EHHS Featured Faculty - Jennifer Ray-Tomasek

Professor Jennifer Ray Tomasek

Jennifer Ray-Tomasek, an assistant professor in the School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration, answered 10 questions for the EHHS Featured Faculty series. Q: What subject(s) do you teach? I’m the Undergraduate Program Coordinator for the Professional Studies (PROS) program, a degree-completion program serving students in our own college of EHHS, or students who have returned to college after a long while and simply need a good path forward to obtaining a college degree.  I teach several courses for the program, including a Seminar course, a course on Leadership skills, an...

Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

The Communication and Advocacy graduate certificate meets the growing opportunity to tackle emerging advocacy needs. Students learn to communicate with diverse allies across digital and physical platforms; engage and motivate audiences by clearly, consistently and creatively telling stories worth sharing; and approach advocacy challenges from health, organizational, intercultural, intergroup, global, mediated and persuasion contexts.

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Program Information for Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Communication and Advocacy graduate certificate provides communication professionals and recent graduates the skills and understanding to tackle emerging advocacy needs. Students learn to communicate with diverse allies across digital and physical platforms; engage and motivate audiences by clearly, consistently and creatively telling stories worth sharing; and approach advocacy challenges from health, organizational, intercultural, intergroup, global, mediated and persuasion contexts.

Certificate graduates will have the practical skills to respond to the dynamism that defines contemporary society. Based on current employment statistics and forecasts, the Communication the Advocacy certificate will position graduates for career advancement in multiple employment sectors.

Admissions for Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Sample of scholarly writing
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadline

  • Fall Semester
    • Application deadline: April 15
  • Spring Semester
    • Application deadline: November 15

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Incorporate theories from the field of communication to address advocacy challenges.
  2. Identify advocacy intervention strategies for a variety of target audiences.
  3. Assess communication needs and evaluate advocacy intervention efficacy.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements
COMM 65000FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY 3
Certificate Electives, choose from the following:9
COMM 65070
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
COMM 65662
MEDIA EFFECTS
COMM 65686
INTERCULTURAL AND INTERGROUP COMMUNICATION
COMM 65851
ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
COMM 66501
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
Minimum Total Credit Hours:12

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
3.000 3.000
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

Social and community service managers

17.0%

much faster than the average

175,500

number of jobs

$69,600

potential earnings

Public relations and fundraising managers

9.2%

much faster than the average

88,000

number of jobs

$118,430

potential earnings

Advertising and promotions managers

-1.1%

decline

28,600

number of jobs

$133,460

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Grant awarded to Kent State Geauga to provide occupational safety & health training

As part of a $75,000 grant from OSHA’s Susan Harwood Training Grants Program, Kent State at Geauga is building upon a federally funded, no-cost training program designed to help ensure safe and healthy workplaces in our community. Consistent with its ongoing commitment to lead regional workforce development, Kent State Geauga first offered training sessions in chemical/health hazards safety and workplace violence prevention this past summer.

I AM FIRST week of celebration

Join us for the I AM FIRST week of celebration, Nov. 6-10. Several programs will be held across the Kent State system to honor and celebrate students who will be the first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. In addition to recognizing first-generation students, we will celebrate staff, faculty and advocates for their accomplishments and support of the first-generation student journey. Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Ph.D., dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, will be this year's keynote speaker.

M.A./M.B.A. Dual Degree Program

The School of Communication Studies and Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship also offer a dual-degree program providing students with an opportunity to obtain two degrees at once: a Master of Arts in communication studies (MA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). 

This unique program is particularly attractive for managers, professionals and Bachelor of Arts students looking to enhance their communication skills to influence business in emerging global markets, while also developing skills to augment their own professional careers.

Graduate Assistantships

The School of Communication Studies awards graduate assistantships every academic year to highly qualified graduate student applicants. Awards for students include a nine-month stipend (fall and spring semesters) and a waiver of resident and out-of-state tuition. Graduate assistants can enroll in a subsidized health insurance program through the university. Students with graduate assistantships are also eligible to teach during the summer sessions. These summer appointments provide free tuition for 4 credits of study in addition to a stipend.

Communication Studies - M.A.

The Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies provides a broad spectrum of knowledge about human communication in various social contexts, and the ways in which information is produced and processed. The program prepares individuals to pursue a doctorate degree, as well as for non-academic careers in which a broad understanding of communication theory and research is desirable.

