Master of Science in Professional Communication

Master of Science in Professional Communication Overview

Intended for mid-level communications professionals, the Master of Science in Professional Communication curriculum is designed to enhance communication skills and managerial techniques through courses designed specifically for adult learners. Classes are small, fostering discussion and interactivity. Varied learning experiences offset abstract concepts with concrete applications: theory informs the practice, while the practice proves—or disproves—the theory.

This professional degree is structured to provide skills essential in human resource development, marketing communications, new media technologies and communications management. While initially designed to accommodate adult working students, with the increased demand for graduate professional degrees today, over half of our current students are attending our graduate programs as full-time students. International students attend our professional degree programs from countries around the world.

Course of Study

 The Master of Science in Professional Communication requires seven foundation courses and five electives for the non-thesis option or seven foundation courses, four electives and two thesis courses for the thesis option. Students with less than three years’ professional work experience must complete MSPC 3940, Internship, as one of their electives. In addition to the elective course offerings listed below, students may also choose as electives appropriate graduate or upper-level undergraduate courses offered by other departments at Clark University. The Director of Graduate Programs must approve all non-COPACE elective selections.

MSPC Required Foundation Course List for students admitted after May 1, 2008 (may be taken in any order)

• MSPC 3300 - Advanced Professional Communication
• MSPC 3250 - Communication Theory and Research
• MSPC 3403 - Finance and Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager OR MSPC 3930 Fundamentals of Business Analysis
• MSPC 3620 - Intercultural Communication
• MSPC 3080 - Management Information Systems and Technology**
• MSPC 3070 - Organizational Communication
• MSPC 3330 - Consultancy Skills Capstone

**If proficiency can be demonstrated for this course either academically (transcript of successful course completion) or professionally (validated work experiene) and approved by the course instructor or academic advisor, this course can be waived and replaced with an MSPC elective of the student’s choice.

Human Resources (Five courses)

Suggested foundation courses for area of focus:

• MSPC 3290 - Human Resource Management & Development
• MSPC 3410 - Strategic Issues in Human Resource Management

In addition, Select three (3) from the following:

• MSPC 3670 - Approaches to Cross-Cultural Conflict Management
• MSPC 3820 - Arbitration, Collective Bargaining & Labor Relations
• MSPC 3170 - Change Management
• MSPC 3620 - Leadership
• MSPC 3140 - Managing Diversity
• MSPC 3600 - Negotiation, Mediation & Conflict Management
• MSPC 3690 - Organizational Conflict
• MSPC 3660 - Third Party Intervention: Mediation
• MSPC 3940 - Internship

Marketing Communication (Five courses)

Suggested foundation courses for area of focus:

• MSPC 3100 - Marketing Communication
• MSPC 3090 - Public Relations
• MSPC 3750 - Advertising Communication Theory & Practice

In addition, Select two (2) from the following:

• MSPC 3960 - Audience Development, Event Planning, and Promotion.
• MSPC 3010 - Communication Design
• MSPC 3450 - Global Marketing & Advertising
• MSPC 3380 - Marketing for Non-Profit Organizations
• MSPC 3720 - Media Relations
• MSPC 3130 - Principles of Marketing
• MSPC 3310 - Theory & Practice of Persuasion
• MSPC 3940 - Internship

Communication Management (Five courses)

Suggested foundation courses for area of focus:

• MSPC 3170 - Change Management
• MSPC 3840 - Project Management

In addition, Select three (3) from the following:

• MSPC 3320 - Ethics & Professional Life
• MSPC 3860 - Gender Communication
• MSPC 3290 - Human Resource Management & Development
• MSPC 3620 - Leadership
• MSPC 3770 - Political Communication
• MSPC 3740 - Strategic Management of Public and Non-Profit Organizations
• MSPC 3940 - Internship

New Media Technologies (Five courses)

Suggested foundation courses for area of focus:

• MSPC 3010 Communication Design
• MSPC 3810 Photoshop for Internet Graphics Development
• MSPC 3440 Webmaster

In addition, Select two (2) from the following:

• MSPC 3920 Business Intelligence
• MSPC 3830 E-Commerce & E-Business
• MSPC 3840 Project Management
• MSPC 3100 Marketing Communication
• MSPC 3750 Advertising Communication THeory & Practice
• MSPC 3090 Public Relations
• MSPC 3940 Internship

Electives

We offer many electives in the M.S.P.C. program. These courses complement the four major areas of focus: Human Resource Development & Training, Marketing Communication, New Media Communication and Communication Management, and allow a high degree of customization within the curriculum. Careful selection of courses from other COPACE graduate degree programs allows an even greater degree of precise specialization.

Courses