Find the right UMGC degree, specialization, or certificate for your professional and educational goals. Use the compare option to decide between multiple programs of interest.
Strategic Communications
Master of ScienceThese program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Earn a Master of Science in strategic communications at University of Maryland Global Campus and take courses that can help you prepare for leadership roles in public relations and related communications fields. This program is designed to help working professionals obtain the skills they need to stand out in the market and advance their careers.
UMGC’s online strategic communications master’s degree is built from the ground up with the needs of working professionals like you in mind. Today's employers are looking for the next generation of leaders—working professionals who can use advanced communications skills to lead their teams through complex situations. Our career-focused online program is designed to help you build those skills and fill that growing need.
Program Highlights
- Use data: Use data analytics and other research methods to create a truly strategic approach to communicating your organization’s story.
- Lead with principles: Achieve organizational objectives through the application of ethical best practices and principles of leadership and management.
- Plan crisis communications: Plan for, implement, and evaluate strategic and crisis communications activities and campaigns in an ethical manner by applying communications theory, principles, and best practices.
- Engage your audience: Create communications products for traditional, digital, and social media platforms that incorporate organizational messages and operational initiatives and engage your public effectively.
Required Courses
This program requires a total of 30 credits.
- Required Core Courses: 27
- Required Capstone Course: 3
Take the following courses in the order listed (except MSCP 635 and MSCP 640, either of which may be taken before the other):
Required Core Courses
- (3 Credits, MSCP 600)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 605)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 610)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 620)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 625)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 630)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 635)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 640)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 650)
Required Capstone Course
- (3 Credits, MSCP 690)
Career Preparation
This program is designed to help you prepare for strategic communications careers in several professional contexts. The skills that you’ll learn in this program may translate to a number of industries, including companies in the public sector, the private sector, and the non-profit sector. Potential job titles include communication specialist, director of communications, and public affairs specialist. UMGC courses are taught by experienced faculty and address skills and competencies that are highly valued by today’s employers.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
You are expected to have some familiarity with the Microsoft Office Suite. Strong writing skills are encouraged in this program. If you have not recently written professionally in a public relations or related communications field, we also recommend that you familiarize yourself with AP Style. You will have access to the AP Stylebook once you have been accepted into the program and classes begin.
Total Program Credits
30
Transfer Credits
Exactly 12
Format
- All courses available online
Tuition Per Credit
- $336 per credit hour
(Europe & Downrange)
See our Tuition Rates page for details.
Admission Requirements
This program follows standard UMGC admission requirements.
Military-Specific Details
This program does not have military restrictions. It is available to all eligible civilian and military-affiliated students.
State-Specific Details
This program does not have state-specific restrictions.
Communication Studies
Bachelor of ArtsThese program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Program Highlights
- Apply analytical skills in interpreting, using, and delivering information, particularly through mass media
- Create professional and appropriate written, oral, and visual communications for specific purposes and diverse audiences
- Design, create, and select multimedia components and integrate them into print, broadcast, and online formats
- Work with individuals and groups in ways that reflect an understanding of both communication theory and professional expectations
- Understand diverse and intercultural perspectives as they affect communication
- Design and employ specific research methods and tools to gather information
Required Courses
Required Major Core Courses
- (3 Credits, SPCH 100)
or any SPCH course - (3 Credits, COMM 207)
or any COMM course - (3 Credits, JOUR 201)
- (3 Credits, COMM 300)
- (3 Credits, COMM 302)
- (3 Credits, SPCH 324)
- (3 Credits, JOUR 330)
or any upper-level JOUR course - (3 Credits, COMM 400)
or any upper-level COMM course - (3 Credits, SPCH 470)
or any upper-level SPCH course - (3 Credits, COMM 390)
or any upper-level COMM course
Required Major Capstone Course
- (3 Credits, COMM 495)
Career Preparation
This program is designed to help prepare you for a career in mass media, new media, journalism, public relations, business, or online communication.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
No previous experience is needed.
Total Program Credits
120
Transfer Credits
90
Format
- All courses are available online
- Select on-site and hybrid courses available
Tuition Per Credit
- $250 per credit hour
(Europe & Downrange)
See our Tuition Rates page for details.
Admission Requirements
This program follows standard UMGC admission requirements.
Military-Specific Details
This program does not have military restrictions. It is available to all eligible civilian and military-affiliated students.
State-Specific Details
This program does not have state-specific restrictions.
Strategic Communications
Graduate CertificateThese program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2022-2023 academic year.
In the strategic communications certificate program at University of Maryland Global Campus, you'll learn how to conduct research, identify your audience, and develop messages that will stimulate engagement. You'll also practice writing and creating appealing products that deliver those messages. Further, you'll learn how different organizational functions interact with the strategic communications team to achieve organizational objectives.
Program Highlights
- Develop soft skills: Refine your communication, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and leadership skills.
- Use data: Use data analytics to create a strategic approach to communicating your organization's story.
- Go digital: Create communications products for traditional, digital, and social media platforms.
- Engage your audience: Incorporate organizational messages and initiatives to engage your publics effectively.
- Prepare for certification: Take courses that can help you prepare for public relations and strategic communications certification exams.
- Develop leadership: Achieve organizational objectives through ethical best practices and principles of leadership.
Required Courses
- (3 Credits, MSCP 600)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 605)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 610)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 620)
- (3 Credits, MSCP 625)
Career Preparation
The strategic communications certificate is an interdisciplinary technical credential that provides a solid foundation in competencies and skills related to strategic communications, including public relations. This program requires students to demonstrate competencies in writing for strategic communications, public relations and communications theory, message development, communications research and planning, traditional media techniques and tactics, and social media techniques and tactics.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
You are expected to have some familiarity with the Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong writing skills are also encouraged in this program. If you have not recently written professionally in a public relations or related communications field, we also recommend that you familiarize yourself with AP style. You will have access to the AP Stylebook once you have been accepted into the program and classes begin.
Total Program Credits
18
Transfer Credits
Exactly 6
Format
- All courses available online
Tuition Per Credit
- $336 per credit hour
(Europe & Downrange)
See our Tuition Rates page for details.
Admission Requirements
This program follows standard UMGC admission requirements.
Military-Specific Details
This program does not have military restrictions. It is available to all eligible civilian and military-affiliated students.
State-Specific Details
This program does not have state-specific restrictions.