Program Overview
Preview the A-State Online Strategic Communication – Social Media Management Degree
Develop your talent and skills as a communications professional and increase your ability to use social media strategically and effectively with our online Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication with Social Media Management Certification.
$269
Per Credit Hour
Up to 90
Transfer Credits
120
Credit Hours
$269
Per Credit Hour
Up to 90
Transfer Credits
120
Credit Hours
Learning how to identify, create and implement consistent, cohesive messaging that advances an organization's mission or goals is the cornerstone of the B.S. in Strategic Communication. In this affordable, career-focused program, you'll learn how to communicate effectively in today's omnichannel media culture and gain an understanding of when and how to employ advertising, public relations, social media, branding and more to achieve desired outcomes.
Master the fundamentals of multimedia platforms, including interactive online advertising and cutting-edge social media strategies, campaigns and tactics. As part of the program, you will utilize research methods to develop a communications plan and evaluation tools to measure results. Students will graduate with resume-building certifications respected by future employers.
Gain These Social Media Skills to Be Job-Ready
Learn the principles and practical applications of effective, multichannel strategic communications and graduate with work-relevant skills, including certifications in social media management, Google Ads and Hootsuite™.
In-Demand Skills:
Gain the knowledge and industry-relevant skills employers seek:
- Google Ads & Hootsuite™ certifications
- Social media marketing
- Content management
- Digital marketing
- Social media campaigns
Top Careers:
Prepare for a broad range of professional roles, including:
- Social Media Strategist
- Webmaster/Administrator
- Marketing Specialist
- Communications Manager
- Search Engine Optimization Specialist
Projected Job Growth:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment of individuals in communication occupations to grow 4% from 2019 to 2029, resulting in about 46,200 new jobs nationwide.
Arkansas State offers a generous transfer credit policy.
Also available:
You may be closer to graduation than you think!
A-State-approved credit for prior learning recognizes your previous accomplishments, reducing your tuition costs and time to graduation.
Tuition
Financial Aid Packages Are Available to Those Who Qualify
A-State's online programs are affordable and convenient. You may also qualify for financial aid. Learn more.
The B.S. in Strategic Communication online program offers the same low, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included in the total tuition.
Transfer your credits for lower tuition
Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.
Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student's A-State record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.
| Per Credit Hour | Per Course | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total | U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total |
| $229.00 | $40.00 | $269.00 | $687.00 | $120.00 | $807.00 |
Calendar
The Schedule for Our Strategic Communication – Social Media Manager Certification Program
Students must complete 120 credits of coursework.
Next Start & Application Due Dates:
| Term | Length | Course Begin | Course End | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Last Day to Withdraw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 | 7 wk | 03/06/2023 | 04/28/2023 | 02/20/2023 | 02/24/2023 | 03/02/2023 | 03/03/2023 | 04/15/2023 |
| Summer 2023 | 5 wk | 05/30/2023 | 06/30/2023 | 05/15/2023 | 05/19/2023 | 05/25/2023 | 05/26/2023 | 06/19/2023 |
| 5 wk | 07/03/2023 | 08/04/2023 | 06/19/2023 | 06/23/2023 | 06/29/2023 | 06/30/2023 | 07/21/2023 | |
| Fall 2023 | 7 wk | 08/21/2023 | 10/06/2023 | 08/07/2023 | 08/11/2023 | 08/17/2023 | 08/18/2023 | 09/22/2023 |
| 7 wk | 10/16/2023 | 12/08/2023 | 10/02/2023 | 10/06/2023 | 10/12/2023 | 10/13/2023 | 11/17/2023 |
Admissions
Are You Ready to Apply to A-State Online?
A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers. Students who are interested in the Bachelor of Science Strategic Communication with Social Media Management Certification must meet the following admission requirements.
