PROGRAM GUIDE | COURSE DESCRIPTIONS | FACULTY | SCHEDULE OF COURSES

The Professional Edge

The School of Communication's Master of Arts has a professional, hands-on emphasis. Of the approximately 200 master’s programs in mass communication in the U.S., ours is one of only about a dozen that is completely oriented toward practical rather than theoretical coursework.

The University's convenient Downtown location means you'll have superior access to hands-on learning opportunities at newspapers, advertising and public relations agencies, and TV stations. You'll also benefit from interaction with the department's full-time and adjunct faculty, all who have recent or current work experience in communication professions. And since most students in the program are working professionals, you'll get the chance to share insights and contacts with your peers.

Program Design

The 36-credit program is designed for career-directed students and can be completed in as little as two years on a part-time basis. An extremely motivated student may complete the program in one year by taking 12 credits per semester.

In contrast to other master’s programs in journalism and mass communication, Point Park’s program requires only five core courses, which means you can design your degree by picking and choosing from courses in advertising, broadcast journalism, broadcast production, digital media, integrated marketing communications, media relations, photojournalism, print journalism and public relations. And unlike other institutions at which a master’s thesis is either required of all students or not available, Point Park’s M.A. students have the option of writing a thesis.

For a comprehensive list of M.A. program requirements and course descriptions, see the M.A. program guide and School of Communication graduate course descriptions.

Course Flexibility

Courses are available during the day and evening, and all graduate courses are taught regularly in the evening so students with daytime work may complete the program by attending classes only in the evening. Evening classes meet once a week, and students can easily complete two courses a semester by attending classes two nights a week.

Special Features

Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships, for one year and renewable for a second year, are available in four areas: print journalism (includes working with the graduate program director), The Innocence Institute, broadcast journalism, or editorial assistant for two communication journals. Graduate assistantships carry a stipend and full tuition waiver.

Innocence Institute of Point Park University
You may work with, either through coursework or independently, the Innocence Institute of Point Park University. The institute, which works to investigate wrongful criminal convictions in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio, is one of only three innocence institutes in the United States affiliated with a journalism department or program. The others are at University of Missouri-Columbia and Northwestern University.

M.A./M.B.A. Program

The School of Communication also offers, in conjunction with the School of Business, a 54-credit M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication/Master of Business Administration program with concentrations in public relations and advertising management, print/digital media management and broadcast/digital media management.