Master of Arts in Communications – Strategic Communication

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Program Link:
https://murrow.wsu.edu/future-murrow-cougs/prospective-students-2/graduate/online/ma-strategic-communication/
Program Handbook:
https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/880/2020/08/Online-MA-StratComm-Student-Handbook_2019-20.pdf
Student Learning Outcomes:
https://murrow.wsu.edu/future-murrow-cougs/prospective-students-2/graduate/online/ma-strategic-communication/
Total Graduate Faculty in Program:
13
Graduate Students in Program:
93
Priority Deadlines:

  • Fall August 1
  • Spring December 1
  • Summer April 15

Campus:

  • Global Campus

International Student English Proficiency Exams

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

  • TOEFL paper-based 600
  • computer-based 250
  • internet-based 93

Degree Description:

Washington State University’s online MA in Strategic Communication is designed for those who want to excel in advertising, public relations, corporate communication, and communication management. This degree will advance and energize your career. Our multidisciplinary approach offers training in new and traditional media, critical for today’s strategic communications; teaches students how to gather and analyze information and use those findings in creating communication campaign; trains students, in the tradition of Edward R. Murrow, to create messages that are both strategic and responsible; includes weekly online instructor office hours, frequent student self-assessment tools, ongoing interaction with other students, and a flexible timeline for completion. The program offers hands-on training in the most advanced platforms, tools and techniques. You will work closely with industry professionals and faculty to learn audio and video software, graphic design tools, new media and publication layouts. By the time you are finished, you will have created multimedia materials that are evaluated by peers and produced as portfolio-quality items stored online. This work can be tailored to each individual career, or even your specific job needs.

Admission Requirements:

Applicants will be evaluated by the Murrow graduate selection committee, which will require official copies of undergraduate transcripts, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a written statement of purpose. GRE scores are NOT required.
Application Materials
Unofficial transcripts from all previous undergraduate/graduate institutions
International students submit TOEFL
Current professional resume that includes at least three professional references name and
contact information
Statement of Purpose articulating your perspectives, contributions, qualifications, and talents

Statement of Purpose
To gain a better understanding of your perspectives, contributions, qualifications, and diverse talents, we ask that each applicant prepare a comprehensives statement of purpose. Admission decisions for the online MA Strategic Communication program are based on a full assessment of the applicant’s academic profile, mix of experience they bring to the program and overall readiness for graduate-level work. Please address your experience in each category keeping in mind how you could contribute to the future community of excellence at WSU. Your statement of purpose should not exceed one page and should address the following:

Why the online MA Health Communication program at WSU interests you – what attracted you to the program
What led you to the desire of earning an advanced degree
Where do you think your MA will lead you personally and/or professionally
How the degree program fits into your current personal or professional path
What are your goals in furthering your education? What do you hope to achieve through the
curriculum?
Other anecdotes or background information that will aid in evaluating whether or not you would
thrive and be successful in the program

Experience
The coursework is bench-marked at a level best suited to those with solid work and life experience. Student engagement is built into each course and with it students benefit greatly from knowledge share and mutual exchange. We find that those with limited applied work experience are not fully equipped to contribute to those discussions in a meaningful way – nor are they as successful in completing the more complex course work. The decision to admit involves a full assessment of the applicant’s academic profile, the mix of experience they bring to the program and overall readiness for graduate-level work – not just undergraduate GPA or quality of their statement of purpose.

Career Opportunities:

Advertising, public relations, corporate communication, and communication management.

Contact Information: