The program offers an incredibly challenging and rewarding curriculum, led by faculty who put student development and advancement first.

The lessons learned during the COM M.A. program remain at the foundation of my development as a person and professional. During those two years, I learned, among many other things, that discourse—verbal and written—creates reality. After graduating, I continued my education at Georgetown Law, began my legal career as a litigator, and eventually served as a federal prosecutor, leading investigations of violent crimes, including bank robberies and gang-related murders; fraud and money laundering; and multinational cartels and organized crime syndicates. I am now in private practice and I rely daily on the critical thinking, communication skills, and confidence developed under the guidance of UNLV’s devoted COM graduate faculty.

I got my M.A. in Communication Studies because I wanted to pursue being a debate educator. When I was finishing up my BA at the University of Denver, UNLV was restarting it's debate team and Dr. Jacob Thompson approached me about restarting the debate program. I thought it was an excellent opportunity to learn from one of the great coaches how to build a debate program from the ground up. I also realized if I'm interested in debate, then I should get the pedagogical backing to make a career out of it. It was one I started taking classes at UNLV that I fell in love with rhetorical theory.

UNLV gave me a solid foundation for understanding the discipline and gave me a solid network that I return to today. I can list the number of useful classes from rhetorical criticism, to introduction to ancient rhetoric. But perhaps the greatest advertisement is the relationship I gained with my adviser, Dr. Donovan Conley. Dr. Conley has been instrumental in my success from my first step foot in the door to my most recent endeavor. In him, I not only found an advisor that helped me navigate the difficulties of getting a master's degree. But, I also found a mentor that invested in me and my success as a person--that is something I am truly grateful for. I do not think my experience is unique, I know many others who have shared my experience going through UNLV. UNLV is truly a one of a kind education.

An MA in COM provides both personal and professional benefits by sharpening and expanding one’s speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills. Communication is a diverse field and the skills and knowledge acquired through the MA can be applied to a variety of professions and situations.

The MA has helped to prepare me for a future career in academia, as I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication. The teaching and research opportunities provided me with the necessary skills to be a successful scholar. In particular, the student to faculty ratio at UNLV allowed for mentoring opportunities where the faculty helped and encouraged me to develop my own unique research program and interests.

Your undergraduate degree is your foundation for going into the world with a specialization. A masters degree is an opportunity to dig into the conceptual underpinnings of that specialization. A comms undergrad degree teaches what techniques are persuasive, and how to craft a compelling narrative. But a Comms MA will get you to the why -- why certain persuasive techniques have stood the test of time, and why a certain narrative structure is the best to use in a given situation. The industry leaders across finance, tech, media, healthcare – every specialization -- are in those positions because they understand the why. They have to evaluate a million permutations of a situation and apply the perfect communicative approach.

Being successful in business requires 1) you’re credible, 2) your ideas are good, and 3) you can read the room. This actually maps pretty nicely to Aristotle’s ethos, logos, and pathos. There are some larger than life personalities in business. And in the room, especially as a woman, you have to hold your own. That requires confidence in yourself, in what you’re saying, and in your ability to persuade. All of those take practice speaking in front of audiences large and small. The more you write, the stronger your arguments become. And if you can walk your audience through your argument clearly, cogently, and with ease and personality, you’re more likely to land it.

Getting an M.A. in Communication Studies opens up so many doors for you. You're really able to gain a set of critical thinking skills, begin to ask questions you may not have thought of before, and get the experience of teaching a college course. It's a very exciting environment where you can learn from your professors, cohort, but also implement and refine your own knowledge. What I especially liked during my M.A. is that Communication Studies includes various different contexts of messages, whether that be interpersonal communication, mediated communication, or persuasion. By the end, you really are an expert of the way in which messages work, but you should also have a specific area within communication in which you are an expert.

After graduation, I began my Ph.D. program in Communication at the University of Arizona and I focus on media effects and social scientific research. My interest in media effects began as an M.A. student and writing my master's thesis. Because of this experience, I have been able to further pursue research within this area. My M.A. degree prepared me well for my Ph.D. program. It was an easy transition for me because I was already used to the rigour and dedication (with research AND teaching from UNLV) towards a higher education degree that was instilled within my M.A. program.

