Purdue offering online master’s for corporate training and communication leaders

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University is offering a new online master’s degree aimed at preparing students to design, implement, assess, and evaluate training and communication effectiveness in the corporate environment.

Purdue’s Master of Science in graduate studies with a major in corporate training and communication is designed to enhance skills of those charged with communicating and leading training in a variety of organizations and contexts. The new online degree includes an emphasis on uses of strategic communication and of instructional design and technology in corporate training and development.

The online master’s degree in corporate training and communication is a collaboration between Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts and its Brian Lamb School of Communication and Purdue’s College of Education. Graduates receive an interdisciplinary master’s from the Purdue Graduate School. Students also have the option to earn a Graduate Certificate in Strategic Communication Management, a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design, or both certifications.

“The Lamb School is excited about this collaboration between two award-winning graduate programs,” said Marifran Mattson, professor and head of the Lamb School. “Organizations are seeking to develop strategies to effectively engage employees in training and education that prepares them for a variety of industry challenges. Graduates of this new program will be well-equipped to provide strategic leadership and enhanced skills to meet these challenges.”

The courses are taught by the same faculty and instructors as Purdue’s other programs, leaders in the fields of communication, education, learning design and emerging educational technology. The curriculum is research-based, emphasizes current best practices in communication and education, and highlights the latest tools, techniques, strategies and processes.

“I’m delighted that faculty from multiple disciplines have come together to develop a much-needed program for those wanting to expand their skills for the corporate environment or business world,” said Nancy Marchand-Martella, the Suzi and Dale Gallagher Dean of Education. “This new online interdisciplinary master’s program will prepare the students for continued success in their careers.”

Students complete 30 credits over five semesters with a time commitment of approximately 15-20 hours per week. The coursework covers learning theories, instructional design, strategic communication and communication research methods, along with topics such as e-learning and educational applications of multimedia.

The online format allows working professionals who are unable to come to campus for a degree to pursue the master’s degree in corporate training and communication where and when it is feasible for them.

The master’s degree in corporate training and communication is suitable for anyone with an undergraduate degree including early- and mid-career corporate leaders, trainers and compliance officers; human resources personnel; talent developers; internal relations administrators; and public relations and marketing officials, among others, as well as teachers interested in moving to a corporate training role.

Students will gain new knowledge and career-enhancing skills in leadership, management, team building, organizational change, workforce development, professional presentations, communication planning, crisis communication, curriculum development and more.

“While the emphasis is on corporate training and communication, with a wide variety of settings in need of these skills, we believe graduates of this master’s program will find opportunities across industries, from corporations and nonprofit organizations to the military and government,” said Gerry McCartney, executive vice president for Purdue Online.

For more information on Purdue’s master’s degree in corporate training and communication, email and visit the program webpage. 

Writer: Greg Kline, 765-426-8545, gkline@purdue.edu

Sources: Jennifer Richardson jennrich@purdue.edu

Timothy Newby newby@purdue.edu

William (Bart) Collins bcollins@purdue.edu