As a graduate student in the Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies, you will be immersed in the integration of a humanities education with practical application and a commitment to communication in the marketplace—whether corporate, academic or not-for-profit.

Consistent with the mission of Duquesne University, you will join a conversation that will expand your horizons through the unity of liberal arts and professional education, moral issues and secular excellence.

The Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies offers graduate degrees (four M.A. programs and a Ph.D. program in rhetoric) intentionally situated within a series of what the philosophical author, scholar and literary translator Martin Buber referred to as a unity of contraries.

That is, as a graduate student, you will embrace the productive tensions between theory and practice, preparation for teaching and for the professional world, recruitment of traditional and nontraditional students, excellence in teaching and scholarship, professional expectations and an open intellectual community.

Graduate Program Tracks

Our master of arts program in corporate communication will prepare you for communication management positions in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Designed with both recent graduates and working professionals in mind, the program provides you with a broad, intellectually rigorous foundation in professional communication to prepare you for ethical leadership in the marketplace.

 Explore Corporate Communication
The M.A. in communication is a flexible program that draws from the richness of the communication field to allow you to pursue a number of interests and professional goals.

 Explore Communication
Grounded in the department's established commitment to the philosophical student of communication, the master of arts emphasis in rhetoric & philosophy of communication provides you with a traditional liberal arts education for leadership in academia, law and the marketplace. You'll be immersed in fundamental courses for a doctoral degree or enhancement of a liberal arts foundation in communication. Explore Rhetoric & Philosophy of Communication
This 66-credit combined master's program is perfect if you are torn between seeking an MBA through the School of Business and an M.A. through the College of Liberal Arts. You will have the opportunity to take classes through both schools and finish with both degrees. Explore Dual the Degree
The Ph.D. in rhetoric invites you to understand and engage rhetorical and philosophical communication assumptions. The 36-credit curriculum frames a "Rhetoric & Philosophy of . . ." communication program emphasizing a praxis understanding of communication that moves theory into application.

 Explore Rhetoric
Sarah Deiullis

“The department prepares students for their careers through several professional development opportunities while also assisting them with finding internship opportunities, cover letters, resumes and interview skills.”

—Sarah M. DeIuliis Assistant Professor

Application Criteria

Students must submit official undergraduate transcripts directly to Duquesne University that show a 3.0 QPA or higher. 

Students must submit GRE scores showing above-average performance.

Codes for GRE:

  • 2196 (Duquesne University)
  • 4599 (Communication)

Students must submit a writing sample within a collegiate or business setting.

Students should submit three letters of recommendation from individuals that can speak to their academic and professional performance.

Students should submit a statement of professional and career goals in 500 words or less. This statement should identify the precise M.A. program to which the student is applying: M.A. in Communication (including the emphasis that the student is selecting); Online M.A. in Corporate Communication; or M.A. in Rhetoric & Philosophy of Communication.

Contact for more info

Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies