All semester hours for a certificate must be earned at CU Denver.
For more information about admission requirements please visit our website.
Application Procedures for U.S. Citizens
Students must submit the following materials to apply for admission to the MA program:
- letter of application explaining career plans and reasons for interest in the degree
- online graduate admission application
- three letters of recommendation, preferably from university faculty (those writing the recommendations must use the request for recommendation form and their own letterhead stationery)
- official transcripts from every college or university attended
- preferred 3.25 undergraduate GPA
- resume or vita
- academic writing sample (showing ability to make and sustain an argumentative analysis)
- Optional GRE scores
- $50 application fee (nonrefundable)
- international students need TOEFL scores
Deadlines for Application
February 15: Priority deadline for fall semester start and full consideration for Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA). Applications will be considered until May 1, which is the non-priority deadline for fall semester start and excludes GTA consideration.
October 1: Deadline for spring semester start.
All application materials not uploaded through the online application process should be sent to:
Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Denver
Campus Box 167
1201 Larimer Street, Suite 1005
PO Box 173364
Denver, CO 80204
Phone: 303-315-2601
Email: graduateadmissions@ucdenver.edu
Students are notified by e-mail of the graduate admission committee’s decision concerning their admission.
Application Procedures for International Students
Students who are not U.S. citizens should begin the process of application to the MA program in Communication by contacting the Office of International Affairs (website: www.ucdenver.edu/academics/InternationalPrograms/OIA/admissions/Pages/default.aspx) at CU Denver. This office will assist students in compiling their application materials, which then are submitted to the Communication department. See the International Students chapter for further information.
Faculty
Professors:
Hamilton Bean, PhD, University of Colorado Boulder
Sarah Fields, PhD, University of Iowa
Stephen J. Hartnett, PhD, University of California at San Diego
Adjoint Professor:
Monique L. Snowden, PhD, Texas A&M University
Associate Professors:
Larry Erbert, PhD, University of Iowa
Amy Hasinoff, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Mia Fischer, PhD, University of Minnesota
Lisa B. Keränen, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Associate Professor Clinical Track:
Patrick Shaou-Whea Dodge, PhD, University of Denver
Assistant Professors:
Soumia Bardhan, PhD, University of New Mexico
Assistant Professor Clinical Track:
Xiyuan Liu, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
Tamara Powell, PhD, University of California San Diego
Senior Instructors:
Yvette Bueno Olson, PhD, University of Miami
Kristy Frie, MA, Regis University
e.j. Yoder, PhD, University of Denver
Instructors:
Miroslav Atanassov, PhD, Asbury Theological Seminary
Victoria E. Cann, PhD, Communication University of China
Megan Hurson, PhD, University of Colorado Boulder
Lacy Lowery, MA, San Diego State University
Diann Logan, MA, University of Colorado Denver
James McNeil, MA, University of Colorado Denver
Ali Nassiri, MA, University of Colorado Denver
Emeritus:
Brenda J. Allen, PhD, Howard University
Sonja K. Foss, PhD, Northwestern University
James F. Stratman, PhD, Carnegie-Mellon University
Barbara J. Walkosz, PhD, University of Arizona
Communication (COMM) Courses
COMM 5000 - Communication and Sport (3 Credits)
While sports are often sought for entertainment, they are more than just a game: they both mirror and shape our understandings of gender, race, class, sexuality, ability, nationality and more. This class addresses these issues while also thinking about sports in global frameworks. Cross-listed with COMM 4000. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5021 - Perspectives on Rhetoric (3 Credits)
Rhetorical criticism is the study of how language works to persuade. This class surveys major thinkers to offers students a range of methods, which are then applied to address specific case studies. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4021. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
COMM 5040 - Communication, Prisons, and Social Justice (3 Credits)
This class examines the U.S. prison-industrial complex and enables students to envision ways of reducing crime and improving democracy by engaging in community service. Note: This course fulfills the communication department's exit class requirement. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with Permission of instructor. COMM 2020 is recommended preparation for this course. Cross-listed with COMM 4040. Term offered: spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Spring.
