Master’s in Communication Studies
Among the top programs in the nation for research productivity, our program helps students develop fundamental understandings of communication theory and research. Emphases include interpersonal and family communication, organizational communication, persuasion and health communication and instructional communication. Graduates of our program go on to continue their education in well-established Ph.D. programs while others take advantage of a wide variety of professional opportunities in communication and business industries.
Financial Awards
We do not want the cost of a graduate education to prohibit you from pursuing your goals. We are able to support the goals of many of our students through merit-based tuition waivers that cover all or part of a student’s tuition and Graduate Teaching Assistantships that provide a monthly stipend to help with other expenses. These assistantships also provide students with the opportunity to work closely with faculty in ways that advance their understanding of the discipline.
Meet some of our Communication Studies graduate students
Breanna Burns
Breanna Burns
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Brigham Young University
Hometown: Allen, Texas
Master’s Program: Communication Studies
Why did you choose Texas Christian University?
I’ve always loved TCU! I love the school spirit, the quality of education and being surround by like-minded ambitious peers. (The colors are fun, too!)
Why did you choose communication studies?
TCU’s Communication Studies program has been my top choice since I began researching graduate programs. The faculty’s impressive list of awards, accolades and achievements speaks to their wealth of knowledge and excellence in the field, but more importantly, their commitment to how they teach and mentor their students is unmatched. The professors involve their students with such intentionality throughout their academic work that it has become something I aspire to re-create with my own future students.
What are you interested in researching and/or learning about?
I’m currently interested in interpersonal relationships, identity and organizational communication research.
What are your internships, responsibilities, and/or hobbies outside of classes?
I love to be active outside of class! Biking, dancing, running, working out, etc. The list goes on and on. I’m currently training for an Ironman that I hope to complete in 2026. I adore creating memories any chance I get with my dear friends, whether that’s a girls’ night out, exploring the big city or simply trying a new activity.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
I’m hoping graduate school can solidify what my next step will be. I’m in-between either a Ph.D. in communication studies or law school after graduation. Either way, defiantly more school after graduating from TCU! Go frogs!
Mandy Fischer
Mandy Fischer
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Biola University in California
Hometown: Los Altos, California
Master’s Program: Communication Studies
Why did you choose Texas Christian University?
I chose TCU because of the supportive culture and incredible mentorship. I heard about the research productivity of the university and was excited to learn from some of the top communication scholars! Also, I was very excited about the opportunity to teach undergrad public speaking through the graduate teaching assistantship.
Why did you choose communication studies?
In undergrad, I discovered a passion for both communication and research and I chose to pursue my master’s in Comm Studies to continue learning about what I love at a deeper level. Specifically, I’m excited to grow in my knowledge of qualitative research and the subfield of organizational communication.
What are you interested in researching and/or learning about?
Some of my research interests include studying the balance of productivity and rest in a workaholic culture and studying successful leadership within organizations and how that influences team dynamics.
What are your internships, responsibilities, and/or hobbies outside of classes?
One of my primary responsibilities is working as a graduate teaching assistant and teaching two sections of the public speaking course: Communicating Effectively. Outside of class, I am involved in Bible studies, and I joined a run club in Fort Worth!
What do you hope to do after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to pursue my Ph.D. in Communication and continue researching! I love the idea of becoming a communication professor, since my professors have been so impactful for my personal growth and professional direction. I hope that I can have a similar impact on students if I have the opportunity to teach!
Cayd Rocha-Barnette
Cayd Rocha-Barnette
Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communication from Baylor University
Hometown: Abilene
Master’s Program: Communication Studies
Why did you choose Texas Christian University?
I chose Texas Christian University for its welcoming atmosphere and vibrant student life. I had always heard great things about TCU, especially the strong sense of community on campus. Beyond academics, TCU truly excels in every aspect—creating an environment where students can thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
Why did you choose communication studies?
