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.
$10,200
Total Tuition
As few as 10 months
Program Duration
30
Credit Hours
$10,200
Total Tuition
As few as 10 months
Program Duration
30
Credit Hours
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.
This program prepares you for a rewarding career in leadership roles such as:
- Marketing Communications Director
- Public Relations Director
- Director Content Management
- Senior Account Director
- Director of Marketing
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.
Also available:
Hootsuite ™ Certification
Students in the M.S. in Strategic Communications online program graduate with Hootsuite™ certification
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 in the total tuition.
| Per Credit Hour | Per Course | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total | U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total |
| $300.00 | $40.00 | $340.00 | $900.00 | $120.00 | $1020.00 |
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.
Next Start & Application Due Dates:
| Term | Length | Course Begin | Course End | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Last Day to Withdraw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Spring 2024 | 7 wk | 01/08/2024 | 02/23/2024 | 12/15/2023 | 12/19/2023 | 01/04/2024 | 01/05/2024 | 02/09/2024 |
| 7 wk | 03/04/2024 | 04/26/2024 | 02/19/2024 | 02/23/2024 | 02/29/2024 | 03/01/2024 | 04/05/2024 | |
| Summer 2024 | 5 wk | 05/28/2024 | 06/27/2024 | 05/14/2024 | 05/17/2024 | 05/23/2024 | 05/24/2024 | 06/14/2024 |
| 5 wk | 07/02/2024 | 08/01/2024 | 06/18/2024 | 06/21/2024 | 06/27/2024 | 06/28/2024 | 07/26/2024 |
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.
- Complete online application and submit a nonrefundable $30 fee.
- Have a baccalaureate degree or a master's degree with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited institution.
- Official transcript(s) sent from the registrar of the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institutions.
- Submit a writing sample that showcases applicants' writing abilities and demonstrates creative thinking skills. Examples of acceptable samples include a term or research paper, blog post, case study, whitepaper or website.
Additional Information
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
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 (three credit hours), and four additional STCM courses (12 credit hours).
Students must select one of the following courses.
STCM 6033: Communication Regulation and Policy
Duration: 7 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.
MDIA 6423: Media Entrepreneurship
Duration: 7 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 take the following five courses.
COMS 6053: Quantitative Research Methods
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Study of the tools and techniques of empirical research as they may be applied to mass communications
STCM 6253: Audience Market Analysis
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 6263: Advertising Account Management
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 6303: Seminar in Strategic Communications
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
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.
STCM 6533: Strategic Communication Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
The Strategic Communication capstone course is an opportunity for students to synthesize and apply knowledge 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 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.)
COMS 5323: Communication in Personal Relationships
Duration: 7 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.
COMS 6103: Communication Theory
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Theories, models, and approaches relevant to the study of human communication.
COMS 6203: Introduction to Communication Studies
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Survey of research methods; evaluation of selected studies; preparation of thesis.
COMS 6233: Communication Education
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course is a study of the history and philosophy of the pedagogy of communication studies, to include both theoretical and applied aspects of the discipline.
COMS 6243: Seminar in Interpersonal Communication
Duration: 7 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.
COMS 6273: Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Examination of a broad range of rhetorical theories to help students make critical and analytical applications to public discourse.
COMS 6283: Qualitative Research Methods
Duration: 7 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.
COMS 6413: Organizational and Intercultural Communication
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 5013: EU and U.S. Data Protection Law
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 5113: Integrated Marketing Communication
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 5123: International Intellectual Property Law
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 5213: Social Media in Strategic Communication
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 5413: Privacy Law
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 5463: Interactive Advertising
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 5473: Social Media Measurement
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Measurement and improvement of investment outcomes from use of social media in advertising, public relations and marketing communications.
STCM 5603: Crisis Communication
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 6313: Seminar in Information Technology Law
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Application of principles of privacy law and technology to current legal and policy problems.
STCM 6323: Global Strategic Communication
Duration: 7 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.
STCM 6333: Development Communication
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Theory and practice in development communication. Includes a focus on processes and systems of communications for social change and advocacy.
Next Start Date: