Liberty University offers two master’s in communication programs: a Master of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication. The programs are offered through the Department of Strategic & Personal Communication in the School of Communication and the Arts. Both master’s programs are 100 percent online and do not require in-person campus visits. Students access syllabi and course materials, submit assignments, participate in online discussion boards with other students, and communicate with professors through the Blackboard learning management system.
Online Master of Arts in Communication
The Master of Arts in Communication requires 33 credit hours and can be completed in approximately one year of study. Curriculum is divided into 8-week courses with students taking one to two courses per term. The program is designed to help students develop practical skills in interpersonal and professional communication to prepare them for leadership and management roles.
Students complete a set 11 course curriculum that broadly explores topics across the communication spectrum, from interpersonal communication to strategic storytelling. The set curriculum includes the following courses: Interpersonal Communication in the Marketplace, Problem-Solving and Collaborative Communication, International and Intercultural Communication, Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Professional Communication and Non Profit Development, Event Planning and Donor Relations, Strategic Storytelling, Strategic Organizational Communication, Strategic Communication Campaigns for the Digital Age, Effective Social Media, and New Beginnings: Research, Insight, and Application.
As this course list illustrates, students gain comprehensive training in many of the key aspects of effective internal and external-facing communications for organizational success. They are introduced to how consumer attitudes and behaviors shift based on communication context (e.g. public relations, digital media), and become familiar with cross-cultural communication techniques and how to create effective messaging based on the audience’s background and communication needs. This program’s emphasis on strategic social media use, organizational communication methods, and innovative professional communication technology and tools equips students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in advanced communication roles.
Online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication
For students and media professionals who want to focus more on the intersection of digital media and communication strategy, the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication at Liberty University offers targeted coursework in these areas. This program requires 33 credit hours and can be completed in approximately in 1.5 years of study. The courses in this program teach students how to effectively use media platforms and analytical tools to develop online and other digital campaigns that resonate with their target audiences.
This program also has a set curriculum of 11 courses that introduce students to strategic communication practices in digital outreach, with core content requiring students to complete hands-on digital communications projects. This set curriculum includes the following courses: Strategic Storytelling, Media Technologies and Communication Strategies, Video, Social, and Mobile Promotion, Effective Social Media, Strategic Media Analysis, Best Practices: Transforming the Digital Organization, Using Emerging Trends in Strategic Communication, Strategic Organizational Communication, Transmedia Storytelling, Strategic Communication Campaigns for the Digital Age, and New Beginnings: Research, Insight, and Application.
While there are a few courses that overlap with the Master of Arts in Communication program, the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication has a greater emphasis on new media technologies and how they can enhance storytelling and communication strategy. These courses help students develop skills in creating effective outreach campaigns across different mediums and digital platforms. As they progress through the curriculum, students gain familiarity with integrated marketing communications and how it can be leveraged to promote businesses, organizations and services.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Master of Arts in Communication
Overview
Department: School of Communication & the Arts
Specializations/Concentrations: General Program
Websites: Department
and Program
Program Format
Structure: Online program with no required campus visits
Instruction Methods: Program uses asynchronous instruction
Campus Visits Required: No
Program Length: Program can be completed in approximately 1.5 years - students have up to 5 years to finish the program
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
Thesis Required: No
Capstone Options: Thesis, thesis project, or comprehensive examination
Credits Required: 36 credits (11-12 courses)
Example Courses: Interpersonal Communication in the Marketplace; Strategic Organizational Communication; International & Intercultural Communication; Strategic Storytelling; Conflict Analysis & Resolution; Effective Social Media
Application Requirements
Degree Required: Bachelor's degree
GPA Requirements: Minimum GPA 2.5 (applicants with a GPA greater than 2.0 may be considered for cautionary admission)
Testing Requirements: GRE not required
Start Dates: Program has 8 starts per year
Tuition Costs
Estimated Tuition*: ~$20,340 + fees (full-time); ~$22,140 + fees (part-time)
Cost per Credit Hour: $565 per credit hour (full-time: 9 or more credits); $615 per credit hour (part-time: 1-8 credits)
State Authorizations: Program accepts students from all 50 states
Online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication
Overview
Department: School of Communication & the Arts
Websites: Department
and Program
Program Format
Structure: Online program with no required campus visits
Instruction Methods: Program uses asynchronous instruction
Campus Visits Required: No
Program Length: Program can be completed in approximately 1.5 years - students have up to 5 years to finish the program
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
Thesis Required: No
Capstone Options: Thesis, thesis project, or comprehensive examination
Credits Required: 36 credits (11-12 courses)
Example Courses: Strategic Storytelling; Effective Social Media; Strategic Organizational Communication; Strategic Communication Campaigns for the Digital Age; Event Panning & Donor Relations; Professional Communication & Nonprofit Development
Application Requirements
Degree Required: Bachelor's degree
GPA Requirements: Minimum GPA 2.5 (applicants with a GPA greater than 2.0 may be considered for cautionary admission)
Testing Requirements: GRE not required
Start Dates: Program has 8 starts per year
Tuition Costs
Estimated Tuition*: ~$20,340 + fees (full-time); ~$22,140 + fees (part-time)
Cost per Credit Hour: $565 per credit hour (full-time: 9 or more credits); $615 per credit hour (part-time: 1-8 credits)
State Authorizations: Program accepts students from all 50 states