I chose Communication Studies because one of my favorite professors, Dr. Kaitlin Phillips, who is at Baylor University and a graduate of this department—encouraged me to explore the program. She spoke very highly of the faculty and opportunities here, and she also helped me connect with several professors who guided me along the way in selecting a master’s program.
What are you interested in researching and/or learning about?
I’m especially interested in areas such as the use of AI, health communication, and family communication. Each of these topics feels important and relevant in today’s world, and I enjoy learning how communication plays a role in shaping the way people connect and understand one another. At the moment, I find health communication fascinating because of the way it combines research, real-world application, and impact on people’s everyday lives. I look forward to learning more about this area throughout my studies and gaining a stronger understanding of how communication can improve health outcomes and relationships.
What are your internships, responsibilities, and/or hobbies outside of classes?
Outside of class, I enjoy staying active and spending time with friends. Specifically, I love playing tennis, rowing and watching WWE. Back at Baylor, each of these activities helped me build lasting friendships and connections, and I’m excited to continue pursuing them here as well. They’ve been a big part of my life for the past three years, both for fun and for the relationships they’ve helped me form.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. program in communication. My long-term goal is to become a professor, where I can combine my passion for teaching with my interest in research. I’m especially excited about the opportunity to study health communication and AI, exploring how these areas intersect and impact people’s everyday lives. Through both teaching and research, I hope to contribute to the field while helping students discover their own paths in communication.
A Letter from the Director
Greeting to Prospective Graduate Students
On behalf of the faculty and students of Texas Christian University, welcome to the Department of Communication Studies! Pursuing a graduate degree is a big decision, and we look forward to answering any questions or inquiries you might have. Choosing the right graduate program typically involves thinking about the program’s emphases, faculty mentors, research and teaching opportunities, departmental climate, location, and cost. With these considerations in mind, let me introduce our department to you in this letter….
Read in FullAugust 2025
Greeting to Prospective Graduate Students:
On behalf of the faculty and students of Texas Christian University, welcome to the Department of Communication Studies! Pursuing a graduate degree is a big decision, and we look forward to answering any questions or inquiries you might have.
Choosing the right graduate program typically involves thinking about the program’s emphases, faculty mentors, research and teaching opportunities, departmental climate, location and cost. With these considerations in mind, let me introduce our department to you.
TCU’s mission is to educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in a global community. In our graduate program, we hope to further the university’s mission statement by offering a close working and mentoring community.
We focus intensely on a small number of in-residence graduate students, and our students develop fundamental understandings of communication theory and research. We offer a Master of Science degree in Communication Studies, with emphases in interpersonal and family communication, organizational communication and health communication. Our graduate catalog has a complete list of graduate courses. We are committed to the integration of these areas of study, and our students develop both the content knowledge and the research tools necessary for conducting independent research projects (e.g., a publishable academic study, a well-designed corporate attitude survey or a communication audit).
All full-time communication studies faculty are active in research, teaching and service activities.
- As of August 2025, ComAnalytics cited our faculty as having the highest total number of publications and the highest total prestige score for their publications among all master’s level programs.
- Our program received the 2016 Outstanding Master’s Degree Program Award from the National Communication Association.
- In recent years, faculty members have received numerous research and teaching awards, some of which include
- the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar
- the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Masters Education Division of NCA
- the Bernard J. Brommel Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Family Communication
- two TCU Dean’s Awards for Research, and
- more than 50 Top Paper Awards from NCA and other regional associations.
Most important, the faculty have established a tradition of teaching excellence and a departmental climate conducive to mentoring graduate students.
Our graduates are qualified to pursue further study toward advanced academic and professional degrees, or to take advantage of a wide variety of professional opportunities in business and communication industries, including human resources, training and development, digital analytics, public relations, corporate consulting and managerial positions. Some of our graduates also continue their education in well-established Ph.D. programs. Within the last five years, we have placed students in doctoral programs at Cornell University, Arizona State University, West Virginia University, and the Universities of Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, South Florida, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Our graduate students pay no tuition. We offer Graduate Teaching Assistantships that will pay tuition costs and, depending upon the award, a monthly stipend to help students with other expenses. Our GTAs are provided with office space, travel support for conferences and the opportunity to work in our basic communication course.
