Prior to enrolling in a master's program, including communications, you typically need to complete a bachelor's degree program as well. Once you are in the master's program, you must complete courses like qualitative research methods, media effects, persuasion, social dynamics of communication technology and applied research. The specific coursework varies based on the concentration you choose. These concentrations may include public and media relations, political communication or digital communication.
Generally a student must pass a required communications course with a C or better in order to count it towards the completion of his degree. Any communications course that is completed with a lower grade must be repeated in order to count towards the degree. The student should complete all the core communications course requirements before beginning the thesis portion of the degree plan.
The final class in most programs is the thesis. A thesis is a written work that shows the student's research, critical thinking and ability to interpret information. The student must choose a subject in his concentration, and the subject must be approved by the head of the department. An entire semester is generally devoted to this topic and the final work is reviewed by a panel. The student will be required to defend the thesis against questions and criticism from the panel.
There are a wide array of career possibilities for the holder of a master's degree in communication. Some of these include a media systems analyst, executive communications strategist, public relations specialist and media specialist. Job growth in this industry is expected to grow by 26 percent by 2018. Average earnings in this field are approximately $43,830 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.