University of Southern Indiana offers an online Master of Arts in Strategic and Organizational Communication through its Communication and Media Department. This program is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of roles in media development, organizational leadership, and strategic communication across diverse settings. This program uses Blackboard, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams to host course lectures and facilitate discussions and collaborations between students and program faculty.
The Master of Arts in Strategic and Organizational Communication consists of 30 credits (10 courses), which students can complete in as few as 12 months of full-time study, though they have the flexibility to pursue part-time study to accommodate their professional and personal schedules. The curriculum for the program is highly flexible, with students selecting their own courses from a menu of classes that include Instructional Communication, Strategic Communication, Nonprofit and Association Communication, Crisis Communication, Applied Practices in Instructional Communication, Organizational Advocacy, Social Media Strategies, Leadership and Communication, and Applied Communication Ethics. Students also have the choice to take two seminars, Special Topics in Organizational Communication and Special Topics in Instructional Communication, which cover contemporary issues and innovations in professional and academic communication. (Note: Students who wish to pursue a career in higher education instruction are advised to take Applied Practices in Instructional Communication, Instructional Communication, and the Special Topics in Instructional Communication seminar as part of their course selection.)
Through their choice of coursework, students can develop a personalized and interdisciplinary skills set in strategic and organizational communication to match their professional goals. Each class features content that is directly applicable to workplace communication needs. For example, the Organizational Advocacy course explores how organizations and their leaders use communication to convey and uphold unifying values and goals, while motivating employees and generating stakeholder support. The Instructional Communication course covers instructional processes, the latest educational and communication technologies, and educational theory as it applies to diverse academic settings. Other concepts covered in the coursework include interpersonal communication analysis and conflict resolution, strategic public relations planning and implementation, marketing analytics, fundraising and grant writing for the nonprofits, and leveraging cutting-edge digital media tools. Students can also opt to complete an Independent Study in Communication, which involves researching a communication challenge or issue that interests them, under the guidance of a faculty member.
The University of Southern Indiana is regionally accredited through The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Online Master of Arts in Strategic and Organizational Communication
Overview
Department: Communication and Media Department
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 2 years
Start Dates: Fall and Summer admission
Curriculum and Graduation Requirements
Credits Required: 30 credits (10 courses)
Thesis Required: No
Capstone Options: No thesis or capstone required
Example Courses: Applied Practices in Instructional Communication; Problematic Workplace Communication; Strategic Communication; Leadership and Communication; Nonprofit and Association Communication; Crisis Communication; Organizational Advocacy; Social Media Strategies
Admission Requirements
Application Requirements: Bachelor's degree (Inquire with school for additional admission requirements)
GPA Requirements: Minimum GPA 2.5
Testing Requirements: GRE not required
Tuition Costs
Estimated Tuition*: ~$13,408 + fees
Cost per Credit Hour: $446.94 per credit hour
State Authorizations: Program accepts students from all 50 states