Fort Worth, Texas, is a wonderfully vibrant place to live. It is the 11th largest city in the United States, one of “America’s Most Livable Communities” and rated as one of the Top 10 Cities for Young Professionals. From the Historic Stockyards, to remarkable museums, to the famous Sundance Square—which includes an array of shops and restaurants and is located less than 15 minutes from campus—Fort Worth is large enough to provide the amenities of a thriving metropolitan area, yet not so large that it loses its Texas charm and neighborly feel. Other entertainment and employment opportunities abound in the remaining cities located within the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex, including a variety of theaters, museums, professional sports, shopping and media outlets. For more information, check out fortworth.com.
To complete the application process, apply to TCU Graduate Studies.
Our initial deadline for fall admission to receive priority consideration for funding support is Feb. 1. Assistantships are awarded as they are approved, so early applications are encouraged. Applications for admission should include an application form, a non-refundable application fee of $60, official transcripts, an academic/professional objectives statement and three letters of recommendation.
We look forward to hearing from you! Please feel free to contact me or other TCU faculty members for more information.
Sincerely,
Paul Schrodt, Ph.D.
Professor and Graduate Director
Department of Communication Studies
817-257-5674
p.schrodt@tcu.edu
Nationally Recognized Faculty
Committed to Teaching and Mentoring
Timothy Betts
Organizational Communication Research Methods
Timothy Betts
Assistant Professor
Professional Affiliations
- National Communication Association
- Pi Kappa Delta
Selected Publications
- Betts, T., & Buzzanell, P. M. (2022). Enacting economic resilience: A synthesis of economic and communication frameworks. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 15(4), 178. [Link]
- Betts, T., Hintz, E. A., & Buzzanell, P. M. (2021). Emplotting Anticipatory Resilience: An Antenarrative Extension of the Communication Theory of Resilience. Communication Monographs, 89(2), 211-234. [Link]
- Hintz, E. A., & Betts, T. (2022). Reddit in communication research: Current status, future directions, best practices. Annals of the International Communication Association, 46(2), 116-133. [Link]
Kristen Carr
Communicative development of resilience to adversity
Relational outcomes of interpersonal communication while negotiating non-normative experiences
Kristen Carr
Associate Professor
Selected Academic Publications and Presentations
- Personal Relationships
- Journal of Family Communication
- Health Communication
- Communication Education
Honors & Awards
- Top Paper awards from the National Communication Association
- Top Paper awards from the Central States Communication Association
- Bruce Kendall Teaching Award
- Top Paper award from the International Communication Association
Professional Affiliations and Associations
- National Communication Association
- Central States Communication Association
- International Communication Association
Johny Garner
Organizational communication: supervisor-subordinate communication, group processes in organizations, organizational dynamics in churches and other nonprofit organizations
Johny Garner
Professor
Selected Academic Publications and Presentations
- Sunday Democracies: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Members’ Perceptions of Church Authority and Organizational Dissent. Journal of Applied Communication Research.
- Open Doors and Iron Cages: Management Responses to Employee Dissent. International Journal of Business Communication.
- Different Ways to Disagree: A Study of Organizational Dissent to Explore Connections between Mixed Methods Research and Engaged Scholarship. Journal of Mixed Methods Research.
- Nothing to Laugh About: Student Interns’ Use of Humor in Response to Workplace Dissatisfaction. Southern Communication Journal.
- Changes in Eye Contact and Attraction Scores Relative to Ostracism and Dissent. Small Group Research.
- Dissenters, managers, and coworkers: The process of co-constructing organizational dissent and dissent effectiveness. Management Communication Quarterly.
