Our faculty and graduate students are frequently published in peer-reviewed journals and are recognized for their scholarly excellence with awards given by organizations such as the National Communication Association and the Central States Communication Association. We also are frequent speakers at regional, national and international conferences; industry events; and in the media.
Prospective graduate students are encouraged to browse faculty profiles to better understand our research portfolio and which faculty may best align with their interests.
Our research agenda includes applied and foundational research across a number of sub-specialties in communication:
- Rhetoric and Culture
- Relating and Organizing
- Technology and Media
Research topics of particular note in our department are teaching pedagogy, storytelling surrounding gun violence, social media trends, and family communication.
Research-Driven Doctoral Program
Our doctoral program is research focused, designed to be the terminal degree in the field suited for a career in academia or in upper-levels of industry. Our commitment to the development of our graduate students’ research excellence is evidenced by their prolific publication and presentation record. We announce everyone’s success on our News page.
MA Program for Academia or Industry
Our communication faculty are leading experts in teaching pedagogy and communication in the real or virtual classroom. Thus, they provide exceptional coursework to students along with opportunities outside of the classroom to apply theory to basic or applied research projects and real-world problems. Master’s students graduate as independent scholars who are competitive applicants to doctoral programs or skilled practitioners in fields outside of academia.
In 2024, College Factual’s ranking system listed UWM’s master’s program in communication number 31 in the country.