St Cloud State University

M.S. in Strategic Media Communications

Every industry has a need for savvy content strategists and multimedia storytellers. Don't think you have time? You can earn your degree in just five semesters, taking two courses per semester. This program prepares working professionals for career advancement as leaders in strategic media communications. Faculty with award-winning industry experience will help students hone skills in strategy and multimedia content development, analytics, ethical leadership, and diverse approaches to global strategic communication practices.

Program Highlights

• Earn your degree in five semesters online, taking two courses per semester.
• Learen alongside faculty with decades of award-winning industry experience in advertising, public relations, content markerting, journalism, multi-media storytelling, and sports broadcasting.
• Options to complete a three-semester graduate certificatee in Strategic Digital Communications or Strategic Communications Leadership.
• Develop and defend an applied strategic communications project plan for an organization of your choice, including your place of employment or volunteer organization.
• Contribute content remotely for St. Cloud State's award-winning 24-hour radio station, student newspaper, and HD television station.
• Graduate assistantships and internships available.

Student Organizations

• KVSC-FM (University radio station)
• University Chronicle (Campus Newspaper)
• University Television Station (UTVS)

University Facts & Statistics

• 90 graduate programs leading to graduate certificates, master’s and doctoral degrees
• More than 300 graduate assistantships awarded per year
• Graduate assistants receive up to a $9,250 stipend per year and tuition reimbursement for up to nine graduate credits per semester.

Culminating Project

As partial fullfillment of the M.S. in Strategic Media Communications, students will complete a culminating project consisting of an Applied Strateegic Media Communication Plan and defense. Students will develop a plan to address a problem of issue in the discipline of strategic communication. The plan will be directly applicable to improving the internal or external marketing communications of an organization, process, service, procedure, idea, or product.

The Master's Degree candidate will:

• Clearely define the problem or issue to address or solve through the applied project.
• Investigate and report past and current methods or practices used to solve the problem.
• Access and report an adequent review of literature related to their inquiry.
• Design and conduct primary research.
• Develop a comprehensive project plan and defend the plan.

Students will begin their culminating projects in the second semester of study, including developing a proposal as well designing and conducting research. This work will be non-credit bearing. The final semester of study, students will renroll in MCOM 699 Captone (3 credits) to finalize the project plan report and to defend their plan in a formal presentation.