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Master of Science in Strategic Communications – General

Master of Science in Strategic Communications – General Online


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.

icon $10,200 Total Tuition
icon As few as 10 months Program Duration
icon 30 Credit Hours
icon $10,200 Total Tuition
icon As few as 10 months Program Duration
icon 30 Credit Hours
Have questions or need more information about A‑State's online programs?

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:

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

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.

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

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Apply By:
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Start Class:
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
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

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

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

For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:

Academic Partnerships
c/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.

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