The MA/COM program began the 2000 fall semester with 63 enrollments. It offers a diverse curriculum structured to prepare students for careers in business communication, marketing, advertising, mass media, public relations, entertainment, broadcast or print journalism, sales, the world wide web, writing, or education.

Dr. Helen Varner, HPU Dean of Communication, said that while many current students are continuing their education in traditional communications studies, there are also many from non-related fields. The appeal of the program, she added, is that no matter what field the student is pursuing, effective communication skills enhance opportunities for advancement and will be used throughout one’s career.

"Regardless of what your undergraduate field is—whether it be psychology, accounting, history, or English, whatever career you’re in—this graduate program will prepare you to do it more effectively," said Varner. "When you think about it, success in any career field is dependent on good communication skills."

New MA/COM student Alicia Maluafiti realized that she would need to further her education and background in communications to continue a successful 10-year career in Community and Government Relations at HMSA. The MA/COM program offered exactly what she was looking for.

"I realize that my work experience has accounted for my success to some degree," said Maluafiti. "But I need to demonstrate additional competencies in the area of communications and be able to add value to the strategic direction of the company. A Masters in Communication will help me gain the skills and knowledge I’ll need to further advance in my career."

Maluafeti said that, she appreciated the fact that her classes were offered in the evening, allowing her to continue her daytime employment.

"The program works out great because it’s so flexible," she said. "It really works for students like me who work full-time and also want to attend school on a full-time basis."

Dr. Gary Wilson, coordinator of the MA/COM program, developed much of the programs’ structure and is one of the persons Varner credits with a leadership role in the new program. Wilson was excited to see the strong enrollment numbers and the enthusiasm of the incoming students. He was also intrigued by the varied backgrounds of those enrolled, and feels this broad base of experiences lends to the exchange of new ideas.

Wilson said that, traditionally, graduate programs in communications tended to focus on just one field, such as journalism. Students would have to go outside of the program for exposure to other fields. The advantage of the HPU program, is its broad spectrum of study.

"We have instruction in a broad-base of areas, all within the communication division," said Wilson. "Instead of confining a student to one area of study, we require them to be exposed to all aspects of the field of communication."

Wilson said this exposure not only helps students explore the wide-range of career possibilities in the field, but also, with the dynamics of emerging technologies, provides them essential working knowledge of different types of media.

Susanna Tseng, now a HPU student, was about to enroll in speech communications at West Texas A&M University. When she heard about HPU’s new program, she decided to transfer.

"HPU is offering a good balance between theory and actual practice," said Tseng. "The Masters in Communication program not only gives me a good foundation in communication knowledge, but can also give me realistic skills for developing my future career."

Suzan Forbes, a new graduate student, wants to pursue a career in radio and television. She began taking concurrent master’s degree classes while earning her B.S. in Marketing.

"I feel this degree will enhance my career because it instills confidence that wasn’t there before," said Forbes. "I feel confident in the way HPU makes a commitment to its students and their education. That really helped me to make the decision to enroll in the program."