Why study Communication and Leadership at Washburn?
The Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership helps you become a collaborative and innovative leader who demonstrates effective communication skills, self-awareness and strategic thinking. This online, flexible program is designed for professionals interested in a graduate degree for career advancement. Leadership, teamwork, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities are the attributes most desired by employers, and this curriculum addresses them all.Advance your career
Good leaders must have the ability to communicate, and effective communication skills can make the difference between being a follower and a leader in the work place. This interdisciplinary program combines the best of skills, theory, and practical experiences in both fields to set the stage for graduates who succeed and are able to lead in myriad professional settings. Our faculty are enthusiastic teachers and past and current administrators who know the power of both skill sets and are committed to helping students develop in whatever professional environment they choose.
Financial aid
Financial aid is available for graduate students.
Tuition
All courses in this program are offered at the Graduate Distance Education rate.
Meet Graduate John Haverty
John Haverty didn’t start his Washburn journey the conventional way, beginning college at another university. But the more Haverty visited Washburn, the more he realized how much his friends on our campus loved being Ichabods.
Haverty made the decision to transfer in 1990s and has never looked back, even working on campus for 25 years now.
“It’s a great place to work, a great place to go to school,” he said.
Haverty recently earned his second degree at Washburn, receiving a Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership. Because he worked on campus, Haverty had the opportunity to take one course a semester at no cost.
“It’s one of the benefits of working here,” he said. “It can be applied to anything, and I decided to apply it to getting my master’s.”
Haverty also knew from his time as an undergraduate student (he received a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems) that graduate school at Washburn would be a unique experience.
“I knew that if I needed to get ahold of an instructor, I could stop by and seem them,” said Haverty, the chief information officer at Washburn. “They knew who I was; they’d call on you by name. In the master’s program, that did not change at all.”
This is a 30-credit degree program. All courses are offered online in eight-week terms. Two eight-week online courses are offered each semester in a rotation that provides convenience and flexibility for the working graduate student and allows the program to be completed in as little as two years.
The courses:
- CN 601 Intro to Graduate Study in Communication Studies (3)
- LE 601 Self and Systems Leadership (3)
- LE 620 Leadership and Resource Stewardship (3)
- LE 630 Organizational Improvement and Innovation (3)
- CN 630 Communication in Conflict and Negotiation (3)
- LE 640 Public Policy and Global Leadership (3)
- CN 642 Team Communication in Organizations (3)
- CN 645: Community Dialogue & Deliberation (3)
- CN 650 Persuasion (3)
- CN 698 or LE 698 Capstone (3)
A full-time student can finish the program in two years by following the schedule below:
1st year
- Fall: CN 601, LE 601
- Spring: CN 680, LE 630
- Summer: CN 650
2nd year
- Fall: CN 630, LE 620
- Spring: CN 642, LE 640
- Summer: CN/LE 698
How to apply
The Washburn University Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership is a 30 graduate credit hour interdisciplinary degree program that provides knowledge, skills, and experiences for continuous self and system improvement within a complex, changing, and global context.
The program is designed to develop collaborative, adaptive and innovative leaders, with a focus on self-awareness, strategic thinking, and exceptional communication skills. The program can be completed entirely online within two years using highly interactive and intuitive learning management and video conference systems.
Application deadline: June 1 for August start. Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered but are not guaranteed a review or admission.
Requirements: Applicants will need to upload an unofficial transcript and a current resume in order to complete the application. Bachelor’s degrees from all disciplines are welcome.
Other items needed to complete the application are based on your undergraduate GPA as follows:
- Students with at least a 3.5 undergraduate GPA (cumulative or in their last 60 hours) can just fill in the application and submit transcripts and resume to be accepted.
- Students with a 3.0-3.49 undergraduate GPA (cumulative or in their last 60 hours) must submit the application, transcripts, resume, and a writing sample from an undergraduate class.
- Students with a 2.5-2.99 undergraduate GPA (cumulative or in their last 60 hours) must submit the application, transcript, resume, a writing sample from an undergraduate class, and at least one recommendation as currently facilitated via CollegeNet.
- Students with an undergraduate GPA below a 2.5 (cumulative or in their last 60 hours) must submit the application, transcript, resume, a writing sample from an undergraduate course, and contact information for 3 persons who can provide a recommendation as currently facilitated via CollegeNet.
- NOTE: Students with an UG GPA below a 2.5 GPA will be considered for conditional admission provided all other aspects of their application check out. This will require the student to maintain a 3.0 GPA in their first two courses in the program.
- Hold a university credential that is equivalent to a US baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree.
- All Transcripts from non-US institutions must be evaluated by a recognized evaluation service (e.g. ECE or WES).
- Arrange for three letters of reference to be submitted by academicians, employers, or other persons who can attest to the applicant’s potential for success in graduate study in communication and leadership. These letters should be sent to the Communication Studies Department, Morgan 206, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas 66621
- Meet the required level of English proficiency by iBT TOEFL score, IELTS, or another accepted measure of English proficiency. Contact international@washburn.edu with questions regarding this requirement.
- Submit the required international application materials to the Office of International Programs. View a complete list of the required documentation.
Contact Us
For more information on how a Washburn University Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership degree can make a difference in your life and career, contact James Schnoebelen, Program Director and Professor, jim.schnoebelen@washburn.edu or 785-670-1426.
GET IN TOUCH WITH Department of Communication Studies
Communication Studies Department
Morgan Hall, Room 206
1700 SW College Ave
Topeka, KS 66621
Phone & Email
Phone: 785-670-2230
communication@washburn.edu
