During the Spring 2025 semester, Gettysburg College announced three new programs: an online Master of Education, a communications studies major and minor, and a master’s partnership with Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
MASTER OF EDUCATION
Our Master of Education degree program is the region’s first master’s program at the crossroads of educational access and design thinking, blending theory with practical application. With the nation’s pressing need for highly qualified and compassionate K-12 educators, the College is stepping forward to meet the moment. Classes began on May 19.
“By offering an online Master of Education, Gettysburg College is investing in practicing teachers, so they cannot only refine their craft but also become leaders and innovators in the field of education,” said Sociology in Educational Studies Prof. Divonna Stebick, director of the Office of Teacher Education and Certification.
COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Students may declare a major or minor in communication studies as early as the Fall 2025 semester. This program is designed to explore the dynamic relationship between communication and society, specifically how messages shape and are shaped by individuals, institutions, and cultural forces. Gettysburg students will develop key career skills in creating, exchanging, and interpreting messages across mediums, including through writing, public speaking, digital content creation, and interpersonal communication.
“We’re building a program that will help our students become compelling storytellers and strategic thinkers, ready to make a real difference both here on campus and in their future lives and careers,” said Prof. Melissa Forbes, director of the Writing Center and first-year writing and lecturer of English. Forbes partnered with Prof. James Udden, chair of cinema and media studies, to design the program.
SYRACUSE PARTNERSHIP
Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is the top-ranked school for public affairs, according to U.S. News and World Report. Gettysburg College students and alumni can apply to and enroll in one of the following professional master’s degree programs by the Maxwell School’s Public Affairs and International Relations Department:
- Master of Public Administration
- M.A. in International Relations
- M.A. in Public Diplomacy
and Global Communications - M.S. in Sustainable Organizations
and Policy - Executive Master of Public Administration*
- Executive M.A. in International Relations*
*Requires at least seven years of professional work experience
“Our partnership with Syracuse University’s Maxwell School represents a powerful commitment to public service and leadership development,” said Gettysburg College Provost Jamila Bookwala. “Our students have always been guided by a strong sense of purpose, and this collaboration provides them with the opportunity to deepen their impact through advanced studies in public administration and international relations.”
By Megan Miller
Posted: 08/25/25