Program of Study for the Professional Communication and Leadership MA
Program of Study for MA
Required Courses
COMS 7200 – Organizational Communication in Diverse Contexts
Offered during the spring semester.
Credit Hours: 3
Theories and principles of professional discourse applied toward working effectively in ethnically diverse organizations and in international contexts.
COMM 7100 PCL Research
Offered during the fall semester.
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the concepts and methods of applied research necessary for professionals in leadership settings. Topics will include survey development, interviews, focus groups, experiments, ethnography, and content analysis. Students will construct a research question, review literature, analyze data, and present the results of their analysis.
COMM 7150 – Communication and Leadership
Offered during the fall semester.
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of the communication and leadership on public issues. Course explores the theories and practices associated with leadership in groups and organizations in the public and private sectors. Focuses on interactive aspects of leading and following, and developing leadership skills from a communication perspective.
LEAD 7700 – PCL Internship OR LEAD 7900 – Comprehensive Project
Spring, Summer, & Fall
Credit Hours: 3 (Courses graded pass/fail, no letter grade)
Students are not required to complete both courses. The PCL Internship and Comprehensive Project must be approved by a faculty member before students can register for the course. For more information about these courses click here.
ENGL 7400 – Professional Communication Strategies
Offered during the spring semester.
Credit Hours: 3
Communication strategies employed by leaders in business, industry, education, and health professions; practice in writing effective memos, letters, and reports; oral communication skills required for influencing group decisions, conducting interviews, and making presentations.
ENGL 7453 – Plain Language in Workplace Writing
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the principles of plain language in workplace communication. Students will analyze document design along with passages at the word-, sentence-, and paragraph-level, and conduct usability testing to improve documents’ clarity. Students will examine the history of plain language movements and understand the social impacts of plain language in legal, medical, and professional contexts. Students will revise and create documents in plain language for use by specific audiences.
Elective Courses – Choose 4 courses (12 credit hours)
*5000 level courses are cross-listed with undergraduate courses and may be offered during the day.
*Electives offered on each campus are determined by the expertise and availability of faculty.
COMM 5030G – Selected Topics in Communication
COMM 5335G – Public Relation Campaigns in Health and Science
COMM 7300 – Applied Crisis Communication Theory
COMM 7400 – Health Communication
COMM 7500 – Selected Topics in Communication
COMS 5330G – Communication Theory
COMS 5331G – Communication and Conflict
COMS 5332G – Nonverbal Communication
COMS 5333G – Communication & Gender
COMS 5334G – Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace
COMS 5335G – Family Communication
COMS 5400G – Advanced Public Speaking
COMS 5530G – Rhetoric or WRIT 5530G – Rhetoric
COMS 7400 – Communication Training and Development
ENGL 5135G – Teaching Literature to Middle and Secondary Students
ENGL 5141G – Applied Linguistics
ENGL 5255G – Technical and Professional Editing
ENGL 5511G – Nonprofit and Grant Writing
ENGL 5521G – Writing for Publication
ENGL 5551 – Publication Design
ENGL 5585G – Social Media Management
GEPH 7134 – Social Marketing for Health Communication
LEAD 7300 – Selected Topics in Leadership Studies
LEAD 7400 – Contemporary Issues in Leadership
LEAD 7800 – Independent Study in Professional Communication & Leadership
LING 5130G – Modern English Grammar
PSYC 6150 – Conflict Resolution
PSYC 6300 – Leadership and Group Dynamics
Certificate Program
Core Courses – 12 credit hours
COMM 7150 – Communication & Leadership in the Public Arena
OR LEAD 7150 Leadership in the Public Arena: From Ideas to Action
COMM 7150 – Examination of the communication and leadership on public issues. Course explores the theories and practices associated with leadership in groups and organizations in the public and private sectors. Focuses on interactive aspects of leading and following, and developing leadership skills from a communication perspective.
LEAD 7150 – Examination of the leadership necessary to move from ideas to action on public issues. Course explores the unique role of the public sector in society and will compare leadership issues in public sector and private sector organizations.
COMS 7200 – Organizational Communication in Diverse Contexts
Theories and principles of professional discourse applied toward working effectively in ethnically diverse organizations and in international contexts.
WRIT 7100 – Professional Communication Strategies
Advanced professional communication strategies employed by leaders in business, industry, education, and health professions, including strategies to improve and refine workplace communication processes, practices, and workflows.
WRIT 7250 – Plain Language in Workplace Writing
Introduction to the principles of plain language in workplace communication. Students will analyze document design, edit at the word-, sentence-, and paragraph-level, and apply user-centered principles. Students will examine the history of plain language movements and understand the social impacts of plain language in legal, medical, scientific, and professional contexts. Students will produce documents in plain language for specific audiences.
Elective Courses – Choose one course (3 credit hours)
*5000 level courses are cross-listed with undergraduate courses and may be offered during the day.
*Electives offered on each campus are determined by the expertise and availability of faculty.
APPH 7134 – Social Marketing for Health Communication
COMM 5030G – Selected Topics in Communication
COMM 5335G – Public Relation Campaigns in Health and Science
COMM 7300 – Applied Crisis Communication Theory
COMM 7400 – Health Communication
COMM 7500 – Selected Topics in Communication
COMS 5330G – Communication Theory
COMS 5331G – Communication and Conflict
COMS 5332G – Nonverbal Communication
COMS 5333G – Communication & Gender
COMS 5334G – Interpersonal Communication in the Workplace
COMS 5335G – Family Communication
COMS 5400G – Advanced Public Speaking
COMS 5530G – Rhetoric or WRIT 5530G – Rhetoric
COMS 7400 – Communication Training and Development
ENGL 5135G – Teaching Literature to Middle and Secondary Students
ENGL 5141G – Applied Linguistics
ENGL 5255G – Technical and Professional Editing
ENGL 5511G – Nonprofit and Grant Writing
ENGL 5521G – Writing for Publication
ENGL 5551 – Publication Design
ENGL 5585G – Social Media Management
LEAD 7300 – Selected Topics in Leadership Studies
LEAD 7400 – Contemporary Issues in Leadership
PSYC 6150 – Conflict Resolution
PSYC 6300 – Leadership and Group Dynamics
Or an approved elective
Last updated: 8/15/2023

Department of
Communication Arts
Sanford Hall
P.O. Box 8091
Statesboro, GA 30460
Phone: 912-478-5138
Fax: 912-478-0822
Email: commarts@georgiasouthern.edu
Black Box Theatre Box Office:
912-478-5379
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate
B.A. in Theatre
B.S. in Communication Studies
B.S. in Journalism
B.S. in Multimedia Film & Production
B.S. in Public Relations
Minor in Theatre
Minor in Communication Studies
Minor in Journalism
Minor in Multimedia Film & Production
Minor in Public Relations
Graduate
M.A. Professional Communication & Leadership
Certificate Professional Communication & Leadership
University Events Calendar
Communication Arts Department • PO Box 8091; Statesboro, GA 30460 • 912-478-5138 • commarts@georgiasouthern.edu