Master of Science in Strategic Communications – General Online
Enhance your abilities to influence and further an operational mission through communication—making you an invaluable asset to virtually any organization. Learn how to use an array of tools to craft, track and measure communication effectiveness while gaining a full understanding of paid, earned, shared and owned media.
Program Overview
Get to know our 100% online M.S. in Strategic Communications – General
Our Master of Science in Strategic Communications – General online program enhances your abilities to strategically influence and further an organization’s mission through communication—making you invaluable in virtually any business. This writing-intensive program develops your critical-thinking, analysis and practical skills which, in turn, empower you to formulate and implement solutions that drive results.
Our experienced faculty delivers instruction formulated to sharpen your aptitude for persuading and shaping human interactions, using various methods to deliver key messages to diverse target audiences and incite action. Learn how to deploy an array of tools to craft, track and measure communication effectiveness while gaining a complete understanding of paid, earned, shared and owned media. Plus, upon completion of this program, you will graduate Hootsuite™-certified.
Coursework for this program gives you an in-depth understanding of quantitative research, media management, and interactive digital strategy (such as integrating social media initiatives into overall marketing plans). Connect theory to practice with a capstone project in which you devise solutions and strategies to a real-world communication issue.
As a graduate of this online program, you will be prepared you for a rewarding career in communications leadership communications roles, such as:
- Marketing Communications Director
- Public Relations Director
- Director Content Management
- Senior Account Director
- Director of Marketing
- Marketing Communications Director
- Public Relations Director
- Director Content Management
- Senior Account Director
- Director of Marketing
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.
Tuition
Find out how and when to pay your tuition
The M.S. in Strategic Communications – General online program offers the same affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition for all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Dates you need to know
Designed to be flexible for working professionals, the M.S. in Strategic Communications – General online program features accelerated coursework and multiple start dates.
Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2 | 10/14/24 | 9/30/24 | 10/4/24 | 10/10/24 | 10/11/24 | 12/6/24 |
| Spring 1 | 1/13/25 | 12/16/24 | 12/18/24 | 1/9/25 | 1/10/25 | 2/28/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/10/25 | 2/24/25 | 2/28/25 | 3/6/25 | 3/7/25 | 5/2/25 |
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Admissions
Requirements for the M.S. in Strategic Communications – General program
A-State Online offers a streamlined admission to help you get started quickly and easily. Applicants seeking admission to the M.S. in Strategic Communications – General must submit a sample of writing, which could be a recent term paper or research paper. Review the full admission requirements below.
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree
- Cumulative 2.5 GPA
- Writing sample
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA or a 2.75 in the last 60 hours (undergraduate, graduate or combination thereof) or graduate or post-baccalaureate professional degree from a regionally accredited (U.S.) institution
- Submit a writing sample that showcases writing abilities and demonstrates creative thinking skills. Examples of acceptable samples include a term or research paper, blog post, case study, whitepaper or website.
Note: If you are admitted and have less than a 2.75 cumulative GPA and less than a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours, you must make a grade of B or better in each course during the first 6 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University as part of a conditional admission status.
Application submission requirements:
- Complete online application.
- Submit a nonrefundable $30 fee.
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
Courses
A look at the online Strategic Communications – General curriculum
The M.S. in Strategic Communications – General online program requires 30 credit hours of coursework. Students will take five required core courses (15 credit hours), select either STCM 6033 or MDIA 6423 (3 credit hours), and four additional STCM courses (12 credit hours).
Visit the Course Registration page to view the course schedule for this degree.
Students must take the following five courses.
Students must select one of the following courses.
Students must select four courses (12 credit hours) from the following choices. Any 5000 or 6000 level STCM or COMS course will satisfy this requirement. Students may also choose up to six hours of approved cognate electives. (Students who have taken a 4000-level of a course may not take the 5000-level for graduate credit.)