The online master’s in communication degree is often sought after by professionals who have been working in or near the communications field for a while and have a specific career path in mind, as well as those who choose to enter the program immediately upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree. Either way, students in an online master’s in communication program can expect to take several high-level courses that will prepare them for meaningful work in the communications field. Read on to learn more about what students can gain from earning an online master’s in communication degree.

Earning an online master’s in communication degree can be the ticket to a variety of promising career paths. With so many online programs available, finding the right program can be tricky. Our rankings focus on important criteria to consider when making this important decision: graduation rates, tuition costs and teacher-student ratio. These rankings can help aspiring communication students narrow down options to create a shorter, more manageable list.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

The online master’s in communication degree is designed for those who want to hone their skills in one particular area of communications or already have a strong background in journalism, English and the like, and want to shift gears a bit to enter a communications career. Depending on the school, the master’s degree typically takes between one and two years to complete. Those who choose to attend school part-time might take up to three years to complete the coursework. But before the work begins, the application process must be conquered.

The master’s program is rigorous, and schools expect to see many qualified applicants, so it’s important to work hard and stand out from the pack. The following requirements are necessary to create a stellar application.

During the first year of a master’s in communication program, students will brush up on the skills they learned while earning their bachelor’s degrees, as well as hone new ones that they can use immediately in the field. The following are important milestones that can be expected for communications students.

The second year dives deeper into the concentration, allowing students an opportunity to pepper their curriculum with electives that further enhance what they want to learn from their education. Now is the time when students are truly putting their writing and research skills to the test, as well as using their newfound knowledge as a way to enhance their careers.

Each school will have their own graduation requirements. The most basic requirement is to complete all courses satisfactorily and finish out the program with a minimum GPA. However, other requirements also come into play. Here’s what to expect:

Many positions in communications require a bachelor’s degree, but a whole new world of opportunity opens up with a master’s degree. Those with a master’s in communication degree are trained to take on more responsibility, move into management positions and advance in their current career path or even dive into something new. The following jobs are just a few of the many possibilities available to those who graduate from online master’s in communication programs.

These managers work with community associations to manage the daily affairs of a group of homeowners. The daily work might include collecting fees, negotiating with a contractor, resolving complaints, supervising regular maintenance or helping homeowners ensure compliance with rules and regulations.

Mean Annual Wage: $55,380

Growth Potential: 8%

These very specialized public relations specialists work closely with government entities and lawmakers in the hopes of garnering advantageous legislation for their clients. Lobbyists research regulatory proposals, monitor governmental issues, meet with top lawmakers or their staff, attend hearings, work with other public relations professionals to educate the public and work in concert with lawmakers to develop effective policy strategy.

Mean Annual Wage: $56,770

Growth Potential: 6%

Campaign managers work closely with political candidates and their extended team on such things as creating a campaign platform, raising funds to run an election campaign, educating the public on the candidate, managing the campaign budget, advertising and conducting polls. Campaign managers are the behind-the-scenes experts that help ensure a campaign runs smoothly and effectively.

Mean Annual Wage$104,140

Growth Potential 7%

Source: BLS

Students and professionals in the communications field can benefit from numerous professional associations, networking options and job resources. The following resources are designed to help those in the field of communications, no matter what their concentration and ultimate career goals might be.