Whether you’re a recent graduate looking to jumpstart your communication career, a communicator who wants to build or advance their career on the global stage or a mid-career professional seeking expanded skills and digital fluency to move into communication management, the M.S. in Global Strategic Communication may be the perfect graduate program for you. 

It’s a professionally-focused, interdisciplinary, non-thesis program designed to prepare graduates for successful careers in public relations, advertising, digital and social media, corporate communication, content marketing and related fields. It accommodates busy working professionals with evening courses, online electives and full- and part-time options. 

Related Programs

Curriculum

Degree Requirements

The program requires satisfactory completion of 30 credit hours (10 courses): eight required courses, including a capstone experience (24 credit hours); and two electives (6 credit hours). No thesis is required.

All required courses during the fall and spring semesters are taught once a week from 7-9:30 p.m. at Loyola’s Water Tower campus. In addition, one elective is offered online each summer.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in good standing in the program and to be eligible for graduation.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
COMM 401	Foundations of Global Strategic Communication	3
COMM 403	Strategic Communication Research Methods	3
COMM 413	Writing for Strategic Communication	3
COMM 411	Strategic Communication Ethics and Law	3
COMM 431	Campaign for Social Impact	3
COMM 421	Topics in Global Strategic Communication	3
COMM 426	Strategic Business Communication for Social Impact	3
COMM 441	Global Strategic Communication Capstone (COMM441 or COMM498 (3credits))	3
Two (2) Electives from List of Electives for GSC		6
Total Hours		30

Electives for Global Strategic Communication

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
COMM 402	Organizational Leadership and Change Management	3
COMM 417	Media Planning	3
COMM 421	Topics in Global Strategic Communication 1	3
COMM 422	Global and Multicultural Audiences and Stakeholders	3
COMM 425	Digital Marketing and Analytics 2	3
COMM 432	Public Interest Communication	3
COMM 433	Corporate Communication	3
COMM 436	Social Media Crisis Communication	3
COMM 444	Social Media Advertising	3
COMM 461	Health Communication	3
COMM 462	Health Literacy & Digital Technology	3
COMM 464	Mobile Advertising	3
COMM 469	Human-Computer Interaction in Digital Media	3
COMM 470	Special Topics in Advertising & Public Relations	3
COMM 491	Advertising/Public Relations Internship	3
COMM 498	Directed Study for Graduate Students	1-3

¹

May be repeated in a different city.

²

Only after all DMST students have enrolled.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
COMM 401	Foundations of Global Strategic Communication	3
COMM 403	Strategic Communication Research Methods	3
COMM 413	Writing for Strategic Communication	3
	Hours	9
Spring
COMM 411	Strategic Communication Ethics and Law	3
COMM 421	Topics in Global Strategic Communication 1	3
COMM 431	Campaign for Social Impact	3
One course from List of Electives for GSC		3
	Hours	12
Second Year
Fall
COMM 426	Strategic Business Communication for Social Impact	3
COMM 441	Global Strategic Communication Capstone	3
One course from List of Electives for GSC		3
	Hours	9
	Total Hours	30

Length of Program

Full- and part-time options are available. Full-time students take three courses in the fall and four in the spring with summer options, allowing them to complete the program one and a half years. Part-time students have up to three years to complete the program. The program is flexible – it’s possible to switch between full- and part-time study.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to help recent graduates successfully launch careers in communication and to enable professional communicators to take their careers to the next level. Courses emphasize acquiring expert knowledge and up‑to-date digital and analytical tools, developing a global perspective and honing skills – such as critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, writing, business literacy, leadership and entrepreneurship – needed for a competitive edge.

The program’s touchstones include an emphasis on strategic planning, consideration of multiple stakeholders, cultural relevance and sensitivity, social justice, effective use of digital channels and ethical decision making. Courses teach a combination of practical skills and “big-picture” knowledge intended to help students develop into skilled strategists, capable organizational leaders and ethical communicators.

In addition, multicultural and multinational examples, cases and perspectives are integrated throughout the curriculum to help students build or enhance a global perspective. The program also offers opportunities for study and immersion in China and London.

These are some of the topics examined in the program:

• As our economy further globalizes, how do we understand new stakeholders and create culturally sensitive and relevant messages and campaigns to engage them?
• Many corporations are embracing “profit with purpose” and building alliances with nonprofits, as well as optimizing their operations for their communities, employees and suppliers. Strategic communication campaigns tell these compelling stories.
• The Internet knows no boundaries: YouTube has become the globe’s jukebox, and people around the world participate in revolutions via SMS text and Twitter. The Internet has created a new category of earned media – one that presents new opportunities but must be negotiated carefully because everyone is potentially an influencer.
• Digital messages can be measured with unparalleled precision. We can now use big data and other unobtrusive tools to find insights, and use web and social analytics to precisely measure the success of our communication programs.

Courses are taught by seasoned teachers and communication professionals who are digitally fluent and savvy in both media and business. Classes are small, personal and hands-on, include the Convergence Studio, state-of-the-art computer labs and exceptional infrastructure for learning and demonstrating digital communication skills.

Classes frequently partner with local nonprofits as pro bono clients, and students will have ample opportunities to do meaningful real-world projects. Whether it’s developing a social media strategy or crafting an entire communication campaign, this work enriches student portfolios and enables students to shape and effectively express their personal brand.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the graduate program in Global Strategic Communication will:

• Create and implement strategic communication campaigns that combine advertising, public relations and integrated marketing communication, and are responsive to community needs and organizational goals in local and global contexts.
• Develop strategic messages to engage with diverse stakeholders through multiple channels, including both traditional and digital media.
• Understand the digital marketing and analytic strategies and tactics for marketing, advertising and public relations practices.
• Apply appropriate research methods to plan, monitor and evaluate public relations, advertising and other communication campaigns and activities.
• Practice ethical communication to create a social impact that both benefits the organization and the society
• Demonstrate the competencies to work as a professional in strategic communication management for social impact