Strategic Communication, MA
Telling stories that connect audiences to ideas and inspire action takes strategy. This Master of Arts in strategic communication from Arizona State University teaches you to use public relations, media and content strategy to create campaigns that make an impact.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
In the Master of Arts program in strategic communication, you gain the media skills and techniques, critical thinking skills and leadership capacity to advance your career in media, agencies, corporations, government or nonprofit organizations.
You develop the ability to address communication challenges through coursework in strategy development, content creation, client and audience research, crisis communication, ethics, campaign planning and others. You master skills in audience engagement and data analysis. Courses in communication management, leadership and project management help you become a leader. You are ready to shape brand narratives, guide reputation and lead communication strategy across sectors.
Your experience begins by developing foundations in communication strategy, theory and ethics. An emphasis on content creation prepares you to produce comprehensive public relations campaigns and innovative digital marketing campaigns with strategic content including video storytelling, persuasive writing and media planning. Then, via the school's teaching hospital model, you receive immersive, hands-on training in advanced tools, progressive techniques and practical client work at an award-winning, student-run agency.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
33 credit hours including the required capstone course (MCO 570)
Required Core (3 credit hours) Other Requirements (21 credit hours) choose one of the following courses: Electives (3 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
MCO 561 Defining the Digital Audience (3)
MCO 502 Multimedia Storytelling (8)
MCO 503 Media Law (3)
MCO 504 Cronkite Master's Seminar (1)
MCO 525 Media Ethics and Leadership (3)
MCO 554 Media Models, Organizations and Leadership (3)
MCO 522 Executive Communication and Media Relations (3)
MCO 539 Audience Lifecycle and Growth Strategies (3)
MCO 570 Capstone (6)
Elective courses should be selected in consultation with the program advisor; some courses require department approval.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply the values, principles, ethics and legal standards of strategic communication in media work.
- Create strategic content and campaigns using professional tools, technology, and techniques.
- Critically evaluate information, content, and research in professional contexts.
- Produce clear, accurate, and engaging written content that meets professional standards.
- Evaluate leadership approaches across professional media contexts.
Apply the values, principles, ethics and legal standards of strategic communication in media work.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of a student's first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. Applicants are required to submit: Additional Application Information Applicants should provide a 300- to 500-word statement describing their interest in strategic communication, their career goals, and how previous work and academic experience have prepared the student for success.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Applicants should have a TOEFL iBT® score of at least 5, or a score of 100 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026. Students with an IELTS band score of 7.50 or a Duolingo score of 135 are also considered.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 06/01 | Final* |
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Priority* |
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling* |
*A rolling deadline means that applications will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis until the semester begins. International students should be mindful of visa deadlines to ensure there is time to produce necessary visa documents. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit application materials as soon as possible for consideration.
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Study abroad is possible for graduate students. There are more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent. Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Graduates pursue roles such as PR professional, communications specialist, brand strategist, media relations manager, influencer coordinator and corporate communications leader.
With this master's degree, you'll be prepared for many communications and brand strategy positions.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
|
CRONK 302
cronkitegrad@asu.edu
602-496-5555
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
