Program Information
College: Communication & Information
Degree:
Limited Access: No
Contact: Natashia Hinson-Turner, Graduate Coordinator
Address:
School of Communication
Suite 3100, University Center C, FSU
P.O. Box 3062664
Tallahassee, FL USA 32306-2664
Phone: (850)-644-5034
Email: ComGradAdvising@cci.fsu.edu
Understanding global, multicultural, and strategic communication leads to success
The Strategic Communication graduate program, offered either completely online or in-person on campus,
is designed for students interested in careers that merge integrated marketing communication, advertising,
public relations, cross-cultural marketing communication, new communication technologies, and applied research.
It provides a foundation for students who wish to pursue professional careers in strategic communication,
digital marketing communication, or multicultural marketing communication. The program major also can lead
to advanced graduate studies.
INFO SESSION FOR GRADUATE MAJORS
LEARN ABOUT THE MAJORS AT THE MASTER’S DEGREE LEVEL
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Program's Overview
Please note: The requirements for the in-person and online majors differ as outlined below.
In-person Strategic Communication Major
Program of Study
The in-person major requires a minimum of 33–36 credit hours of coursework and applications with four program completion options. An individualized plan based on students’ interests will be developed with an advisor after admission to the program.
| Category | Residency | Course-Only | Thesis | Creative Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required | 12–15 credit hours | |||
| Electives | 15–18 | 21–24 | 12–15 | 12–15 |
| Capstone | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Minimum Hours | 33 | 36 | 33 | 33 |
| Minimum Letter-Graded Hours | 27 | 27 | 24 | 27 |
Required Courses
(12-15 hours) All students in the Professional Communication master’s degree with a major in Strategic Communication (in person) are required to take five specific courses, covering foundational concepts, theories, and methods. Students who graduated with a degree in Public Relations, Advertising, or Marketing as well as those who have sufficient relevant professional experience are eligible to receive a waiver from the foundational course. The Director of Master’s Studies is responsible for determining who may receive that waiver. The hours need to be made up by taking an additional elective course.
Elective Courses
(12–21 hours) Students may focus on an area of interest through elective coursework. The number of elective hours depends on the student’s background and selected capstone option. Up to six hours may be taken outside the department if approved by the supervisory committee.
Capstone Options
(3-6 hours) Students will complete the SC major by choosing one of four capstone options. The Residency is a 3-hour option. The courses-only, thesis, and creative project options are each 6-hour options. Students who are planning to pursue a doctoral degree after completing the Master’s degree are strongly urged to choose the thesis capstone option. Requirements and guidelines for completing each of the three applied options are available from the supervisory committee. For the course-only option, students should register for two additional courses in the School of Communication. The courses need to be approved by the supervisory committee as part of the student’s program of study.
Online Strategic Communication Major
Program of Study
The online major requires a minimum of 33 hours of coursework. This major does not offer the thesis, creative project, or residency capstone options. Students may only complete the major by taking 33 credit hours of coursework.
Required Courses
(12-15 hours) All students in the Professional Communication master’s degree with a major in Strategic Communication (online) are required to take five specific courses, covering foundational concepts, theories, and methods. Students who graduated with a degree in Public Relations, Advertising, or Marketing as well as those who have sufficient relevant professional experience are eligible to receive a waiver from the foundational course. The Director of Master’s Studies is responsible for determining who may receive that waiver. The hours need to be made up by taking an additional elective course.
Elective Courses
(18-21 hours) The remaining courses for the major are electives chosen from a list of approved online courses. Students may choose up to six hours outside of the department, as long as they are online graduate-level courses and the student’s program of study has been approved by the supervisory committee. All classes to be applied toward the online major must be online courses.
Differences Between In-person and Online Majors
| Category | In-person | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Hours | 33–36 | 33 |
| Capstone Options | Choice of four options | Coursework only (no residency, thesis, or creative project) |
| Degree Type | MS or MA | MS only |
| Course Format | Combination of in-person and online courses | Fully online courses |
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Program's Courses
The following course list provides an overview of the program. A personalized plan based on student interests will be developed with an advisor after admission to the program. Students may tailor their coursework to align with their academic and professional goals.
