Overview of the Program
The Master of Arts in Applied Communication (MAAC) is housed in the School of Communication, a unit within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northern Arizona University. The program is in its seventh year and enrolls approximately 50 part- and full-time students both on campus and via distance education.
The study of communication is vital for societies becoming more complex in their daily functions; for institutions, groups, and individuals confronting the challenges of human diversity and technologically-mediated social and political relationships; and for a world that is increasingly interdependent and threatened by environmental change. Finding solutions to problems that confront business, government, schools, families, and social relationships can emerge from the careful study of how people communicate with each other. No matter what profession one holds, no matter what service a person provides to his/her community, no matter what an individual or group values in life, a broad understanding of the theory and practice of communication can be of importance.
To study communication is to study a variety of forms of human symbolic behavior that occurs in interpersonal, small group, organizational, mediated, and public situations. Communication is central to forming relationships, organizing collective behaviors, maintaining and changing cultures, making sense of our social and natural worlds, and fostering understanding among people; it is a fundamental part of our human nature. The study of human communication is based on the assumption that our ability to communicate in an effective and ethical manner is vital to productive human interaction. Communication scholars are committed to the idea that exploration of diverse understandings of communicative behavior enriches our participation in an increasingly complex and interdependent global society.
As a student in the M.A. in Applied Communication program, you articulate and test your ideas, develop individual abilities, and gain competence in various communicative settings. You acquire knowledge and methods that apply to nearly every aspect of your private and public lives—in the classroom as well as outside it. In consultation with your advisor, you can design a program to meet your interests and needs. Graduate work in communication is rigorous and challenging. You are required to design, carry out, and present independent research. In doing so, you refine skills in writing, critical thinking and reasoning, presentation and defense of ideas, application of theory to everyday situations, and research. An advanced degree is proof that you are capable of designing and following through on projects expected of communication experts.
See some of the recent activities and accomplishments of our students by visiting our Student Activities and Accomplishments page.
Goals of the Program
The faculty at NAU believe that the Master of Arts in Applied Communication will provide students with advanced skills in analysis, problem-solving, critical thinking, research, theoretical application, and written communication which can enhance the student’s contributions to and success in Arizona’s dynamic economy.
See what graduates of our program are doing by visiting our Graduate Profiles page.
Contact Us
If you have questions about graduate study in Communication, at NAU or in general, please contact the MAAC Graduate Coordinator.
Updated 02 November 2010
