For Universities For Employers About

Communications & Public Relations

A Guide to Strategic Communications Degrees

A Master of Science in Strategic Communications (or Master of Arts in Strategic Communications) is a graduate-level degree focusing on the theories and models of mass communication. Image from Pexels

Craig Hoffman January 25, 2022

Schools offer several strategic communications degrees—but which one is right for you?

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

Article continues here

Forward-thinking organizations need strategic communications plans. It's not enough merely to offer a great service or product in today's media-driven environment. The modern marketplace is overcrowded, requiring careful, constant, and consistent messaging for a business or organization to rise above the crowd and get noticed. A workforce that grows ever more skilled and specialized requires effective internal communications as well, and these too constitute part of any concern's communication strategy.

Thinking and acting strategically in the design and planning of all communications helps convey—to the public and to internal stakeholders as well—that an organization is a successful enterprise with a clear vision and capable leadership. Strategic communications convey a firm's goals, objectives, products, services, and industry-related announcements. The benefits of strategic communications lie in its ability to reach disparate audiences with a coherent and persuasive message.

Do you need a degree in strategic communications to work in this field? Technically, no: there's no licensing authority for this profession, nor are there any threshold degrees. However, to advance in this field, you need experience and accomplishments. A degree makes both of those more attainable by providing the credentials most employers seek in their strategic communications hires. A degree certainly won't hurt your prospects, and in most instances it should vastly improve them.

Many colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree in strategic communications, and quite a few universities offer a master's degree in the field as well. Both are available online as well as in traditional on-campus programs. You can even pursue a PhD in strategic communications at some schools, although that degree is primarily for people interested in research and teaching jobs.

This guide to strategic communications degrees reviews bachelor's and master's programs in the field. It addresses:

What is strategic communications?
What degrees can I earn in strategic communications?
What is a master's in strategic communications?
What are the top strategic communications jobs in each field and how much do they pay?

What is strategic communications?

The term 'strategic communications' describes messaging efforts that have been planned and developed strategically, using all the tools and input of the organization to articulate its strategies and operations. The approach places emphasis on strategy rather than on specific tactics. Gathering and disseminating business plans, mission statements, and sales targets constitute just a few of the inputs needed to form a strategic communications plan.

Indeed, the disparate functions of a firm, from sales and marketing to human resources and information technology, all have a part to play in achieving a unified messaging strategy that is stylistically and tonally consistent.

Communications have grown more complex in recent years with the rise of digital and social media. The increasing number of distribution channels escalates the need for long-term strategic planning. Diverse tactics involving public and media relations, marketing, advertising, and the growing social media disciplines enable skillful communicators to thoughtfully execute a company or institution's messaging.

What degrees can I earn in strategic communications?

Schools offer both bachelor's and master's degrees in strategic communications. Because strategic communications is such a broad and diverse practice, graduates of strategic communication degree programs enjoy many career options, from corporate communications to social media management to nonprofit public relations and fundraising.

What is a master’s in strategic communications?

A Master of Science in Strategic Communications (or Master of Arts in Strategic Communications) is a graduate-level degree focusing on the theories and models of mass communication. It teaches analytical processes and strategic practices used to build audience-based organizational communication initiatives. Students are introduced to communication theory, strategies, and functions in different industries and how they relate to a mostly digitized world. Key competencies taught include storytelling and digital media, quantitative research, campaign planning and evaluation, public relations, social media and podcasts.

Strategic communications is an expanding field encompassing interpersonal communication as well as external mass-audience messaging. The numerous graduate programs in strategic communications reflect that diversity. Some programs offer the opportunity to select a specialization area of strategic communications, such as corporate communications, public relations, social media, or marketing and advertising.

Admission requirements/prerequisites

Each master's in strategic communications programs imposes unique admissions requirements, but most programs expect all of the following:

Undergraduate transcripts
Standardized test scores (Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or, in some cases, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT))
A personal statement
Letters of recommendation
Professional resume

Curriculum

Strategic communication graduate programs teach the foundations and practical applications of institutional communications, both external and internal. They focus on how strategic communication plans are developed and applied across multiple organizational departments and channels. At Butler University, case studies, simulations, and a capstone project incorporate experiential learning into the online curriculum. Coursework in Butler's program includes:

Law and Ethics in Strategic Communication
Social Media Strategy
Crisis Communication
Brand Strategy
Strategic Storytelling for Advocacy
Media Relations

What are the top strategic communications jobs in each field and how much do they pay?

Strategic communications professionals are in demand across a wide range of institutions and industries. They include human resources managers and directors who can earn anywhere from $143,000 to $184,000. Public relations directors can make between $130,00 and $169,000.

Journalism offers many opportunities across a broad range of salaries, depending on the medium.

Career paths with a strategic communications master’s

According to Butler University, typical jobs for students graduating from a master's in strategic communications program include journalism, public relations, and marketing. Job titles include the following.

Public relation specialists

Public relations professionals manage media coverage for institutions and individuals (e.g., celebrities). They write press releases, contact media directly to solicit coverage, and advise clients on public communications. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), public relations specialists earn a median annual income of $62,810.

Fundraisers

Fundraisers organize events and campaigns to solicit donations for organizations. Because so much of the work involves communicating with potential donors, strategic communications is an excellent discipline for these professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that fundraisers earn an average annual income of $59,610.

Public relations and fundraising managers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups these two management roles even though their functions vary significantly. Public relations managers oversee a client's public image, managing crises and developing strategies to promote a positive message. Fundraising managers oversee fundraising campaigns, contact and cultivate potential major donors, and manage a staff of subordinates. They earn, on average, about $118,000 per year.

Advertising and promotions managers

Advertising and promotions managers oversee promotional campaigns, supervise website and social media design and strategy, manage budgets and staff, and develop plans to bolster their organization's public profile. They earn an average annual income of $141,490.

Questions or feedback? Email editor@noodle.com