Strategic Communications

Because this field often involves an interdisciplinary approach, students with any bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or foreign equivalent are welcome to apply to the program.

Applicants must submit a resume or CV and an official transcript from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, showing completion of a baccalaureate degree and graduate courses (for transfer consideration).

Two letters of recommendation—from professors, supervisors, or professional colleagues—should also be submitted with a brief personal statement describing your interest and goals related to the degree.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores or other admissions test scores are not required.

While the suggested undergraduate GPA is 3.0, it is not the sole factor for entry. We encourage any prospective student with questions about whether they qualify to contact an admissions counselor today.

Our program is designed to help you become:

• An effective communicator—You’ll learn how to influence hearts and minds as you engage critical stakeholders both externally and within your organization.
• Information literate—You’ll be able to create, share, and evaluate information in various online, social, and traditional media formats.
• Ethically and socially responsible—As a reflective practitioner you’ll develop tools that enable and support ethical behavior while you strive for solutions to problems that are informed by global and social perspectives.
• A successful leader—You’ll learn how to lead in a respectful, accountable, and goal-focused way so you can inspire and help teams reach their goals.

Strategic Communications Degree Requirements

• COMM 501: Survey of Strategic Communications (3)
• COMM 502: Executive Communications (3)
• COMM 503: Media Relations in the Digital Ecosystem (3)
• COMM 504: Strategic Communications (3)
• COMM 505: Global Perspectives in Communications (3)
• COMM 506: Emerging Media (3)
• COMM 507: Crisis Communications (3)
• COMM 508: Advanced Topics (3)
• COMM 509: Strategic Communications Internship (6)
• COMM 510: Strategic Communications Capstone (3)

Course Descriptions

• COMM 501: Survey of Strategic Communications (3)
  Students explore the roles of communications and identify how the media influence and are influenced by culture across the globe. Special emphasis is placed on media literacy through a critical process framework that will enable students to analyze the media and culture within a deliberate, informed context.
• COMM 502: Executive Communications (3)
  Students will explore the theory and practice of influential oral communications, developing and implementing executive-level presentations while utilizing tools for audience analysis. Rhetorical theory is also explored.
• COMM 503: Media Relations in the Digital Ecosystem (3)
  Students will analyze, develop, and communicate messages, reaching a target audience while utilizing an appropriate writing style. Students will also investigate the ethical and legal considerations of communications practitioners.
• COMM 504: Strategic Communications (3)
  Students will identify processes and utilize techniques for leading major change in organizations and will explore processes and practices for leading others. Students will also analyze the leadership and communications function in organizations, developing a personal viewpoint of leadership.
• COMM 505: Global Perspectives in Communications (3)
  Students will critically analyze communications through the context of the global community, exploring social issues that reflect and are reflected in the media. Students will also explore the cultural influence of communications with emphasis on politics, race, gender, and nationalism.
• COMM 506: Emerging Media (3)
  This course explores new forms of technology and their influence on communication. Students will explore how emerging media can enable meaningful interaction, connection, and collaboration and can promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across cultures and the world. Special emphasis is placed on social media and mobile technology.
• COMM 507: Crisis Communications (3)
  Students will explore the theory and practice of preventing and responding to organizational crises. Students will uncover potential crises in organizations and investigate related ethical dimensions. Students will also develop, implement, and measure the success of crisis communication plans.
• COMM 508: Advanced Topics (3)
  This seminar explores contemporary content, issues, technology, and theories in communications and leadership. Specific course themes vary. Runs at the discretion of the program director.
• COMM 509: Strategic Communications Internship (6)
  Students gain practical experience in their area of interest while working with a current employer or other organization. Daily field work with a site supervisor, as well as weekly journals and other written assignments, and conferences with a faculty coordinator to monitor the achievement of learning objectives are required.
• COMM 510: Strategic Communications Capstone (3)
  In association with a faculty supervisor, students may elect the Graduate Project or Thesis Option to satisfy degree requirements. The Graduate Project Option provides students with an opportunity to apply scholarly knowledge to a real-world problem, and the Thesis Option provides students with the opportunity to explore a topic of interest through an in-depth research project.