Strategic Communication

Program Overview

The Strategic Communication Online Masters Program is a professional degree built to empower communicators to unleash their individual potential. This online Master of Arts program requires nine courses (30 credits) and a capstone project. Courses are taught by leading communications faculty and re-tooled to provide an excellent online learning experience, giving students the flexibility they need to accommodate a busy life and the rigor they need to be able to succeed.

Program Highlights

The College of Communication Arts and Sciences at MSU is ranked a top five college in the nation for communication and media studies by QS Worldwide Survey.

Program Outcomes

Digital communications in all of its forms demands to be integrated strategically in advertising, public relations and media. With a master's degree in Strategic Communication from MSU, graduates should be prepared to:

• Become a leader in driving technology behind marketing
• Develop a digital marketing strategy
• Apply the latest digital innovations such as mobile, social media, location based services and big data to marketing campaigns
• Integrate marketing, advertising, sales and logistics across physical and digital channels
• Collect, analyze and interpret digital marketing data to inform decision-making

Career Outlook

Course Information

Core

CAS 828 - Persuasion Techniques for Working Professionals (3 Credits)
CAS 829 - Evaluation Techniques for Working Professionals (3 Credits)
CAS 832 - Strategic Message Development (3 Credits)
CAS 842 - Professional Communication Ethics (3 Credits)
CAS 844 - Capstone/Practicum (3 Credits)

Elective

CAS 827 - Digital Media Strategies (3 Credits)
CAS 831 - Digital Content Creation, Curation and Promotion (3 Credits)
CAS 833 - Crisis Communication (3 Credits)
CAS 835 - Branding and Image Communication (3 Credits)
CAS 837 - Catalyst Thinking in the C-Suite (3 Credits)
CAS 839 - Media Analytics for Communication Professionals (3 Credits)
CAS 840 - Audience Analytics (3 Credits)
CAS 841 - Social Media Storytelling (3 Credits)
CAS 838 - Organizational Communication for Leaders and Entrepreneurs (3 Credits)

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

• A bachelor's degree
• Previous work experience
  Résumé/CV
• Taken the TOEFL (Only required if English is not your native language)
• A written personal statement
  Academic Statement (one-page narrative of your academic journey)
  Personal Statement (one-page narrative or your personal journey. i.e. family, growing up, hobbies, etc.)
• 3 letters of recommendation
  Please provide email addresses for your recommenders.
  Note: An email will be sent out to your recommenders providing them the information on where to go to submit their letters electronically so please be sure to list accurate information. The department will only accept letters submitted via the online system. The department will not accept letters submitted through any other format.
• Official transcripts from all previous schools

To apply to this program:

Complete the  university graduate application.

Applicants from China:

During the application process, applicants submit certified copies (sealed and stamped by institutions) of all post-secondary transcripts, graduation certificates and degrees directly to the Strategic Communication program. MSU requires these documents in the original language (Chinese) as well as an official English translation. Effective Spring 2015, Michigan State University will require all incoming admitted  students pursuing degrees or who have earned degrees from universities in China to submit a verification report (English version only) through the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) for their final bachelor degree transcripts (大学成绩单) and bachelor degree (本科学位证书).

All verification reports need to be sent to the MSU Office of Admissions directly by CDGDC. For those Master degree granted student, we only need the undergraduate level verification report from CDGDC. Please refer to the CDGDC website for more information:  chinadegrees.cn/en  TOEFL or IELTS test scores for international students -International students from countries where English is not the native language will be required to take the TOEFL test. TOEFL - The  department requires a minimum of 91 IBT with no sub-scores below 22, or a 237 CBT with no sub-scores below 22  or a 580 PBT with no sub-scores below 55. Reported scores must be no older than 2 years. The department requires a minimum of 6.5.