COMM 5051 - Advanced Strategic Communication (3 Credits)
Provides senior-level training in hands-on communication environments where targeted messaging seeks specific outcomes. All students complete projects for community group, media outlet or corporation they choose. Students will not receive credit for this class if they have already received credit for COMM 5640. Cross-listed with COMM 4051. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with Permission of instructor. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5081 - Introduction to Digital Studies (3 Credits)
Develop marketable skills such as building websites, making interactive maps, recording podcasts, and analyzing data while also studying the cultural and ethical dimensions of these technologies. Cross-listed with COMM 3081, HIST 3260, and HIST 5260. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Typically Offered: Spring.
COMM 5152 - Religion & Communication (3 Credits)
This course focuses on the dynamics between religion, culture, and communication and how these have led to intercultural peace, centuries of war, and/or different visions of belonging. This class addresses these dynamics to improve intercultural dialogue and conflict resolution processes, foregrounding the search for justice. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors. Cross-listed with COMM 4152, INTS 4152, RLST 4152, INTS 5152, and RLST 5152. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
COMM 5221 - Research Methods: Qualitative (3 Credits)
This class applies qualitative research methods to human communication practices, including the processes of designing qualitative studies, collecting data, analyzing and interpreting data, and reporting results. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4221. Term offered: spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Spring.
COMM 5240 - Organizational Communication (3 Credits)
Churches, schools, companies, NGOs, the government—these are all organizations. This class addresses the theories of how organizations succeed or fail and stresses functional workplace skills and practices. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors; Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4240. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5255 - Negotiations and Bargaining (3 Credits)
This class engages Principled Negotiation theory and practice and involves numerous negotiation simulations. These are skills-based exercises that emphasize communication strategies and traverse a number of different negotiation contexts. Through the simulations, both group and dyadic work is practiced. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors: Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4255. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
COMM 5260 - Communication and Conflict (3 Credits)
Sometimes it seems like our days are full of conflict—why is that? This class studies the influence of communication on intrapersonal, interpersonal, intragroup, and intergroup conflict situations, and offers communication skills for building better relationships. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4260. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5270 - Intercultural Communication (3 Credits)
The age of globalization means we are all neighbors, working across national boundaries and even continents. This class examines the philosophies, processes, problems, and potentials unique to communicating across cultures to address issues of social justice and ethical intercultural practices. We will consider the important role of context in interactions across cultures and subcultures, globally, transnationally, and within the U.S. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Cross-listed with COMM 4270 and INTB 6270. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
COMM 5282 - Environmental Communication (3 Credits)
Our world is shaped by policies and practices that threaten life on Earth. With such high stakes for making a more livable, just, and equitable future, this course examines storytelling, naming, framing, and the other communication concepts that are essential for navigating our shared planet. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4282. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5430 - Communication, China, & the US (3 Credits)
This course provides a senior-level opportunity to study how China and the USA have spoken about and to each other, from the Opium War through the Cyber Wars, thus situating both nations in a world of globalizing communication and interdependence. Note: this course fulfills the communication department's exit class requirement. This course may count for the International Studies major or minor. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with Permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4430. Term offered: fall. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall.
COMM 5500 - Health Communication (3 Credits)
This class examines the role of communication in a wide range of health contexts. Topics include cultural constructions of health and illness, public health communication campaigns, client-provider interactions, telemedicine, community-based health programs, and medical journalism. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4500. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5550 - Rhetorics of Medicine & Health (3 Credits)
This senior seminar explores why it matters how we talk and think about medicine and health. Case studies explore contagion, contested illnesses, the body, death, and biopower. The course requires extensive discussion of readings and an original research project. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Cross-listed with COMM 4550. Term offered: fall. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall.
COMM 5557 - Crisis and Emergency Communication (3 Credits)
This course examines strategic communication practices throughout the three stages of a crisis or emergency event. Special emphasis is placed on crisis planning, emergency messaging, media relationships, image restoration, ethical responses, and organizational learning. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors. Cross-listed with COMM 4557, PUAD 4620, and PUAD 6620. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Spring.
COMM 5558 - Digital Health Narratives (3 Credits)
This course blends readings, discussions, and activities about health narratives with digital media production skills to teach students how to create compelling digital stories about health-related topics. Students produce digital messages for the community group of their choosing. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with Permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4558. Term offered: spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Spring.