Required courses and recommended course sequencing are:
| Course Number | Course Title | Semester Offered | Recommended Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADV 5007 | Foundations of SC | Fall & Spring | First |
| ADV 5503 | Media Consumer Behavior | Fall & Spring | First or second |
| ADV 5605 | Account Planning | Spring & Summer | Second or third |
| COM 5312 | Research Methods | Fall | First semester |
| COM 5316 | Statistical Methods in Communication Research | Fall & Spring | Second or third |
As part of their elective coursework, students are encouraged to enroll in courses that form cohesive content clusters.
1. Intercultural & Multicultural Marketing Communication (suggested courses):
- ADV 5415, Hispanic Marketing Communication
- ADV 5416, Multicultural Marketing Communication
- COM 6400, Special Topics: International PR*
2. Integrated Marketing Communication (suggested courses):
- COM 5126, Organizational Communication Theory
- COM 5235, Crisis Communication
- COM 5450, Introduction to Project Management
- COM 5546, Political Communication
- COM 5565, Social Media Campaigns
- COM 6400, Special Topics: International PR*
3. Individualized Area of Interest
- Your own cluster of courses in your selected area of interest
*Note: Students may take no more than 6 credit hours of COM 6400 throughout their program of study.
Certificates
Students may also complete one of the School’s Graduate Certificates as part of their elective coursework.
Admissions
Graduate Admissions
Application Deadlines
The admissions deadlines are as follows:
- Fall admission -- July 1
- Spring admission -- November 1
- Summer admission -- March 1
- Doctoral program -- December 15
Application Requirements
All applicants for master's and doctoral programs in FSU's School of Communication must satisfy university requirements as well as departmental requirements.
Florida State University Graduate Admission Requirements
- Complete and submit the University Admissions Office's Online Application Form.
- Pay a non-refundable application fee of $30. Application packets will not be reviewed until the fee has been paid.
- Submit a completed Residency Affidavit. All applicants must submit this form, which is completed online.
- Arrange for an official transcript from each college or university attended to be sent to the Office of Admissions. Transcripts may be sent digitally, but must come directly from the institutions attended. An unofficial transcript may be uploaded for the School of Communication for review.
School of Communication Graduate Admission Requirements
In addition to the university requirements listed above, all Communication graduate program applicants must meet the School of Communication requirements listed below. You do not need to submit a separate School application; your university application specifies a program within the School of Communication to which you are applying. Admission is competitive; meeting the following requirements does not guarantee admission, only consideration.- An excellent undergraduate academic record, from accredited universities, to include a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). In addition, doctoral applicants should have a minimum of a 3.3 in their master's degree work.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement to be evaluated for its clarity of expression, creativity and persuasiveness in arguing that (1) the applicant has the necessary record of preparation and performance to succeed in the program; (2) the applicant’s goals can be served by the program’s courses and experiences; (3) the program itself can benefit significantly from the applicant’s talent and experiences; and (4) the applicant will enrich the diversity of students in his or her program. In making these arguments, please address the following questions specifically:
- What are your career goals; that is, what do you plan to be doing in five years and in 10 years?
- Why have you chosen to apply to our master's or doctoral program?
- What experiences and competencies make you a strong candidate for our program (research skills, computer literacy, teaching experience, awards, etc.)?
- A resume or writing sample (optional for master's students; required for doctoral students).
Additional requirements for international students:
- Provide proof of proficiency in both spoken and written English language: An international applicant whose native language is not English, or who has not completed a degree at an English-language university, must have taken the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam (or FSU Graduate School approved alternative test) within the past five years. The Educational Testing Service administers this test. For more information: ets.org/toefl
- Provide Certification of Financial Responsibility. This required form may be downloaded online or requested from the university. NOTE: The completed CFR is submitted to the International Center. Instructions and address are on the form.
