STRATEGIC STORYTELLER
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a deep and broad understanding of stories and how they can be used in strategic communication. Drawing from a wealth of evidence-based and field-tested work on storytelling from both local and global contexts, students will learn why stories tend to be so powerful and—with a focus on the written, performed, and transmedia aspects of storytelling—gain experience in telling stories to achieve organizational objectives. Your skills will be sharpened through lively seminar discussions, storytelling exercises, workshop-style coaching, and presentations and on-camera practice. By the end, students will walk away with a new mindset and a host of strategies that can be immediately implemented in their everyday work.
- M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Instructor:
Lauren R Glover
Info - 3 points
INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING
Students will learn fundamental marketing concepts and their application. By the end of this class you will know: the elements of a market, company strategy, how to identify customers and competition, the fundamental elements of the marketing mix (product, price, placement and promotion) how to research consumer behavior, and pricing strategies. Students will have extensive use of case study projects. Please note that there are separate online and in-person versions of the course, and the modalities offered may vary by semester. Be sure to check the modalities of the sections offered and enroll in the correct modality for your situation.
- M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Instructor:
Andrew Blum
Info - 3 points
MARKETING STRATEGY
Prerequisites: BUSI PS5020 Introduction to Marketing/or Professor Approval is required Students will develop analytical skills used to formulate and implement marketing driven strategies for an organization. Students will develop a deeper understanding of marketing strategies and how to implement tactics to achieve desired goals. Students will work on case study projects in both individual and team based projects. By the end of this course, you will be able to develop a marketing strategy based on market assessments and company needs.
- M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Instructor:
Sandy Becker
Info - 3 points
ACTIVATING EMPLOYEES
In
Activating Employees: Transformation, Culture, and Growth
, we examine both
tried-and-true and emergent methods for building durable, strategic programs to
inform, engage, enable and activate entire companies in alignment with business
strategy, company values, and purpose.
- W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Instructor:
Ethan McCarty
Info - 3 points
POLITICAL COMMUNICATIONS
This course is designed either for students who wish to embark on or further careers in politics and for those interested in exploring the dynamic field of political communication. Three themes anchor the course material: 1.) strategic communication, or deliberate and goal-oriented communication, which enables professionals to analyze and execute political strategy; 2.) message, which enables the crafting and critique of more or less effective political communication; and 3,) research, which political professionals use to formulate, shift and optimize their strategies.
- MTRF 9 a.m.-5:45 p.m.
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Instructor:
Andrew Whitehouse
Info - 3 points
CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS
This course covers the basic elements of crisis communication and the procedures for creating crisis communications plans and for reacting to crises when they occur. How best to develop various plans for different critical audiences and understand the most effective strategies for communicating your organization’s message during a crisis is explored. The course examines various types of crises that can occur with corporations and nonprofit organizations and the differences and similarities among them. How to avoid the classic and common pitfalls of crisis communication are addressed, as are ethical issues that arise during crises. Numerous case studies are discussed in class and exercises both in and outside of class are assigned so students gain experience in crisis communication situations.
- T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Instructor:
Andrew Whitehouse
Info - 3 points
COMMUNICATION AND GLOBAL BRANDS
COMMUNICATION & GLOBAL BRANDS
This course examines the discipline of global marketing communication, including the environmental factors that enabled global marketing. The course assesses early models of communication management and the current factors that enable global communication programs: the identification of global target audiences; the kinds of products and services that lend themselves to global communication and those that don’t; and the characteristics of leadership brands that are preeminent in global communication today. Students consider how levels of development and cultural values affect communication programs and how local differences can be reflected in global programs. Message creation and the available methods of message distribution are evaluated in the context of current and future trends. Students learn how to approach strategy and develop an integrated, holistic global communication program and how to manage such a program.
- R 8:10 a.m.-10 a.m.
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Instructor:
Annemarie Norris
Info - 3 points
VISUAL COMMUNICATION & DESIGN
STRATEGIC VISUAL COMM
This course provides strategic communication students with the foundational notions and methods of design needed to collaborate with designers and amplify their work. It examines the impact technology and social transformations are having on design: the application of digital and generative technology, the redirection toward human-centric approaches, and the discipline’s standing in embracing social and ethical concerns related to ensuring inclusivity and preventing cultural bias. The course begins with a historical overview of design’s evolution and contemporary methods, setting the stage for an in-depth exploration of visual perception principles and key design elements like shape, form, color, typography, imagery, and layout. Students will apply the knowledge gained by experimenting with design practices and developing design strategies and applications through serial hands-on, collaborative assignments and workshops.
- F 10:10 a.m.-noon
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Instructor:
Diego Kolsky
Info - 3 points
CONTENT STRATEGY
CONTENT STRATEGY (ONLINE)
Sitting at the intersection of business strategy, digital development, user experience, communication, and publishing, content strategy has emerged over the last few years as a discipline examining the purpose behind content (in all manifestations) and how it supports business, organizational, and user goals. While it originated in digital web design and user experience, content strategy now encompasses a much broader set of considerations and addresses content creation, distribution, and governance across multiple channels, especially the interplay among digital, social, and traditional media. Content strategy provides a holistic approach for unlocking the value behind content and for increasing its effectiveness in achieving business and organizational objectives. This course will present the fundamentals of content strategy and explore the discipline’s approaches, techniques, and tools that course participants can apply directly to the content situation in their own organization. It will draw parallels with – and highlight distinctions among – traditional communication strategy, publishing, and content strategy, and provide students with a framework to create a sustainable program grounded in meaningful, actionable content.