- Making waves at work: Perceived effectiveness and appropriateness of organizational dissent messages. Management Communication Quarterly.
- When things go wrong at work: An exploration of organizational dissent messages. Communication Studies.
Previous Experience
Assistant professor at Pepperdine University.
Honors & Awards
- B. Aubrey Fisher Award, top article in Western Journal of Communication
- Top Paper, Group Communication Division, NCA
- Top Paper, Nonverbal Communication Division, NCA
- Top Paper, Group Communication Division, NCA
- Top Paper, Group Communication Division, NCA
Professional Affiliations and Associations
- National Communication Association
- International Communication Association
Britney Gilmore
Organizational communication Occupational narratives Issues of identity in the workplace and in professional life
Britney Gilmore
Assistant Professor
Selected Academic Publications and Presentations
- Gilmore, B. N., & Kramer, M. W. (2019). We are who we say we are: Teachers’ shared identity in the workplace. Communication Education, 68, 1-19.
doi: 10.1080/03634523.2018.1536271 - Gilmore, B. N. (2023). ‘I’m just a big teddy bear’: An analysis of men’s professional identity narratives in caring occupations. Communication Studies.
doi: 10.1080/10510974.2023.2271206
Professional Affiliations and Associations
National Communication Association
Amorette Hinderaker
Argumentation and debate
Organizational communication
Religious communication
Intersection between religious and political rhetoric
Amorette Hinderaker
Convener of Debates and Associate Professor
Selected Academic Publications and Presentations
- Severing primary ties: Exit from totalistic organizations. Western Journal of Communication.
- The long road out: Exit stories from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Communication Studies.
- Speaking up on my way out the door: A close examination of church exit and members’ dissent. Journal of Communication and Religion.
Previous Experience
Director of Forensics at North Dakota State University
Professional Affiliations and Associations
- National Communication Association
- Pi Kappa Delta
- National Forensic Association
- National Parliamentary Debate Association
- American Forensic Association
Andrew Ledbetter
Maintaining interpersonal relationships using technology; how attitudes toward technology shape its use; family communication patterns
Andrew Ledbetter
Chair of Communication Studies and Professor
Selected Academic Publications and Presentations
- Ledbetter, A. M. (in press). Parent-child privacy boundary conflict strategies across the first year of college: Mediating family communication patterns, predicting psychosocial distress. Human Communication Research.
- Taylor, S. H., Ledbetter, A. M., & Mazer, J. P. (in press). Initial specification and empirical test of media enjoyment theory. Communication Research.
- Buckner, M. M., Ledbetter, A. M., & Payne, H. J. (2018). Family communication patterns as predictors of organizational dissent: A replication study. Communication Studies, 69, 325-335.
- Ledbetter, A. M., & Finn, A. N. (2018). Perceived teacher credibility and students’ affect as a function of instructors’ use of PowerPoint and email. Communication Education, 67, 31-51.
- Shimkowski, J. R., & Ledbetter, A. M. (2018). Parental divorce disclosures and young adults’ emotion regulation strategies. Journal of Family Communication, 18, 185-201.
- Phillips, K. E., Ledbetter, A. M., Soliz, J., & Bergquist, G. (2018). Investigating the interplay between identity gaps and communication patterns in predicting relational intentions in families in the United States. Journal of Communication, 68, 590-611.
- Taylor, S. H., & Ledbetter, A. M. (2017). Extending media multiplexity theory to the extended family: Communication satisfaction and tie strength as moderators of violations of media use expectations. New Media & Society, 19, 1369-1387.
- Hendry, M. P., & Ledbetter, A. M. (2017). Narrating the past, enhancing the present: The associations among genealogical communication, family communication patterns, and family satisfaction. Journal of Family Communication, 17, 117-136.