Need more information?
Questions about School Admission Requirements:
Natashia Hinson-Turner, Graduate Coordinator School of Communication ComGradAdvising@cci.fsu.edu 850-644-5034 Suite 3100, University Center C, FSU P.O. Box 3062664 Tallahassee, FL USA 32306-2664Questions about University Admissions Requirements:
Office of Admissions The Florida State University P.O. Box 3062400 Tallahassee, FL USA 32306-2400 admissions.fsu.edu graduateadmissions@admin.fsu.edu 850-644-6200Questions about Communication Graduate Programs:
Betsy Crawford, Graduate Recruiter College of Communication & Information Betsy.Crawford@cci.fsu.edu 850-645-9661Questions about Doctoral Programs:
Arienne Ferchaud, Director of Doctoral Studies College of Communication & Information arienne.ferchaud@cci.fsu.edu 850-644-5034Program's Faculty
Chapa, Sindy
Professor & Director of the Hispanic Marketing Center
Wendorf Muhamad, Jessica
Associate Professor, Director PEAKS Research Laboratory
FAQ
Can I earn the degree completely online?
Our Strategic Communication Master’s Program is offered completely online or on campus. All others are only offered on campus.
Do I have to take the GRE and what are the required scores?
No, the GRE is not required for admission to the School of Communication graduate programs.
What English language proficiency tests do you accept and what are the required scores?
The School of Communication accepts the following tests and minimum scores.
| TOEFL | IELTS | Cambridge English Scale | Michigan Assessment Level | Duolingo |
| 5 | 7 | 190 | 72 | 130 |
How much does it cost?
For up-to-date costs, please see the FSU Tuition & Fees page, https://studentbusiness.fsu.edu/tuition-fees
Do you offer assistantships/funding?
The School of Communication offers several assistantships to graduate students in the fall, spring and summer semesters. For more information about assistantships, please visit: https://comm.cci.fsu.edu/about-the-school/financial-aid/assistantships/
How long to complete the program?
We recommend students take three classes each semester (9 credit hours). Our programs require 33 – 36 credit hours depending on the chosen capstone project (PIMC requires 36 for all capstone options). Following these guidelines, a student can finish their program in 4 semesters.
What are the capstone options and do I have to write a thesis?
In PIMC the capstone options are courses-only, creative project, or thesis (all options require 36 credit hours). In MCS, capstone options are courses-only (36 credit hours), creative project (33 credit hours), or thesis (33 credit hours). In IMC, capstone options are courses-only (36 credit hours), residency (33 credit hours), creative project (33 credit hours), or thesis (33 credit hours).
What is the difference between an MA and MS?
Students who received a BA degree also qualify for the MA degree so you have the option to select the MS or MA degree.
Students who received a BS degree will need to take additional language courses to qualify for a MA, but qualify for a MS degree without taking any additional courses.
Please see below the BULLETIN’s description of the Master of Arts requirements.
Graduate Bulletin:
“In addition to the requirements for the MS, candidates for the Master of arts degree must meet the following requirements.
- Proficiency in a foreign language demonstrated by certification by the appropriate language department, or completion of twelve (12) semester hours in a foreign language with an average grade of at least 3.0 (“B”), or four years of a single language in high school.
- Six (6) or more semester hours of graduate credit in one or more of the following fields: art; classical language, literature, and civilization; communication; (not to include speech correction); english; history; humanities; modern languages and linguistics; music; philosophy; religion; and theatre.”
Who should write my letters of recommendation?
The best letters of recommendation are written by instructors with whom you have had one or more classes. Choose someone who knows you and your work well and who can honestly speak of your strengths.
I was not a Communication major do I need to take prerequisites?
No, we do not require prerequisites to starting the major area of study for our graduate programs.
Can I have the application fee waived?
No, the application fee of $30 cannot be waived.