COMM 5575 - Designing Health Messages (3 Credits)
Examines the roles of communication in the design and impact of health messages/campaigns. We will design and assess health communication messages/campaigns in a participatory, process‐oriented way using varied communication tools. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors (NDGR-NHL and NDGR-NLA). Cross-listed with COMM 4575. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
COMM 5601 - You Are What You Eat: Food as Communication (3 Credits)
Food is a source of identity, culture, and belonging. It communicates heritage and belonging. Because food provides communication channels for much of who we are as individuals, as a community, and as a society, this course analyzes food as a form of communication. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with Permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4601. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
COMM 5660 - Queer Media Studies (3 Credits)
Queer Media Studies, a discussion-based seminar, investigates the history of a variety of LGBTQ+ media — including news, film, television, comics, games, music, and the Internet. Students engage in a variety of media projects to explore LGBTQ+ histories, queer aspects of media production, reception, and media messages. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Cross-listed with COMM 4660, WGST 4660, WGST 5660. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5682 - Political Communication (3 Credits)
Examines the communication processes involved in mediated political events. Topics include the stages of the campaign process, media coverage of the political campaign process, and literacy skills needed to understand political advertising. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll by permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4682. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5710 - Topics in Communication (1-3 Credits)
Special classes for faculty-directed experiences examining communication issues and problems not generally covered in the curriculum. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll by permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4710. Term offered: fall, spring. Repeatable. Max hours: 15 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 15.
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5720 - Dynamics of Global Communication (3 Credits)
This class explores global communication dynamics by analyzing the relationships between world media, international events, economics, and geopolitics. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Cross-listed with COMM 4720. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 5722 - Communicating Latinx Cultures (3 Credits)
Communicating Latina/o/x Cultures centers historical and contemporary vernacular and institutional discourse sand narratives about, by, and for Latina/o/x people and communities. Drawing on theories, methods, and practices to understand the complexities of Latina/o/x cultures and lives, we will investigate how different actors and activists express and experience borders, migration, dispossession, citizenship, colonialism/coloniality, colorism, white supremacy, environmental racism(including anti-Blackness), mono- and multilingualism, self-determination struggles, power, representation, resistance, and mutual support networks for alternative worldmaking. To situate these concepts and concerns, we will explore contexts and places ranging from Colorado to the Caribbean. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors. Term Typically Offered: Spring. Cross-listed with COMM 4722, ETST 4722, and ETST 5722. Max hours: 3 credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Spring.
COMM 5840 - Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS Graduate Academic Services Coordinator for approval. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Repeatable. Max hours: 9 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
COMM 5880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)
Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS Graduate Academic Services Coordinator for approval. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Repeatable. Max hours: 6 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
COMM 5939 - Internship (1-6 Credits)
Applies communication or technical communication concepts and skills in supervised employment situations. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS Graduate Academic Services Coordinator for approval. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Repeatable. Max hours: 9 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
COMM 5995 - Global Study Topics (1-15 Credits)
This course is reserved for CU Denver faculty-led study abroad experiences. The course topic will vary based on the location and course content. Students register through the Office of Global Education. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Max hours: 15 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Additional Information: Global Education Study Abroad.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
COMM 6013 - Introduction to Graduate Work in Communication (3 Credits)
Designed to familiarize students with the philosophical, ideological, and methodological bases of study in communication. Note: Required of all graduate students in M.A. program in communication. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 6400 - Communication, Globalization and Social Justice (3 Credits)
This course offers students an introduction to the intersections of communication as a discipline, globalization as a world process, and social justice as a contested, ever-evolving goal of activists. Note: This course may count for the International Studies major or minor. See your INTS advisor for more information. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Max Hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
COMM 6700 - Thesis and Project Practicum (3 Credits)
Focuses on strategies of research design and writing for undergraduate students working on theses for Latin honors. Students pick their own research topics. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree majors. Undergraduates with senior standing may enroll with Permission of instructor. Cross-listed with COMM 4700. Term offered: fall, spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
COMM 6711 - Topics in Communication (1-15 Credits)
Special classes for faculty-directed experiences examining communication issues and problems not generally covered in the curriculum. Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors. Repeatable. Max hours: 15 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Repeatable. Max Credits: 15.
Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors
COMM 6950 - Master's Thesis (1-6 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS Graduate Academic Services Coordinator for approval. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Repeatable. Max hours: 6 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Additional Information: Report as Full Time.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.
COMM 6960 - Master's Project (1-6 Credits)
Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS Graduate Academic Services Coordinator for approval. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Max hours: 3 Credits.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP
Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.
Additional Information: Report as Full Time.
Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.