People should pursue an MA in Communication Studies because they are flexible and versatile. As a practical discipline, Communication Studies teaches skills that can be useful in the business world and the American academy. My MA provided me a great foundation for my current occupation. As a graduate student at the University of Maryland, on a daily basis, I benefit from the knowledge I gained at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

A degree in communications helps you in countless ways. For example, your writing and speaking skills became much stronger. You also learn more about society, different viewpoints, and how to communicate and build rapport with others despite our differences. Finally, I cannot tell you how many times I've heard of a job candidate being turned down from a position because they were perceived to communicate poorly. Strong, thoughtful, and sincere communication skills stand out on a resume.

As an HR professional that helps municipal employees understand resources related to COVID-19, I thank the COM MA program for helping me understand how to navigate complex communication scenarios. We never stop communicating with others at work. Understanding communication is invaluable.

I got an M.A. in Communication Studies because I wanted to learn more about the discipline and develop my personal identity as a researcher. I chose to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas since the faculty had diverse training that would prepare me to excel in quantitative, qualitative, and rhetorical methods in preparation for a career in academia.

My master’s degree coursework, research, and training helped me get accepted to the University of Washington’s Communication PhD program where I will be a first-year doctoral student this Autumn. My teaching and research assignments at UNLV gave me valuable experience to make meaningful contributions in the classroom and the Family Communication & Relationships Lab at UW.

This M.A. program strengthened both my written and verbal communication skills which set me up for success in the political communication field. This Master's program will provide you with the skills to excel in your professional career while also fostering tremendous personal growth.

Graduating with a Communications Studies M.A. at UNLV gave me, not only a deeper understanding of communication theory, but a strong work ethic and the ability to push myself to a level of performance I didn't know was reachable, as well.

The best part about getting an M.A. in Communication Studies is the versatility the degree offers. Not only can you use the M.A. program as the first step to an advanced degree, but you can just as easily move toward corporate or private sector work. I love that Communication Studies encompasses so many areas all at once, giving plenty of room for exploration within the discipline. The faculty in the department at UNLV are diverse enough to meet virtually any research interest, and the M.A. program’s curriculum provides instruction in multidisciplinary research methods. I also appreciated that UNLV offered a terminal Master’s degree, which allowed for M.A. students to have opportunities in both teaching and research that would often be reserved for doctoral students at a university offering both an M.A. and Ph.D degree. The UNLV M.A. program is a great fit for students who desire a more intimate graduate program that is a wonderful balance of challenging and rewarding.  

After receiving my M.A. from UNLV in 2017, I started my Ph.D program in Communication Studies at the University of Kansas. I study interpersonal communication with a focus on the role communication plays in the support and interpersonal relationships of incarcerated individuals. The rigor of the graduate classes, coupled with the research skills I acquired at UNLV prepared me for a seamless transition to a Ph.D. program, as well as the ability to be a productive member of the discipline.

One of the most important skills one can have is to be an effective communicator.  Whether you work in a business, non-profit, lead a community initiative, or run a foundation…all of these endeavors require crystal clear communications in order to be successful.  My M.A. in Communication Studies from UNLV gave me the foundational experience to build from, and proceed to lead large community initiatives that have impacted hundreds of thousands in Nevada.  I’m grateful for all that I learned at UNLV.

My degree gave me the confidence to take strategic risks to lead very public and large scale initiatives, such as co-founding Three Square, and many others.  I’ve learned that others don’t necessarily understand why a cause is important to support…such as my work in food insecurity, mental wellness, homelessness, water and the environment, etc.  My ability to clearly articulate the need, and communicate about how and why it’s important to support that issue, has been vital to my success…and I owe a lot of that to UNLV!

I chose to earn a M.A. in Communication Studies because I have always been fascinated by how people relate to one another and how people make sense of their realities. I truly believe that everything we come to know as truth in this world is constructed by how we talk and how we relate to one another. Essentially, language forms so much of what we know, believe, and who we identify as. When I was working on my bachelor’s degree at Northern Arizona University, I had been particularly interested in how we make sense of our health and illnesses. I was motivated to continue learning about communication and my advisor recommended I pursue a master’s degree. She said I would never regret getting one! She recommended some colleagues at UNLV she thought I would work well with, so I applied for the program. It was there that I was able to continue studying health communication and hospice care, with encouragement to conduct research with a hospice facility in the community.