- Kaufmann, R. M., Buckner, M. M., & Ledbetter, A. M. (2017). Having fun on Facebook?: Mothers’ enjoyment as a moderator of well-being and Facebook use. Health Communication, 8, 1014-1023.
- Ledbetter, A. M. (2017). Relational maintenance behavior and shared TV viewing as mediators of the association between romanticism and romantic relationship quality. Communication Studies, 68, 95-114.
Previous Experience
Assistant Professor, Ohio University School of Communication Studies, 2007-2010
Honors & Awards
- Multiple top paper awards
- A First Look at Communication Theory (10th ed.)
- Directed Sam Taylor’s master’s thesis, which received the Outstanding Thesis Award from the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association.
- Outstanding Mentor Award from the Master’s Education Division of the National Communication Association.
- Article of the Year Award from the Journal of Family Communication
- Early Career Award from the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association.
- NCA “Teachers on Teaching” recognition.
- Outstanding New Teacher Award from the Central States Communication Association.
- Research featured in The Atlantic.
Professional Affiliations and Associations
- National Communication Association
- Central States Communication Association
Lindsey Meeks
Political communication; gender and race; elections; news media; social and digital media
Lindsey Meeks
Associate Professor
Associate Director of Schieffer Media Insights Lab
Selected Academic Publications and Presentations
The (vice) presidential pivot? Examining Kamala Harris’s messaging before and after the 2022 midterms. Presidential Studies Quarterly
Sheriffs, school boards, and the necessity of pro-democracy news in local elections. In Johnson, T., & Veenstra, A. (Eds.), The press and democratic backsliding: How journalism has failed the public and how it can revive democracy.
#politicalcommunicationsowhite: A call for considering race in the undergraduate political communication course. Journal of Communication Pedagogy
Promising a greener Paris: Anne Hidalgo’s framing of environmental issues in her mayoral campaigns. Environmental Communication
“Mask up. Pony up. Vote.” Examining university e-mails surrounding the 2020 U.S. elections. Communication and Democracy
When two become one? Examining Kamala Harris and Joe Biden’s campaign themes from primary to general election. Presidential Studies Quarterly
Previous Experience
Associate Professor, University of Oklahoma
Professional Affiliations and Associations
- National Communication Association
- International Communication Association
Chris R. Sawyer
Communication Apprehension
Instructional communication
Physiology of Communication
Chris R. Sawyer
Professor
Selected Academic Publications and Presentations
- Communication apprehension and public speaking instruction. In P. Witt (Ed.), Handbooks of Communication Science: Vol. 22, Communication and Learning.
- Motivational factors and communication competence. In A. F. Hannawa & B. H. Spitzberg (Eds.), Handbook of Communication Competence.
- Profiles of response stereotypy and specificity for public speaking state anxiety. In J. M. Honecutt, C. R. Sawyer, & S. A. Keaton (Eds.), The Influence of Communication on Physiology and Health
- The Influence of Communication on Physiology and Health.
- Listening fidelity among native and nonnative English-speaking undergraduates as a function of listening apprehension and gender. Communication Research Reports.
- Components of students’ grade expectations for public speaking assignments. Communication Education.
- Psychophysiological patterns of arousal in communication. In M. J. Beatty & J. C. McCroskey (eds.), Biological Dimensions of Communication: Perspectives, Methods, and Research.
Previous Experience
Chair of NCA’s Communication Apprehension and Avoidance Commission
Honors & Awards
- Nomination for Minnie Stephens Piper Foundation award
- Twice recipient of College of Communication Distinguished Research and Creative Activity Award
- Recipient, Deans Research and Creative Activity Award
- Top Paper Awards from Communication Apprehension and Competence Division of the National Communication Association for 2016, 2015, 2010, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004.
- Top Paper Award from Basic Course Division of the National Communication Association for 2014 & 2012.
- Top Conference Paper from the International Listening Association.
