Strategic Communication (MA)

Program Educational Goals:

Develop a deeper understanding of Strategic Communication and acquire the skill set necessary to apply what they learn in the professional world.
Design and implement research for their organizations.
Design, implement, and evaluate communication campaigns.
Deliver recommendations for the future of projects and issues they may face in their careers.
Write for multimedia with a professional audience (Strategic Communication/Public Relations) in mind.
Analyze and evaluate competitors’ strategic communication efforts.

Program Policy Document:

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Requirements for the Degree:

The Master of Arts in Strategic Communication requires 30 credits, including 27 credits of graduate level coursework and 3 credits from a required capstone. The program is designed to be completed in two years, but due to the online nature of the program, students may take up to five years.

Students may choose one of two paths for the MA, one where they focus their studies in the concentration areas of Public Relations or Social/Digital Media, or another path where a student can potentially build an individualized plan of study that best fits their own personal career goals.

Program Requirements with a Specialization:

No class may be used to fulfill more than one requirement.

Core Courses:

12 credits.

COMM 702 - Principles of Strategic Communication Credit(s): 3
COMM 703 - Communication Research Credit(s): 3
COMM 706 - Communication Theory Credit(s): 3
COMM 707 - Strategic Communication Ethics Credit(s): 3

Specialization:

Each student will choose and declare one of two specializations within the Strategic Communication program by the time of their completion of their Required Core Courses. Specialization requirements consist of the completion of three specialization courses (9 credits) from their chosen specialization.

Public Relations:

Three of the following:

COMM 719 - Reputation Management Credit(s): 3
COMM 721 - Public Relations Campaigns Credit(s): 3
COMM 722 - Crisis Communication Credit(s): 3
COMM 723 - Strategic Communication Campaigns Credit(s): 3
COMM 724 - Public Relations Writing Credit(s): 3
COMM 725 - Branding Credit(s): 3
COMM 727 - PR Management Credit(s): 3
COMM 729 - Topics in Public Relations Credit(s): 3-6
COMM 728 - Strategic Communication and Persuasion Credit(s): 3
COMM 756 - Strategic Communication Writing Credit(s): 3

Digital Media/Social Media:

Three of the following:

COMM 719 - Reputation Management Credit(s): 3
COMM 731 - Integrated Marketing Credit(s): 3
COMM 732 - Social Media Campaigns Credit(s): 3
COMM 733 - Writing for Digital Media Credit(s): 3
COMM 734 - Digital Media Content Strategy Credit(s): 3
COMM 735 - Social Media Management Credit(s): 3
COMM 736 - User Data Analytics Credit(s): 3
COMM 739 - Topics in Digital Media Credit(s): 3-6
COMM 756 - Strategic Communication Writing Credit(s): 3

Electives:

Students must take six additional course credits over the course of their program. These courses may come from their chosen specialization, the other specialization, or from the list of courses below.

COMM 740 - Effective Health Communication Credit(s): 3
COMM 751 - Digital Political Strategy Credit(s): 3
COMM 752 - Sports Public Relations Credit(s): 3
COMM 753 - Media Analytics Credit(s): 3
COMM 754 - Communication and Leadership Credit(s): 3

Capstone:

COMM 769 - Strategic Communication Capstone Credit(s): 3

Program Requirements with an Individualized Plan of Study:

No class may be used to fulfill more than one requirement.

Core Courses:

COMM 702 - Principles of Strategic Communication Credit(s): 3
COMM 703 - Communication Research Credit(s): 3
COMM 706 - Communication Theory Credit(s): 3
COMM 707 - Strategic Communication Ethics Credit(s): 3

Electives:

Students must take fifteen elective course credits from the list below over the course of their program to develop their own individualized program of study. Students must consult with an adviser (the Department of Communication’s Director of Graduate Studies unless another adviser is assigned to the student) to ensure their course selections best fit their academic and career goals.

COMM 719 - Reputation Management Credit(s): 3
COMM 721 - Public Relations Campaigns Credit(s): 3
COMM 722 - Crisis Communication Credit(s): 3
COMM 723 - Strategic Communication Campaigns Credit(s): 3
COMM 724 - Public Relations Writing Credit(s): 3
COMM 725 - Branding Credit(s): 3
COMM 727 - PR Management Credit(s): 3
COMM 728 - Strategic Communication and Persuasion Credit(s): 3
COMM 729 - Topics in Public Relations Credit(s): 3-6
COMM 731 - Integrated Marketing Credit(s): 3
COMM 732 - Social Media Campaigns Credit(s): 3
COMM 733 - Writing for Digital Media Credit(s): 3
COMM 734 - Digital Media Content Strategy Credit(s): 3
COMM 735 - Social Media Management Credit(s): 3
COMM 736 - User Data Analytics Credit(s): 3
COMM 739 - Topics in Digital Media Credit(s): 3-6
COMM 740 - Effective Health Communication Credit(s): 3
COMM 751 - Digital Political Strategy Credit(s): 3
COMM 752 - Sports Public Relations Credit(s): 3
COMM 753 - Media Analytics Credit(s): 3
COMM 754 - Communication and Leadership Credit(s): 3
COMM 756 - Strategic Communication Writing Credit(s): 3

Capstone:

COMM 769 - Strategic Communication Capstone Credit(s): 3

Strategic Communication (MA)

Program Educational Goals:

Program Policy Document:

Requirements for the Degree:

Program Requirements with a Specialization:

Core Courses:

Specialization:

Public Relations:

Digital Media/Social Media:

Electives:

Capstone:

Program Requirements with an Individualized Plan of Study:

Core Courses:

Electives:

Capstone:

Last Revised for the 2021-2022 Academic Year