During my master’s tenure, I was able to participate in team research projects, research assistantships, and conduct my own thesis research, which allowed me to not only grow my passion for communication research but to develop the skills I needed to continue pursuing my education. Through the guidance of my advisor, I was encouraged to apply for a PhD program and earned a doctorate in communication studies at the University of Iowa. The master’s degree was integral in first learning how to conduct research and publish scholarly articled , which helped build a foundation for my future studies and degree. With my PhD, I began working in the healthcare field, and I now serve as the Palliative Care Coordinator in a nonprofit community acute care hospital. The degrees I earned, as well as the teaching experience I gained at UNLV and the University of Iowa has prepared me to lead trainings with critical care nurses, community members, and patients and families and work on interdisciplinary teams with physicians, social workers, and pastoral support to help better understand how patients and families communicate about their health care choices.

I am incapable of saying why someone should get their M.A. in communication studies; however, I can explain why I decided to earn my M.A. I decided to become a professor in communication studies at the beginning of my final year of undergrad. After undergrad, I knew that the first step in becoming a professor was the master’s program in the communication studies department at UNLV. The professors in the communication studies department pushed and challenged me as a scholar.  The experiences and professors in the communication department have allowed for my transition from M.A. to Ph.D. seamless.

Without my M.A. degree, I could not have moved forward to start earning my Ph.D. The professors in the communication studies department prepared me for the coursework that comes with being a Ph.D. student. By no measure is earning your M.A. going to be easy; however, when you earn your M.A., you are a more rounded individual who will be more sought after in the workplace because of the versatility of your M.A. degree.

Getting an M.A. can allow you to push yourself out of your comfort zone and help you obtain a valuable skill set that will allow you to accomplish things you didn't think you would be able to achieve. From strengthening your research and writing skills to improving your interpersonal and critical thinking skills, an M.A. program helps you build a skill set that can help you in all aspects of life. While the workload can be challenging to balance at times, it is a great way to prepare you for future career opportunities or other graduate programs.

Graduating with an M.A. really helped open a lot of doors for me. It has given me a competitive edge out in the job market and the skill set I gained through my time in the program has become very useful on a day-to-day basis. Because I work in digital content creation, I often utilize much of the communication knowledge I gained in my classes and through my research projects on the content I create at work in order to make it the best it can be.

I am a believer that knowledge is power. I subscribe to informal and formal education at all times, no matter where I am in my career. I obtained the M.A. in Communication Studies as in my line of work I constantly negotiate with plaintiff counsel. I present high value cases and must be able to articulate arguments in a concise way, and have the ability to resolve meticulous cases. This M.A. program enabled me to have in-depth knowledge about the true meaning of rhetoric. In addition, the professors helped mold my persuasion, negotiation and presentation skills that surpassed any undergraduate courses. This program allowed me to become a diligent researcher, critical thinker, and learned theories related to conflict management and interdisciplinary communications that I have been using on a daily basis. Overall, my master's degree prepared me to become a better writer, negotiator, and leader in my department. The degree also opened the door to being involved with Change Management and I also became Prosci certified. I believe my masters prepared me for future studies such as the DPP program at UNLV. As per my career, my masters has also prepared me for a Change Management Consultant role in the near future.

To say the M.A. Communication Studies Program at UNLV has made an impact in my life is an understatement. I cannot speak about this program without mentioning the amazing life connections that can be made.  I met my now husband at the beginning of the program and we had the joy to graduate together as husband and wife. Professionally, I learned many skills that help me daily in my career.
 
The beauty of this M.A. program is that it can tailored to provide a unique experience for each student. My main research focus is disability advocacy so while in the program I was able curate my classes around this focus. It was incredible to be able to have the opportunity to learn about the intersectionality between communication and the disability field. Through this program, I learned how to conduct and analyze research, advanced my writing skills, and learned important interpersonal communication theories.  In my current role as DEI Communications Liaison with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, I rely on the skill of being able to disseminate research and policies into easy to understand pieces for various audiences to understand.
 
To anyone interested in this program, go for it! Connect, ask questions, and learn. Whether you go continue your education to receive a PhD or this is a terminal degree for you, there are incredible experiences and connections to be made ahead.