Amplify Your Impact with Drake’s Online Master of Arts in Communication
Online Master of Arts in Communication
Next Application Deadline: May 12, 2025
1-2 Years to Complete // $663/Credit // 33 Credit Hours
Ready to take your career further? The online Master of Arts in Communication (MAC) from Drake University is built for professionals like you—driven, curious, and ready to lead. This program doesn’t just check the boxes; it gives you real-world skills you can put to work right away.
Explore the interdisciplinary nature of the MAC program by taking courses in business, law, marketing, and public policy. This diverse curriculum equips you with the expertise to navigate complex challenges, craft compelling messages, and lead meaningful change whether you work in corporate communications, public relations, digital media, government, nonprofits, or advocacy.
Our program is taught completely by full-time faculty members who are dedicated to giving you thorough insight into the field of communication and helping you feel a strong sense of community inside the fully online program. With a degree from one of the Midwest’s most respected universities, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to stand out and make an impact.
With no GRE or GMAT requirements, and no application fee, we invite you to get started on your application today!
Have a specific question? Email us at drakeonline@drake.edu.
100% Online
6 Start Dates a Year
No Application Fee
Communication Courses That Foster Success in Numerous Fields
Drake's online Master of Arts in Communication gives you the tools to thrive in a fast-changing world. You'll build expertise that applies across industries, preparing you to:
- Understand the history, evolution, ethics, and application of various communication disciplines.
- Identify and understand the theoretical foundations of the discipline, evaluate their effectiveness in communication practice, and apply them to real-world clients/issues.
- Analyze the implications of ethical communication in a global society, develop the ability to communicate in an increasingly global society, develop message strategies that serve diverse and multicultural constituencies, and understand and demonstrate ethical policy.
- Develop critical thinking skills through the analysis and evaluation of message strategies for diverse audiences.
- Create, present, and defend a fully realized original research project or a communication project with a community partner.
With Drake's communication master’s program, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to take on leadership roles. Whether you're looking to advance your career or make a greater impact, this program prepares you to stand out in a growing field—where an estimated 114,300 new media and communication job openings are projected each year between 2022 and 2032.
Career Potential for the MAC Graduate
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager
- Public Relations Manager
- Managing Editor
- Media Planner
Interdisciplinary Curriculum Designed for Your Ambitions
Drake's online Master of Arts in Communication gives you more than just a degree—it gives you a fresh, interdisciplinary perspective that sets you apart. With coursework spanning business, law, marketing, and public policy, you'll gain the skills to thrive in a fast-moving, competitive field.
Our six-week courses are 100% online and asynchronous, so you can study when and where it works best for you. No in-person requirements. No scheduled class meetings. Just a flexible, high-impact education designed to fit your life taught by full-time faculty with plenty of experience both teaching and working in their respective professional fields.
Customize your degree to match your career goals with one of three tracks:
- Brand Communication – Master digital marketing and craft creative strategies that inspire diverse audiences to take action.
- Communication Leadership – Build multimedia expertise, sharpen your research skills, and develop digital strategies to lead with confidence.
- Public Affairs & Advocacy – Strengthen your ability to communicate in political, public policy, and advocacy spaces with skills in speechwriting, ethics, and legislative communication.
Expand the accordions below to find an in-depth description of each track, as well as a list of the core curriculum courses with titles and credit hour information. Once admitted, you will work with your advisor to configure your electives in the necessary areas. For full course descriptions, please review our Drake Catalog listing for the MAC program.
Brand Communication Track Curriculum
Communication Leadership Track Curriculum
Public Affairs & Advocacy Track Curriculum
Faculty
Ryan Stoldt - Assistant Professor, Director - Graduate Studies
Kelly Bruhn - Professor, Public Relations
Eric Adae - Assistant Professor
Jennifer Glover Konfrst - Associate Professor
Amy McCoy - Assistant Professor
Chris Snider - Associate Professor
Lakshmi Tirumala - Associate Professor
Jen Wilson - Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter Chair of Magazine and Brand Media
Student Testimonial
"MAC 201: Communication Leadership Strategies was a stimulating course. It provided exposure to materials and strategies that caused me to make immediate changes in my business and personal life. I grew tremendously by making informed decisions about how I can better lead."
—Alisa, Drake University Online MAC Student
Admission Requirements for the Master of Arts in Communication
To be eligible to enroll for the MAC program, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission or comparable association. No GRE or GMAT is required for admission.
Begin Your Path to Career Growth Today
Launch your MAC on your terms with our flexible, fully online program! With courses starting six times a year, you never have to pause your goals. Our 100% asynchronous format means no mandatory live sessions—giving you the freedom to balance work, school, and life without career interruptions. Check the calendar below to find the upcoming application deadlines and start dates.
| Semester | Start Date | Application Deadline | Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Term 1 | 05/19/25 | 05/12/25 | 05/15/25 |
| Summer Term 2 | 07/07/25 | 06/30/25 | 07/03/25 |
| Fall Term 1 | 08/25/25 | 08/18/25 | 08/21/25 |
| Fall Term 2 | 10/20/25 | 10/13/25 | 10/16/25 |
About the School of Journalism & Mass Communication
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) at Drake University couples hands-on training in professional skills with a strong liberal arts education to prepare students to become leaders in their fields. Drake’s SJMC is committed to developing educated, successful professionals poised to start exciting careers in the fields of journalism and mass communication. Close to 100% of SJMC graduates in recent years have reported working in jobs within their fields or other professional jobs of their choice within six months of graduation.
Drake’s SJMC is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. Drake is among 119 accredited schools worldwide, is the only accredited program in a private institution in the Midwest, and is one of only 18 in the nation. To earn accreditation, schools meet eight standards, which address such issues as class size and diversity within the faculty and curriculum. Accreditation reviews occur every six years. Drake’s program has been continuously accredited since 1972, most recently in 2024.
If you're now prepared to advance in your career, we're waiting at the ready to review your application. Apply today with no application fee!
