Strategic Communication, M.S.

A minimum of 30 graduate semester hour credits is required for the completion of the Master of Science degree in Strategic Communication. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree in communication/journalism or extensive professional experience in communications may be required to take additional undergraduate courses to make up this deficiency. All applicants must provide a professional resume, three professional references and a typed 400-to 500-word essay on the benefits to be gained by completing this degree. The essay must demonstrate writing skills acceptable to the department. All applicants who do not have an overall undergraduate quality point average of 2.75 or greater will be required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Millers Analogies Test (MAT) or have significant communications work experience. Special rules apply to international students.

All students accepted into the program must apply for candidacy status for the degree after completing at least six semester hours of graduate communications (COM) courses and any graduate deficiency courses specified by the department chair, provided he or she has earned at least a 3.0, B average in all courses completed. Applications for candidacy status may be obtained from the Communication, Journalism & Media Department office and/or website.

The Strategic Communication program is directed to the student seeking a professionally focused program for:

1. The media professional seeking career advancement and further development of strategic public relations skills.
2. The baccalaureate degree holder in another discipline who wishes to prepare for a career in the professional communication field.
3. The student seeking to prepare for further advanced degrees such as a PhD in Strategic Communications/Public Relations.