There are several paths to admittance at A-State:
- If you have 13 or more transferrable college credit hours, you would be admitted if you have a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.0 on previous college coursework
If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been out of high school for five years or more, you would be admitted if you:
- Have a high school diploma or state-approved equivalent
- Have completed 12 or fewer earned college hours
- Have never enrolled as a student at A-State
Note: If you're admitted as a non-traditional first-time freshman, you may be required to successfully complete a predesignated curriculum of 12 hours (Certificate or Non-Degree). Upon successful completion, you will be transitioned to a degree seeking program.
- If you have 0-12 transferrable college credit hours and have been in high school within the last 5 years, you would be admitted if you have one of the following:
- 3.0 cumulative high school grade point average (or GED test score equivalent), OR
- 19 minimum ACT super score or minimum 990 combined SAT super score, OR
- Class rank in the top 20% of your graduating class
Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.
- When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
- Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit all official college transcripts.
- Submit official high school transcripts (if applicable).
- Submit official ACT/ SAT test scores (if applicable).
Note: If you have 0-12 transferrable college hours, test scores will still need to be submitted for reporting purposes to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE); however, they are not needed for an admission decision. Accuplacer test scores are an acceptable alternative to ACT/SAT scores.
If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096 866-621-8096, and we'll be happy to help answer questions.
Additional Information
Students who have attended any other institution of higher education must meet the following requirements.
For students who have:
- Fewer than 12 college hours: Submit official final high school transcript and official test scores.
- 13 - 23 college hours: Have a minimum of 2.0 grade point average on cumulative transcripts and official test scores.
- 24 or more college hours: Have a minimum of 2.0 grade point average on cumulative transcripts.
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:
Academic Partnershipsc/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Courses
What You'll Learn in Your Online Strategic Communication Program Courses
To earn your Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication with Social Media Management Certificate, you need to complete 120 credit hours of coursework. The program includes 38 credit hours of general education courses, 42 credit hours of major courses and 40 credit hours of elective courses. Students can finish faster by transferring previously earned credit hours. Transfer credit hours will be evaluated during the admission process.
Students must complete the following courses and 9 elective credit hours in Media and/or Communication.
STCM 2143: Strategic Writing I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Fundamentals of the distinct writing requirements, styles, and formats of social, online, broadcast, print and other platforms used in strategic communication; emphasis on context, storytelling, and audience understanding.
STCM 3043: Principles of Strategic Communication
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Broad survey of strategic communication practice, emphasizing advertising and public relations in the context of integrated brand promotion.
STCM 3133: Interactive Advertising
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Course introduces students to the world of interactive online advertising. It surveys a variety of important topics, from integrating social media initiatives into the overall marketing communications plan to online display ads to developing an effective search engine advertising/marketing strategy.
STCM 3143: Strategic Writing II
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Writing forms and styles across multimedia platforms. Fundamentals and practice in preparation of strategic messages for various channels of communications, including controlled and uncontrolled media. Students will develop skills in information gathering, writing styles, editing, critical thinking and audience analysis. Prerequisites: CMAC 1001 & CMAC 2003.
STCM 3553: Strategic Visual Communication
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An advanced course focusing on the theoretical, contextual and practical natures of persuasive images in the context of strategic communication.
STCM 4003: Account Planning & Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Study of recent advertising cases and campaigns involving business, industry, institutions and government. Students create a comprehensive advertising campaign for a given client.
STCM 4073: Strategic Communication Law and Ethics
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Analysis of laws, regulations, and ethical considerations affecting the strategic communication industry.
STCM 4213: Social Media in Strategic Communications
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course examines concepts and applications of social media within mass communications, news, advertising and public relations industries. We will explore and apply social media tools, integrating them into an organization's overall communication strategy.
STCM 4333: Social Media Measurement
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Course features measurement and improvement of investment outcomes from use of social media in advertising, public relations and marketing communications.
STCM 4753: Strategic Communications Case Studies
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Course is a study of recent strategic communication cases involving business, industry, institutions and government. Students conduct a comprehensive strategic communication case study for a given client.
STCM 4763: Strategic Communication Campaigns
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Study and practice in planning strategic communication campaigns for business, industry, institutions, and government. Students create a comprehensive strategic communication campaign for a given client.
