About the Program

The Strategic Communications program focuses on the critical thinking, analysis, and practical skills required in contemporary communications. Students experience a rigorous, intensive environment, learning from practicing professionals who understand industry needs and make coursework relevant, thereby enhancing their value as employees.

The part-time Strategic Communications master's degree program prepares students for careers as effective, strategically oriented communications executives. Today's communications professionals must:

  • Understand how communications can support business goals
  • Listen to constituents and work cooperatively to define problems and opportunities
  • Develop and execute complex, integrated communications plans
  • Use analysis, research, and critical thinking to arrive at communications strategies
  • Write clearly, concisely, and persuasively
  • Identify, frame, and recommend a position based on considered research and creative insight

Unlike many other communications programs, Columbia’s Strategic Communications master’s degree program goes beyond theory to train students in the practical, real-world demands of solving today’s complex communications problems.

Program Objectives

Our goal is to teach students how to develop effective communications strategies and to foster the thinking habits that will allow them to offer strategic counsel to any organization. The Strategic Communications graduate program seeks to:

  • Help students understand the functions and opportunities for strategic communications to support business objectives and modern communications and media theories
  • Develop students' abilities to apply critical and analytic thinking to communications problems and issues
  • Familiarize students with the complete range of current communications tools and how to use them in an integrated, strategic way
  • Provide opportunities for students to practice problem solving with clients
  • Encourage students to uphold professional ethical principles
  • Provide access to industry professionals to enable students to make connections and build relationships