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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.

Next Apply Date: 2/24/25
Next Class Start Date: 3/10/25
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 2/24/25
Next Class Start Date: 3/10/25

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.

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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
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
+

Also available:

A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.

Total Tuition: $10,200
Program Duration: As few as 10 months
Credit Hours 30
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

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:

Per Credit Hour: $340
Total Tuition: $10,200

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.

View full calendar  + 

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Spring 11/13/2512/16/2412/18/241/9/251/10/252/28/25
Spring 23/10/252/24/252/28/253/6/253/7/255/2/25

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 2/24/25
Start Class 3/10/25

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

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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
View all admission requirements +

  • 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.
Have official transcript(s) sent from the registrar of the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.

Submit all documents to:

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467


Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

Hootsuite Certification

Students in the M.S. in Strategic Communications online program graduate with Hootsuite™ certification

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.

Expand All

Students must take the following five courses.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of the tools and techniques of empirical research as they may be applied to media and communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Using social scientific research methods for audience/consumer analysis, this course provides a survey of applications of research in media industries. Pragmatic task activities will be conducted via Nielsen, Arbitron, SRDS and related data sources to find audience market insights.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Advanced study of the principles and practice of media account management. Includes an in-depth analysis of advantages and disadvantages of multiple media platforms in communicating messages to diverse target audiences and a discussion of effective and ethical client relationships.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Seminar in Strategic Communications - The role of strategic communications in and for organizations and brands, including communications objective(s), target audience(s), and key messages. Addresses application of communication theory and research related to public relations, advertising, and social media.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The Strategic Communication capstone course is an opportunity for students to synthesize and apply knowledge from throughout the Strategic Communication program. Under the guidance of the instructor, students investigate a real-world strategic communication issue, devising solutions, recommendations and strategies that bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Students must select one of the following courses.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Course provides an introduction to media laws and regulations, addressing how they impact media managers, how to allocate necessary resources, and how to remain current as to media policies and regulations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will focus on development of entrepreneurial products by taking an idea from conception to production completion while practicing aspects of management, financing, and entrepreneurship. Students will address communication industry dilemmas that address creative product development.​

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.)

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course covers interpersonal communication in the context of personal relationships such as romantic relationships, friendships, professional relationships, and family relationships.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theories, models, and approaches relevant to the study of human communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Survey of research methods, theories and constructs, and selected studies of the communication discipline.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A study of the history and philosophy of the pedagogy of communication studies, to include both theoretical and applied aspects of the discipline.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to introduce students to foundational as well as current theory and research in interpersonal communication. Students will examine several interpersonal communication contexts and processes as well as methodologies in interpersonal communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of a broad range of rhetorical theories to help students make critical and analytical applications to public discourse.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Major approaches to qualitative inquiry in the fields of media and communication. Students will gain experience in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative data as well as in writing qualitative research reports.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Course will introduce students to intercultural communication and function of organization communication in the workplace, addressing how effective communication within organizations affects business and how to advance intercultural skills while being aware of different world views.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Comparison of the European Union and United States data protection systems, including sector-specific regulations such as those from the Federal Trade Commission.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on the strategic integration of various channels and methods of communication for the purpose of delivering key messages to diverse target audiences in order to elicit responses, create a dialogue and engender relationship-building.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of the International Intellectual Property System (IIPS) and its development in response to international trade and digital innovations. Subject areas include a primary focus on copyright and trademark with some coverage of patent law.
Duration: 7 Weeks 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.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The history and development of privacy law, and the challenges of government regulation of information where institutions and individuals need and reveal information constantly but also seek basic dignity and safety from harm.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An introduction to the world of online interactive 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 strategy.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Measurement and improvement of investment outcomes from use of social media in advertising, public relations, and marketing communications.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An investigation of communications during crises, focusing on public relations, advertising and other persuasive efforts by institutions, corporations, movement leaders, and citizens to describe, persuade and shape human interactions with their environment during a crisis.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Application of principles of privacy law and technology to current legal and policy problems.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Survey of global strategic communication. Addresses case studies and campaigns in creating and disseminating messages across language, technology, and cultures for organizational issue management.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Theory and practice in development communication. Includes a focus on processes and systems of communications for social change and advocacy.

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