STCM 4773: Internship in Strategic Communication
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Field-based experience in a supervised setting that will enhance strategic communication knowledge and skills.
You must take 40 hours of electives to satisfy the 120 credit hours required for this program. Courses may be chosen with the assistance of an advisor and per your degree plan. Electives can come from any courses offered so long as prerequisites are met.
Students must take the following courses.
First-year course - Students must take the following Making Connections online course. If you transfer in more than 12 credit hours, you will not be required to take the Making Connections course. You may replace that 3-hour course with a 3-hour elective course.
UC 1013: Making Connections
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Required course for all first semester freshmen. Course content is centered around the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful ASU student, including academic performance, problem solving, critical thinking, self-management and group building skills, university policies and other relevant issues.
Communication Requirement:
Students must complete 6 credit hours of the following courses.
ENG 1003: Composition I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Study and practice of fundamentals of written communication, including principles of grammar, punctuation, spelling, organization, and careful analytical reading. Prerequisite, with grade of C or better, for ENG 1013.
ENG 1013: Composition II
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Continues the practice of ENG 1003 to develop further the skills learned in that course. Based on reading and discussion of various types of writing, the students’ essays will provide practice in different kinds of rhetorical development, including research and documentation.
Mathematics Requirement:
Students must complete 3 credit hours of either College Algebra or any higher-level mathematics course for which College Algebra is a prerequisite.
MATH 1023: College Algebra
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices, and miscellaneous topics. No credit given if taken following MATH 1054.
MATH 1043: Quantitative Reasoning
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Quantitative Reasoning Quantitative reasoning as the approach to understanding relationships using mathematical and algebraic methodologies. Contemporary topics will be used to identify, analyze, generalize, and communicate quantitative relationships.
Arts and Humanities Requirement:
Students must complete 6 credit hours of Arts and Humanities courses.
ENG 2003: Introduction to World Literature I
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from early civilizations through the Renaissance.
ENG 2013: Introduction to World Literature II
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from the Renaissance to the present.
MUS 2503: Fine Arts – Music
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to music for the listener who has had no formal musical training or experience. A study of musical styles and composers and their cultural and historical contexts.
Social Sciences Requirement:
Students must complete 9 credit hours of Social Sciences courses. At least one course must be selected from POSC 2103, SOC 2213 or HIST 2773.
POSC 2103: Introduction to US Government
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
The constitution, government, and politics of the United States.
SOC 2213: Principles of Sociology
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Human society and social behavior.
PSY 2013: Introduction to Psychology
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Study of the important scientific, principles of individual human behavior from biological, cognitive, social, and behavioral perspectives.
Life Science Requirement:
Students must complete 4 credit hours of Life Science courses, including one course and one lab.
BIO 1003: Biological Science
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
The major characteristics and processes of life emphasizing the human organism. Promotes understanding of diversity and unity among living organisms with focus on ecological interactions and responsibilities of people within their social and natural environment. Lecture three hours per week. Special course fees may apply. Must be taken with BIO 1001.
BIO 1001: Biological Science Lab
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 1
Laboratory, must be taken with BIO 1003. There will be a fee when purchasing the LabKit. Please visit the tuition and fees page for pricing.
Physical Sciences Requirement:
Students must complete 4 credit hours of Physical Science courses, including one course and one lab.
CHEM 1043: Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry I
Duration: Varies | Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to selected fundamental concepts including dimensional analysis, mole concept, atomic and molecular structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, intermolecular interactions, gases, mixtures, kinetics, equilibrium and acid base chemistry. Fall, Summer.
CHEM 1041: Fundamental Concepts of Chemistry Lab
Duration: Varies | Credit Hours: 1
Special course fees apply. Prerequisite or co-requisite of CHEM 1043. Fall, Summer.
"When I learned Arkansas State's online program had grown and was offering degrees such as communications, it was a no-brainer for me. The program has expanded my skills and how I think about strategic communication in our organization."
Next Start Date: