Master of Arts in Strategic Communications
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Master the Power of Strategic Communications
Degree:
Master of Arts in Strategic Communications
Application:
$0 application fee. No essays/exams.
In today’s fast-moving, media-driven world, organizations need leaders who can communicate with clarity, purpose, and strategy. National University’s online Master of Arts in Strategic Communications (MASC) prepares you to shape narratives, manage reputations, and guide organizational success.
This graduate communication program blends theory with hands-on experience. You’ll learn to craft persuasive, ethical messages and manage campaigns across digital and traditional platforms. Coursework covers audience analysis, storytelling, crisis communication, and emerging technologies like AI and social media strategy.
NU’s strategic communications degree builds your strengths in research, leadership, and strategic planning. You’ll learn from expert faculty who bring real-world insight to every class, helping you design impactful communication initiatives that align with organizational goals.
Take one course at a time in NU’s flexible online format and earn your master’s degree in as few as 10 months.
MA in Strategic Communications Core and Degree Requirements
To receive a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications from National University, students must complete at least 45 quarter units of graduate work, of which a minimum of 40.5 quarter units must be taken in residence at National University.
National University awards credit in quarter units, with each academic year divided into four 12-week quarters.
Each quarter is made up of three 4-week classes, with one class per month. Under the current policy, 4.5 units of credit are awarded for courses.
Students can transfer up to 4.5 quarter units at the graduate level from a regionally accredited institution in the areas of communication or business, provided the units have not been used to satisfy the requirements of an awarded degree. Students wishing to transfer credits into the program should contact the program faculty advisor. Refer to the section in the graduate admission requirements for additional specific information regarding application and matriculation.
This degree requires that students be able to write in English at an advanced level. If writing skills need improvement, the student may be required to enroll in a writing course before continuing in the program. Applicants for whom English is a second language are encouraged to take the Accuplacer English as a Second Language Placement Test.
Core Requirements
10 Courses
Comm in Global Environment
4.5 Quarter Units
Explores the major theories in the field of communication with an emphasis on the workplace, focusing on the ability to communicate with others in professional interactions. Covers the development of professional relationships between people with different characteristics, cultures, and backgrounds to provide learners with tools for encoding and decoding verbal, nonverbal, and mediated messages.
Emerging Interactive Media
4.5 Quarter Units
Explores communication technology focusing on the history, theoretical implications, and strategic uses of social media and new media. Provides theoretical and practical understanding of how engagement works in new media platforms. Engages with the toolkits necessary to plan and develop social media marketing campaigns.
Integrated Marketing Comm
4.5 Quarter Units
Covers IMC process for creating and fostering relationships with customers and public through strategically controlling or influencing messages sent to and exchanged with these groups. Course teaches effective integration of an organization’s marketing communication initiatives. Through case analysis, students learn how IMC has become critical to marketing efforts.
Applied Research Methods
4.5 Quarter Units
Presents fundamentals of research underlying communication campaigns and programs. Covers qualitative and quantitative methodologies, secondary research, internal market intelligence, and data analysis. Offers practical experience with techniques to identify and reach audiences and the publics and to track the results of campaigns. Teaches research strategies to develop communications that fulfill organizational goals.
Crisis Communications
4.5 Quarter Units
Provides learners with principles and procedures for handling multiple stakeholders and publics under crisis conditions. Offers training to deal with media in less-than-optimal situations, when they may be faced with indifference or even hostility. Looks at case studies of strategies and tactics of organizations that have dealt with crises.
Campaign & Program Management
4.5 Quarter Units
Provides learners with knowledge to manage communication campaigns by covering theories and processes of campaign development and implementation. Covers best practices project management techniques, communication audits, budgets, and resource allocation. Offers hands-on experience creating, writing, and presenting communication campaign implementation plans.
Campaign & Program Evaluation
4.5 Quarter Units
Prerequisite: COM 610; COM 615
Course covers communication campaign evaluation, before during and after the campaign period. Focuses on systematic qualitative, quantitative, and observational methods appropriate to guide campaign planning, make mid-course corrections to messages and media mix and to assess post-campaign effectiveness.
Persuasion
4.5 Quarter Units
Exploration of theories of persuasion that guide the preparation of messages intended to influence others. Focuses on use of persuasion techniques to develop decisions about creative and production implementation. Uses case studies to analyze persuasive messages in contemporary media and to compare techniques used in alternative media platforms.
Legal and Ethical Issues
4.5 Quarter Units
Provides students with a clear understanding of the legal environment for public communications and the ethical considerations that must be taken into account. Examines international regulation of copyright and intellectual property protection and legal and regulatory provisions in the U.S. Teaches skills in assessing ethical risk and following ethical guidelines.
Capstone Project
4.5 Quarter Units
Presentation of skills the learner has acquired in the program. Their research, analysis, strategic thinking, message shaping, and evaluation skills will all come together in the final project: The preparation of a digital, web-based e-portfolio that will be an asset in the search for an appropriate post-graduation position. Grading is by H, S, or U only.
Career Outlook
Data Source: The career outcomes data presented is sourced from Lightcast, which provides insights based on real-time job postings, public datasets, and analytics. Lightcast derives its data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). While accurate and reliable, this data reflects general labor market trends and may not represent individual outcomes or specific local conditions. For more details on Lightcast’s methodology, visit their Data Overview.
Here are some careers this degree could prepare you for:
Please select the state you will work in to view job data in your area
- Top Jobs in this field
- Median Salary
- Job Openings
- Marketing Managers
-
$154,819
avg. salary (USA) -
34,614
job openings (past yr.) past year
ALl of USAMost Desired Skills
- Marketing
- Product Management
- New Product Development
- Project Management
- Product Strategy
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Go-to-Market Strategy
ALl of USATop Companies Hiring
- Amazon
- Capital One
- Lumen Technologies
- JPMorgan Chase
- CVS Health
- Ford
- Public Relations Managers
-
$138,119
avg. salary (USA) -
6,593
job openings (past yr.) past year
ALl of USAMost Desired Skills
ALl of USATop Companies Hiring
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
-
$75,950
avg. salary (USA) -
83,879
job openings (past yr.) past year
ALl of USAMost Desired Skills
- Marketing
- Social Media
- Business Development
- Customer Relationship Management
- Digital Marketing
- Project Management
- Analytics
ALl of USATop Companies Hiring
- Leaf At Home LTD
- Cardinal Health
- PayPal
- Nike
- Accenture
- JPMorgan Chase
- General Motors
- Management Analysts
-
$101,247
avg. salary (USA) -
101,114
job openings (past yr.) past year
ALl of USAMost Desired Skills
- Project Management
- Business Process
- Business Requirements
- Data Analysis
- Workflow Management
- Business Analysis
- SQL (Programming Language)
ALl of USATop Companies Hiring
- Cardinal Health
- Wells Fargo
- CVS Health
- Accenture
- Prime Therapeutics
- Elevance Health
- PNC
- Public Relations Specialists
-
$69,924
avg. salary (USA) -
27,523
job openings (past yr.) past year
ALl of USAMost Desired Skills
ALl of USATop Companies Hiring
Program Learning Outcomes
As a graduate of National University’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communications program, you’ll understand how to:
- Produce multi-public, multi-channel communication campaign planning documents.
- Manage communication campaigns by producing budgets, task lists, and schedules.
- Apply formative research to develop communication campaigns and messages.
- Create persuasive campaigns that meet professional ethical standards.
- Evaluate communication campaigns by conducting summative research.
- Deliver professional communication presentations online.
- Demonstrate leadership and collaborative skills by participating in group tasks and presentations as leader and team member.
Admissions
Transfer Students Welcome
Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.
To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.
Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.
To speak with our admissions team, call (855) 355-6288 or request information and an advisor will contact you shortly. If you’re ready to apply, simply start your application today.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
National University is dedicated to making higher education affordable, as well as accessible. Through NU scholarship offerings, eligible students are able to reduce the financial burden of college, start classes sooner, and finish their programs faster while focusing on achieving their goals.
Accreditations
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.
Why National University?
We’re proud to be a Veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible, achievable higher education to adult learners.
Today, we educate students from across the U.S. and around the globe, with over 250,000 alumni worldwide.
“The skills I learned in the Master of Arts in Strategic Communications program at National University really helped me prepare for the current role I have, because it offered real-world scenarios by professors who are active communication professionals in the field.”
Barbara M.,
MASC graduate
What makes a degree
with National University unique?
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Military Friendly
Committed to serving those who serve — diverse resources and support for veterans and family. Military and Veteran Admissions.
Mentoring Network
Individual student and alumni career guidance, professional development opportunities, and customized career support.
Transfer Students Welcome
NU makes it easy to get your degree, even if you started it with another university. Learn more about transferring to NU.
Accelerate Your Career With NU
At National University, you’re part of a family. As a student, you’ll have the support of staff, faculty members, students, and alumni who will be there with you every step of the way, cheering you on as you pursue your goals.
Our network of 250,000 alumni is a large global community that provides our graduates with the professional connections to get a leg up in your new career.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Master of Arts in Strategic Communications (MA in Strategic Communications) is a graduate degree focused on planning, executing, and evaluating communication strategies that help organizations achieve their goals. The program combines communication theory with applied coursework to support leadership and strategic decision-making.
Strategic communications refers to the coordinated use of messaging across public relations, advertising, and organizational communication to support an organization’s mission and long-term objectives.
Yes. The online MA in Strategic Communications is designed for working learners with full-time jobs and family responsibilities. Courses are rigorous but structured to be sustainable, even when taken consecutively, with flexibility to pause between courses if needed.
Yes. While a recommended course sequence is provided for the MA in Strategic Communications, students who follow a different order have a comparable learning experience. The only requirements are completing COM610 or COM625 before COM630 and completing most coursework before the capstone.
National University’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communications emphasizes strategic thinking, ethical practice, and applied research in an accelerated, online format. Faculty with professional experience guide students as they develop portfolio-ready communication strategies.
Strategic communications generally requires more advanced writing skills and a multidisciplinary understanding of how to create consistent, targeted messaging that expresses an organization’s desired positioning and long-term goals. Strategic communications professionals must have the knowledge and skills to influence, advance, and sustain an organization’s mission.
National University’s MA in Strategic Communications program focuses on helping you develop a deep understanding of the theories of communication and persuasion, an ability to lead and participate in the team development of organizational communication strategies, and the practical skills to plan, produce, and evaluate strategic communications programs and campaigns.
With these skills, you’ll be qualified to pursue a range of communications occupations in areas like public relations, fundraising, and marketing. Some of the specific job titles in these areas include:
- Communications specialist and manager
- Communications director/Director of communications
- Strategic communications specialist, manager
- Director of corporate communications
- Internal communications manager, director
- Director of marketing
Strategic communications professionals are needed in nearly every industry, including:
- Educational services
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
- Manufacturing
- Finance and insurance
- Healthcare and social assistance
- Retail trade
- Public administration
- And many others
As a communication strategist with a master’s degree, you’ll also likely find yourself in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that employment in media and communication occupations is projected to grow from 2023 to 2033.
To give you an idea of the salary range, the BLS states that the median annual wage for public relations specialists was $74,550 in May 2024, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $129,480.
Additional Resources
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.
NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.
All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.
National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.
Disclaimer
*Positions may require additional experience, training, and other factors beyond successfully completing this degree program. Depending on where you reside, many positions may also require state licensure, and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all licensure requirements are met. We encourage you to also review program-specific requirements with an NU advisor. Any data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee that completion of any degree program will achieve the underlying occupation or commensurate salary.
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