A year after Amanda Smiley graduated from college with a dual bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish, she became a
content editor for educational technology company Risepoint. Coming from a family of educators in Denver, Colorado, she was excited about having a role that supported universities and their online students.
Amanda was also determined to keep learning. She knew additional knowledge of digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) would be essential in developing the skills she needed for advancement, and she wanted to explore other areas of communications where her career might lead.
“It had always been in the back of my brain to pursue a graduate degree,” she said, but she hoped to upskill quickly and affordably. When she discovered the online Master of Science in Strategic Communications with an Emphasis in Social Media Management program at Arkansas State University, it was a perfect solution.
Amanda enrolled in January 2022. She was impressed by the wide selection of accelerated coursework offered at a manageable cost, and that she could choose an emphasis area with high potential for job growth.
“The strategic communications degree program fit the bill in terms of giving me well-rounded writing skills, communication skills, marketing skills,” she said, along with “a lot more to think about in terms of the different ways that people communicate.”
Amanda enjoyed studying subjects such as the psychology of consumer behavior and audience analysis that were applicable to her work. She found courses in the history and rhetoric of communication fascinating as well. “I loved diving into the concepts that people have debated over time,” she said.
Assignments involving research, interviews or data mining allowed her to expand her skills for a range of digital media jobs with a strategic communications degree.
“I come from liberal arts, so I did not have a lot of formal education in collecting and analyzing data,” she acknowledged. “But the professors know that people come from a lot of different backgrounds, so they give you the step-by-step tools that you need to do it well.”
Amanda was pleased by the flexibility of her online learning experience at A-State, and how often professors encouraged her to personalize assignments or design projects around her interests. “They were very responsive and accommodating,” she said.
Her colleagues at Risepoint were just as supportive, including her in workgroups or projects related to her studies. The company also invested in Amanda’s professional growth with tuition assistance, and a vice president recommended her for a leadership development program.
Amanda graduated in December 2023 and now supervises other editors as a senior specialist and team lead in content marketing. She was promoted while earning the degree. The insight she gained during her final capstone research project on student-professor relationships in online higher education has been especially valuable, as she applies the knowledge to her work and shares it within her organization.
Looking ahead, she is excited about the possibilities for her career. “I’d like to be a leader in both the education space and the creative content space,” she said, noting that her online master’s in strategic communications has given her a great start in achieving that goal.
Amanda is also proud that the expertise and confidence she developed through the program has had a positive impact on the success of her team. “Others see my potential and see me growing,” she said. “People can rely on me to bring new skills to the table.”
Transform Your Career With an A-State Master’s in Strategic Communications Online Program
Gain the skills and confidence to prepare for leadership roles with an online Master of Science in Strategic Communications from Arkansas State University. Whether you are interested in moving up, changing jobs or tailoring your degree to your learning goals, A-State has got you covered. Our 100% online programs offer convenient, flexible scheduling and a wide range of courses to meet your needs.
Continue to work full-time as you advance your knowledge and prepare for new opportunities in this rapidly evolving field. With a master’s in strategic communications online program from A-State, you can:
- Enhance your credentials in advertising, digital marketing and public relations
- Develop expertise in branding, social media and SEO
- Discover new tools for media research and data-driven decision making
- Deepen your understanding of consumer behavior and audience analysis
- Learn strategies for effective educational and organizational communication
- Refresh your client relations and account management skills
- Gain expertise in intellectual property and patent law
Build on your experience in our M.S. in Strategic Communications – General online program with coursework essential to your success as a communications professional in any industry. Select electives relevant to your occupation and career plans or explore your options, whether you are a specialist, leader, innovator or entrepreneur.
Choose an emphasis in Global Communications, Social Media Management or Technology Law and Policy to focus your studies on a specific high-demand area of the field with promising career longevity.
If you’re interested in program management or teaching in a university setting, A-State also offers a highly flexible online Master of Arts in Communication Studies program that emphasizes theory, rhetoric and interpersonal communication.
A-State online programs feature multiple start dates each year, along with accelerated courses that can help you earn your master’s degree in as few as 10 months. You can also take advantage of our affordable tuition and pay by the course to manage your education on your budget.
Level up your skills, gain new credentials and begin your next adventure in the dynamic field of communications. Apply today to get started.