Master of Arts in Professional Communication

The Master of Arts in Professional Communication (MAPC) introduces students to professional communication principles needed for success in a variety of fields and industries. Through a blend of theory and practice the program is designed for anyone wishing to develop their communication skills and knowledge. Students will gain experience with masterful presentation techniques, theories of organizational communication, crisis communication, conflict management and the effective use and evaluation of visuals and media.

The program prepares students with training in oral, written and visual communication skills required of communication practitioners in a variety of 21st-century fields.

UTampa's goal in developing this program centers on creating an inspiring, competitive and succinct professional program in communication rooted in real-world examples, cases and applications. provides students with a diverse set of communication skills intended for large and small groups. Specific areas of study include persuasion, ethics, professional writing, intercultural studies, visual rhetoric, data presentation and synthesis, effective integration of digital communication tools, messaging strategy, negotiation and conflict management, and organizational communication and leadership.

General Admission Requirements

The M.A. in Professional Communication requires the following documentation for admission:

Completed application
Official transcripts*
TOEFL/IETLS (for those applicants whose primary language is not English)*
Professional résumé
Personal statement:

Why did you choose this program?
What can you contribute to the incoming MAPC cohort?
What are your professional aspirations or goals, and how do you envision this degree helping you reach them?
What key aspects of your experience, skills, or character would you like the admissions committee to consider as it reviews your application?

Two names of academic or professional references of individuals who can attest to the applicant's background and potential in social and emerging media (waived for UTampa grads)

*All official transcripts and scores must be sent directly from the institution. If sending electronically, please select “The University of Tampa Graduate School.”

Guaranteed Admission for UTampa Graduates
Students and alumni who have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from UTampa with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 will be guaranteed admissions to the MAPC program provided other stated requirements are satisfied. The admissions application fee, reference forms, and TOEFL requirements are waived. All other admissions requirements apply. The guaranteed admission opportunity recognizes the exceptional quality of UTampa’s academic programs, and the University’s mission to support continuing education and professional growth.

Academic Standards
MAPC requires a minimum 3.0 GPA for good academic standing and eligibility to graduate. Any student that fails to meet this standard will be placed on academic probation. If they don’t meet the 3.0 GPA standard within eight credit hours, they will be dismissed from the program. If they return to good academic standing during the probationary period, they must maintain a 3.0 GPA for the remainder of the program. If not, they will be immediately dismissed. Similarly, students conditionally accepted into MAPC will already be under probation during their first eight credit hours of coursework and be dismissed if their GPA falls below 3.0. The minimum passing grade in a MAPC graduate course is a “C.” Students may be allowed to repeat one course, but the MAPC does not offer grade forgiveness. This means the original grade will still be included in the calculation of that student’s overall GPA.

Capstone Project
The capstone project is the ﬁnal course in the MAPC curriculum and culminates in a project that demonstrates the student’s expertise in the field. The capstone experience is largely independent, and students will choose a faculty advisor with whom to formulate a process and complete a project.

Institutional Repository
After departmental approval, students are required to submit an electronic version of their final project to the Macdonald-Kelce Library for inclusion in the digital repository, which is accessible on the internet. Embargoes restricting full access to only the UTampa community may be selected for one, three or five years, before the work is released freely on the web through the repository. Students also have the option to release the work for immediate access worldwide.

Degree Requirements

Core Courses (20 credits, all required)

MAPC 601	Leadership and Professional Communication	4
MAPC 602	Global Communication Design	4
MAPC 603	Organizational and Strategic Communication	4
MAPC 604	Conflict Resolution	4
MAPC 605	Data Analytics and Research Strategies	4
Total Credit Hours:		20

Capstone Project or Thesis

MAPC 700	Capstone in Professional Communication	4
Total Credit Hours:		4

Elective Courses (8 credits from the following)

MAPC 610	Digital Communication Practice	4
MAPC 612	Ethics and Communication Law	4
MAPC 613	Popular Communication	4
MAPC 614	Issues in Communication	4
MAPC 615	Communication in Motion	4
MAPC 616	Communication in the Academy	4
MAPC 617	Creativity, Mindfulness, and Practice of Communication	4
MAPC 620	Instructional Communication	4
MAPC 690	Independent Study in MAPC	1-4 Variable
SEM 605	Emerging Technologies and Applications	4
Total Credit Hours:		8

Total Credit Hours: 32