- W 8:10 p.m.-10 p.m.
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Instructor:
Jenny M Fernandez
Info - 3 points
CHANNELS AND TACTICS
With the explosion of communication channels, people are consuming content in a variety of forms across many devices. For marketers and agency partners, the challenge is how to select the channels and formats that will be most effective in engaging and motivating the audience to take the desired action, finding aperture moments to capture attention. Planning starts with the communication objective and translates that into channel strategies and tactics to meet the objective. In this class, you'll learn how to assess communication channels, including strengths and weaknesses and how they work together for best effect. You'll also be given the tools and frameworks necessary to create a communications channel plan, taking advantage of the paid, earned, and owned channel ecosystem. The class is designed for communication professionals who will contribute to and evaluate communication plans within their organization.
- W 12:10 p.m.-2 p.m.
- 3 points
DIGITAL COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
As digital media increasingly drives the field of strategic communication, leading successful communication efforts also require a platform specific, evidence-based strategic approach. Leaders must know how to use a broad and rapidly changing mix of digital media platforms and tools to connect their message with the right audience. To that end, this course covers major topics in digital media and communication, such as content strategy, digital experience, channel planning, online reputation management, programmatic marketing, audience targeting, artificial intelligence and more. Through in-class lectures, discussion, case studies, guest speakers, group projects and individual writing assignments, students in this course will be introduced to strategic decision-making and communications planning for social media, mobile, digital advertising, search, email, digital out-of-home and interactive media (video, radio, podcasts). Students will also gain an in-depth understanding of how to integrate digital strategies and tactics with traditional communication efforts.
- W 8:10 p.m.-10 p.m.
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Instructor:
Mariana Y Pinos
Info - 3 points
AI and the Future of Strategic Communica
AI & the Future of Strat
The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved to become a transformative global force across various industries, with particular significance for strategic communication. This elective course provides a comprehensive exploration of AI’s foundations, its current landscape, and its profound impact on media, journalism, public relations, and marketing communications. The course also addresses critical issues surrounding AI such as ethics, policy, and risk management associated with adoption, while offering practical insights into implementing common AI tools and developing essential AI skills for communication professionals.
- T 8:10 p.m.-10 p.m.
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Instructor:
Irene Papajohn
Info - 3 points
GENDER AND COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLAC
GENDER & COMM IN THE WORKPLACE
Gender and Communication in the Workplace offers professionals across sectors and industries the knowledge and skills needed to identify the social and linguistic practices enacted at work, and the opportunity to advance the interests of those who run up against barriers to advancement as a result of prejudice and stereotyping.
- T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Jane M McManus
Info - 3 points
Internship in COMM
Internship with Industry (1.5 credits, asynchronous online, elective) supports graduate students as they complete a supervised internship aligned with their academic program and career goals. Through targeted readings, short video lectures, structured reflection, and peer interaction, students connect internship experiences to career frameworks and workplace competencies. Course modules emphasize goal setting (SMART goals), self-awareness and communication (DiSC), career design and prototyping (Designing Your Life; Life Grid and Energy Mapping), persistence and performance (GRIT), and navigating change (VUCA, including reflection on emerging technologies such as AI). Students produce artifacts that document progress, analyze workplace context, and translate learning into career direction through a final synthesis reflection.
The course requires a minimum of 105 internship hours and completion of a supervisor evaluation through the Experiential Learning Module.
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Instructor:
Mariela Torres
Info - 1.5 points
CAPSTONE
The Capstone Project is an opportunity for students to synthesize and apply learnings from throughout the Strategic Communication program. Under the guidance of expert advisers, you’ll investigate a real-world communication issue, devising solutions and strategies that bridge the gap between theory and practice.
- R 5:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
- R 6:10 p.m.-9 p.m.
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Instructor:
Gabriel Amor
Info -
Instructor:
Elyse Hoelzer
Info - 3 points
INTRO TO GLOBAL FIELDWORK
This course serves as the introduction and prerequisite for PS5705.001 Global Fieldwork in Communication. Students learn foundational frameworks for cross-cultural communication and collaboration in a global context, preparing them for success during their study abroad experience. Students must attend all three intro sessions to be eligible for the Global Fieldwork course.
- F 12:10 p.m.-2 p.m.
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Instructor:
Kristine Billmyer
Info - 0 points
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND CORPORATE COMMUNICA
PR & CORPORATE COMMUNICATION
This elective is designed for students looking to launch careers in public relations and corporate communications across organizations, from corporate, non-profit, start-up and/or governmental institutions. Course content will provide students with a broad overview of the PR and corporate communications function and foundational communication theory, along with hands-on, tactical training in modern public relations practice. Topics covered include strategic messaging and storytelling, working with the press to generate media coverage, leveraging social media and managing reputations online, crisis communication, public relations ethics and media law, engaging internal and external audiences, and evaluating corporate communications efforts.
- M 8:10 p.m.-10 p.m.
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Instructor:
Michael Kaye
Info - 3 points