- Named Top Ten Scholar in Communication Studies, 1915-2006
- Article of the Year Award from the Communication Apprehension and Competence Division of the National Communication Association.
Professional Affiliations and Associations
- National Communication Association
- Southern States Communication Association
- Eastern Communication Association
Paul Schrodt
Family communication and interpersonal communication
Communicative cognitions and behaviors that facilitate family relationships
Message strategies and behaviors that facilitate stepfamily functioning
Paul Schrodt
Philip J. & Cheryl C. Burguières Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Selected Academic Publications and Presentations
- Communication Monographs
- Human Communication Research
- Personal Relationships
- Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
- Journal of Family Communication
- Communication Quarterly
- Communication Studies
- Western Journal of Communication
Previous Experience
- Prior to TCU, taught at the University of Nebraska, the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Kansas.
- Former Chair of the Interpersonal and Family Communication Divisions of the National Communication Association.
- Currently Editor-in-Chief of Communication Monographs.
Honors & Awards
- 45 Top Paper awards from national and regional associations
- Bernard J. Brommel Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Family Communication
- Early Career Award in Interpersonal Communication from NCA
- Sandra Petronio Dissertation Award from the Family Communication Division
- Outstanding New Teacher Award from CSCA
- Franklin H. Knower Article Award from the Interpersonal Communication Division
- 2013 Dean’s Research and Creative Activity Award from TCU
Professional Affiliations and Associations
- National Communication Association (NCA), serves on the Publications Board
- Central States Communication Association (CSCA)
- International Association for Relationship Research (IARR)
Qinghua Yang
Health communication, intercultural communication, new media, quantitative research methods
Qinghua Yang
Associate Professor
Academic Publications and Presentations
- Journal of Health Communication “Are social networking sites making health behavior change interventions more effective? A meta-analytic review.”
- CDC Health Communication Science Digest. “Social support, trust, and health information seeking behaviors (HISBs): A study using the 2012 Annenberg national health communication survey (ANHCS).”
- Health Information Management Journal “A meta-analytic review of health information credibility: Belief in physicians or belief in peers?”
- Communication Education “Are you satisfied? Explore the mediating effects of mentoring communication strategies in predicting international graduate students’ program satisfaction.”
- Health Education “What health-related information flows through you every day? A content analysis of Microblog messages on air pollution.”
- Computers in Human Behavior “What’s on the other side of the great firewall? Motivations for Chinese Web users’ bypassing the Internet censorship.”
- Journal of Communication Media Studies “A picture is worth a thousand words: Chinese college students’ self- presentation on SNSs.”
- Computers in Human Behavior “Mozart or Metallica, who makes you more attractive? A mediated moderation test of music, gender, personality, and attractiveness in cyberspace.”
Previous Experience
- Postdoctoral research fellow of Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania
- Graduate instructor and research assistant of School of Communication, University of Miami
Honors & Awards
- Top Paper Award, National Communication Association (NCA), Health Communication Division
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Tobacco Center for Regulatory Science (TCORS), Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania
- Outstanding Research Assistant, University of Miami Graduate School
- Graduate Student Travel Grant, ICA, San Juan, PR
- Graduate Student Travel Grant, ICA, Seattle, WA
- Academic Excellence, Leadership & Service Award, University of Miami Graduate School
- Second Century Scholarship, Columbia University
- First Place Scholarship for Graduate Students, Capital Normal University
- Outstanding Undergraduate Student, Capital Normal University
- Outstanding Olympic Family Assistant, Beijing Olympic Committee
Professional Affiliations and Associations
- National Communication Association (NCA)
- International Communication Association (ICA)
- American Public Health Association (APHA)
- Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
Jie (Jackie) Zhuang
Health communication Health stigma Social influence and persuasion Emotional appeals
Jie (Jackie) Zhuang
Associate Professor
Previous Experience
- Communication Studies Instructor at Michigan State University
- Project manager of Community Engagement Core, Michigan State University Superfund Program Research Center