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Program Information for Communication Studies - M.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies is intended to provide a broad spectrum of knowledge about human communication in various social contexts, and the ways in which information is produced and processed. Curriculum focus is on the social and behavioral study of communication theory and research. The program prepares individuals to pursue a doctorate degree, as well as for non-academic careers in which a broad understanding of communication theory and research is desirable.

Admissions for Communication Studies - M.A.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Sample of scholarly writing
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following: 1
    • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 120 DET score

Starting with the spring 2025 admission term, minimum English language proficiency scores will be the following:

  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Application deadline: April 15
  • Spring Semester
    • Application deadline: November 15

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

  1. Read, critique and engage in theory-based research involving a broad spectrum of topics in human communication.
  2. Understand and master appropriate methodological skills for the study of human communication and apply them to relevant and shifting real-world contexts that often include newer communication technologies.
  3. Utilize theory-based and state-of-the-art knowledge to stimulate and improve communication processes in educational, business and nonprofit environments.

Dual Degree

Dual Degree

Dual Degree with Master of Business Administration

Students have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the M.A. degree in Communication Studies and the M.B.A. degree in Business Administration. A separate application must be submitted for each program. Students can view admission requirements for each program on their respective catalog page.

The dual M.A./M.B.A. degree program is designed for students and professionals whose career goals focus on communication, particularly global communication, and provides direction and leadership in economic and business development processes.

Dual Degree Requirements

Major Requirements
ACCT 63037FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING 2
ACCT 63038MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING 2
BA 64005ANALYTICS FOR DECISION MAKING 2
or COMM 65020 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN COMMUNICATION
BA 64026SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 2
CIS 64042GLOBALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY 2
COMM 65000FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY 3
COMM 65652THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION 3
COMM 65851ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION 3
ECON 62021MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 2
ECON 62022MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS 2
FIN 66050LAW AND ETHICS 2
FIN 66060MANAGERIAL FINANCE 2
HRM 64271HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 2
MGMT 68051BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I 1
MKTG 65051MARKETING MANAGEMENT 2
Business Electives6-7
Communication Studies (COMM) Electives 112-15
Culmininating Requirement
MGMT 64399BUSINESS STRATEGY 3
Choose from the following: 13-6
COMM 60199
THESIS I
COMM 61198
MASTERS PROJECT IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
COMM 64092
MASTERS INTERNSHIP IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Coursework
Minimum Total Credit Hours:60

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
CCI 61000QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION 3
or CCI 62000 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
COMM 65000FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY 3
COMM 65652THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION 3
Communication Studies (COMM) Graduate Electives (50000 or 60000 level) 115-18
Culminating Requirement
Choose from the following:3-6
COMM 60199
THESIS I
COMM 61198
MASTERS PROJECT IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
COMM 64092
MASTERS INTERNSHIP IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Coursework-Only Option
Minimum Total Credit Hours:30
1

A minimum 9 credit hours must be at the 60000 level. A maximum 6 credit hours may be taken from courses outside of the School of Communication Studies. A maximum 4 credit hours of workshop coursework may be taken. Some examples of routinely offered electives include COMM 65070, COMM 65662, COMM 65686, COMM 65851 and COMM 66501.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Communication Studies - M.A.

Communications teachers, postsecondary

3.2%

about as fast as the average

35,600

number of jobs

$71,030

potential earnings

Market research analysts and marketing specialists

17.7%

much faster than the average

738,100

number of jobs

$65,810

potential earnings

Public relations and fundraising managers

9.2%

much faster than the average

88,000

number of jobs

$118,430

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
President's Perspective
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President's Perspective - Practicing Peace

Practicing Peace When I welcomed Kent State University’s Class of 2027 during our annual convocation ceremony in August, I encouraged our students to become comfortable around others who are different from them: different ethnicities, different religions, different sexual identities, different places of origin.  One thing we all understand about the university experience is that it provides an opportunity for everyone to broaden their horizons, to learn and grow in ways that surpass academic education. That is why so many of our alumni repeatedly use the phrase “life-changing” w...

Communication Studies-to-Law Pathway Program

Communication Studies-to-Law Pathway Program

Written and oral communication skills are essential to the practice of law. This makes Communication Studies an excellent major for law school-bound students. At Kent State University choosing Communication Studies as your pre-law major will give you both a skillset you need to succeed — and low-cost, fast-track pathways to well-respected law schools in the Northeast Ohio region:

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