Strategic Communication teaches how to develop campaign goals and think strategically to influence stakeholders, the public, and other audiences in order to accomplish an organizational objective. This specialization integrates theory, real-world practice, and skills training, and examines communication through public relations, marketing, crisis communication, advertising, persuasion theory, and communication campaigns.
Students train for careers such as public relations specialists, communication specialists, marketing, communication campaign and information managers, and as communication consultants.
Major Curriculum
Required Pre-Major Courses: 6 credit hours (do not count in major)
All students must complete two pre-major courses. A grade of C- or better is required in both courses for a Major Specialization Application to be considered. Admission is competitive and an online application is required.
- Comm 1100: Communication in Society
- Comm 1101: History of Communication
Core Major Requirements: 16 credit hours. All five courses required.
- Comm 2321: Writing for Strategic Communication
- Comm 2331: Strategic Communication Principles
- Comm 3333 or 3444: Crisis Communication or Advertising and Society
- Comm 3334: Strategic Message Design
- Comm 4337: Public Communication Campaigns (prereq: Comm 2331)
Research Method Requirement: 4 credit hours. One course required.
- Comm 3163: Communication Industry Research Methods (prereq: Stats 1350, 1450 or equiv.)
Experiential Learning: 3 credit hours*. One course required.
- Comm 3188*: The PRactice (1-3 credits)
- Comm 3800: Career Development in Communication
- Comm 4191*: Internship (1-3 credits)
- Comm 4998*: Undergraduate Research (1-3 credits)
- Comm 4998*: Thesis Research (1-3 credits)
Oral Communication Skills: 3 credit hours. One course required.
- Comm 2110: Public Speaking
- Comm 2131: Business and Professional Speaking
- Comm 2367(H): Persuasive Communication
Focus Area Electives: 9 credit hours. Choose at least 3 courses from within or across clusters.
Strategic Planning in Public Relations/Advertising
- Comm 2511: Visual Communication Design
- Comm 3332: Risk Communication
- Comm 3340: Principles of Environmental Campaigns
- Comm 3345: Strategic Message Planning
- Comm 3414: Sports Media Relations
- Comm 3444: Advertising and Society
- Comm 3558: Social Media
- Comm 3628: Contemporary Persuasion Theory
- Comm 4445: Stereotypes in Media
- Comm 4558: Social Media Analytics (prereq: Comm 3160, 3163 or 3165)
Strategic Communication Contexts
- Comm 2367(H): Persuasive Communication
- Comm 3325: Introduction to Organizational Communication
- Comm 3330: Communication and Conflict Management
- Comm 3331: Communication and Decision Making
- Comm 3333: Crisis Communication
- Comm 3340: Principles of Environmental Campaigns
- Comm 3668: Intercultural Communication
- Comm 4820: Public Opinion and Communication