• Introduction
• Program Recognition
• Curriculum
• Course Delivery Format
• Admission
• Graduation Requirement

Introduction

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) program empowers professionals who seek to advance to upper-middle management and senior management levels in tourism organizations with the necessary knowledge and skills required for their success. It enables them to achieve academic and professional growth in their field, to contribute effectively to the growth of their profession, and to be active participants in the economic development of the country.

The distinctive combination of communication and tourism capitalizes on proven graduate studies formulas at the best international institutions which offer communication and/or tourism degrees at the graduate level. It blends a broad theoretical, empirical, and professional knowledge of communications and media with understanding of the concepts, systems and practices of tourism and special events.

The Master of Arts in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) program equips participants to be future leaders in the tourism industry. Graduates of the program will:

• Attain a global and regional understanding of current trends and directions in tourism and related industries;

• Develop critical, analytical and research competence in the study of communication and media as they relate to tourism, including measuring and understanding consumer trends;

• Understand the role played by new information technologies in the tourism industries;

• Learn strategies for developing integrated marketing communication campaigns that serve organizational and/or corporate objectives;

• Understand linkages between tourism communications and local culture and heritage, especially in the U.A.E. context; and

• Develop best professional and leadership practices that enhance the success and effectiveness of the organization and its staff.

Program Recognition

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) program is approved by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Zayed University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Furthermore, the College of Communication and Media Sciences endeavors to achieve accredited status with the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

Curriculum

At the beginning of the program, students take an intensive one-day orientation seminar. The orientation offers a number of workshops to introduce students to the program, during which students are introduced to Blackboard (virtual classroom software), case study and analysis, library resources, and the writing of reports and reference citations.

The Master of Arts in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) curriculum consists of 12 six-week courses for a total of 36 credits for the masters degree.

Year One

• COM 501 Foundations of Communication Studies
• COM 502 Introduction to Communication Research
• COM 520 Tourism Principles and Practices
• COM 522 Tourism Communication
• COM 504 Cross Cultural Communication
• COM 506 Understanding Consumer Trends

Year Two

• COM 521 Strategic Planning and Development
• COM 523 Event and Festival Planning and Promotion
• COM 525 Tourism in the U.A.E. and MENA Region
• COM 550 Applied Research Seminar
• COM 551 Advanced Research Project 1
• COM 552 Advanced Research Project 11

The Master of Arts in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) program takes an integrated approach to advanced academic study that enables students to relate their course work to their daily professional activities. Assessment will be continuous throughout the program, using a combination of case studies, research projects, written papers and presentations, relying on both formal and informal faculty and peer-review activities. Each student's program of study will culminate in a significant piece of research, preferably tied to their current professional duties. The advanced research project will be evaluated through established procedures of faculty committee review.

Course Delivery Format

The format for delivering the Master of Arts in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) program is designed to minimize time away from work and family while maximizing interaction with fellow students and faculty.

Faculty members utilize a mix of in-classroom and distance learning instruction that demonstrate the flexibility needed to accommodate experienced working graduate students. The in-classroom instruction for each course is conducted during two evenings in the week over the six-week period.

The Master of Arts in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) program is delivered over a period of 24 months at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi and/or Dubai.

For more information on the admission deadline, please visit the Key Dates section of our website.

Admission

• Admission is open to males and females of all nationalities.
• Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher from an accredited university and demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to manage a challenging, fast-paced program.
• Candidates do not need an undergraduate degree in communication to pursue the Master of Arts in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) degree. However, if they were not communication or media majors, they will be required to take preparatory work as necessary, to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Prospective students may be allowed to take qualifying coursework at another institution.
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For more information on the admission requirements, application procedure and program cost, please visit the Admissions and Fees section of our website.

Graduation Requirement

Graduate students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in course work taken in fulfillment of the requirements of a masters degree.