Strategic Communication
Welcome
Strategic Communication (STOC) involves the study and practice of leading through strategic communication. This includes developing messaging, building relationships, respecting diverse cultural identities, and managing effective and influential organizational and public communication. From identity and culture to groups and organizations, communication skills are a vital part of today’s world in both face-to-face and online settings.
In this program of study, you will explore approaches to civil discourse, persuasive messaging and intercultural communication ethics. You’ll identify how variables in interaction influence our individual, social, political, cultural and marketplace experiences. And with this understanding, you will then learn to master various forms of communication—including oral, written, visual and virtual.
Career Options
Strategic Communication graduates often find jobs in the private, government and non-profit sectors. Careers that benefit from communication studies include:
- Public relations director
- Social media specialist
- Corporate trainer
- Marketing manager
- Nonprofit leader
- Fundraising specialist
- Communication strategist
- Political strategist
- Grant writer
- College professor
- Attorney
Choose from 2 Academic Tracks
As a Strategic Communication student, you will select courses from two tracks:
- Strategic Communication Leadership: learn to understand and manage differences and create trust and common purpose in relationships, organizations, and communities while developing your own and others' ability to lead and communicate in influential and motivating ways.
- Strategic Social Media: learn to create messaging and manage interactions in online social media contexts that represent and extend to the campaigns, organizations, and communities they serve.
World-Ready Learning Opportunities
You will learn what it takes to communicate in real professional and civic environments through face-to-face and virtual classes and other experiences so you can practice how to communicate in dynamic ways to be a strategic communication leader within organizations and communities as well as on social media. You will get to work with faculty with expertise in public communication to participate in and help facilitate campus and community projects and discussions through the Communication Leadership Lab so you learn how to engage and create courageously, persuasively, and civilly as a communication practitioner. Through these and other leadership development opportunities, you will gain insights and a portfolio for whatever you plan to do next with your knowledge and skills.
Our Alumni
Our alumni have landed jobs as social media specialists, government consultants, non-profit leaders, grant writers, and even professors. We would be happy to introduce to our successful network of alumni.
Find out more about one of our alumni, Dr. Shavonne Shorter, University of Mary Washington Associate Provost of Equity and Inclusion.Follow Us
Program Highlights:
- Emphasizes experiential learning through taking classes, doing assignments, and participating in activities in face-to-face and virtual formats so you can practice how to communicate in dynamic ways to be a strategic communication leader within organizations and communities as well as on social media.
- You will get to participate in and help facilitate campus and community discussions through the Communication Leadership Lab so you learn how to engage courageously, persuasively, and civilly as a citizen and communication practitioner.
- You will work with faculty who have experience in public relations and public dialogue and deliberation research and practices.
- You will have networking opportunities locally, regionally, and nationally for research and practice as well as graduate study options through campus and community leadership development opportunities.