Master of Arts in Strategic Communication

Advanced Communication Theory

This course provides a survey of theoretical perspectives on communication including a broad history of milestones and current theoretical models. This course is designed to expose students to communication theory through readings, discussion, research, and writing. Students will learn how communication theories are developed, analyzed, evaluated and applied. (3 units)

Communication Research and Evaluation

Students will learn research, design and strategy, including methods, experiments, content analysis, and focus groups. Students will also learn how to identify problems in research methods and evaluate current research about these problems. This course will provide students with basic tools to conduct their own research. (3 units)

Communication Management, Leadership and Decision - Making

Explores the communication management process for the private, public and non-profit sectors to develop and analyze messages used in the processes of leadership, including motivation, inspiration, and decision-making. Students will engage in the study of human communication practices and theories along with their relations to effective leadership and decision-making to produce change. (3 units)

Media Effects on Communication Behavior

This course will explore media?s social, political and cultural effects. Media including those who produce it have the power to influence society. Students will be able to critically approach media effects theory and understand how media influences people. This course will focus on the complex interrelationships between consumption of media content and the motives beliefs, feelings, and behaviors of people. Students will also critically analyze theories and apply them to current media coverage and think about the future of media effects. (3 units)

Strategic Communication Programming and Campaigns

Examines the practice of strategic communication through traditional and new media for the development of effective communication programs and campaigns. Focuses on the theory and practice of strategic communication, using research and action to explore how organizations use purposeful communication to achieve their organizational goals through comprehensive communication programming and campaigns. (3 units)

Digital Trends in Strategic Communication

This course will examine the shift from print to digital media as an ever-evolving phenomenon. The impact of new communication technologies, changed political mobilization, and social networks. Students will gain an understanding of analyses applied to digital communication and apply methodologies to contemporary questions about media, technology, sociality, and society in a variety of settings. Students will establish both theoretical and experiential foundations for making personal decisions and judgments regarding the relationship between mediated communication and community including the Christian community. (3 units)

Communication Ethics

This course is an extensive study of the philosophy and practice of ethics in communication. Students will learn to analyze and evaluate ethical problems and gain skills to approach these situations with honesty, sincerity, and confidence. Special emphasis is given to ethical behavior for communication in the digital age. (3 units)

Social Influence and Persuasion

Examines persuasion from a variety of perspectives and considers how the target, the techniques, the source, the message, and the channel of communication all interplay in persuasion and influence. Emphasizes major social scientific theoretical perspectives and concepts related to persuasion and social influence processes. Focuses on the development of persuasive communication techniques from a rhetorical perspective. (3 units)

Applied Communication Research

An in-depth experience that requires the integration of theory and practical experience in strategic communication. Applications of both data and interpretation in strategic communication will be explored in the development of a comprehensive research project. (3 units)

Communication Capstone Project

A strategic communication experience that uses the integration of theory and practical experience to design and implement a creative project. This capstone course requires students to create a project that is related to or utilizes concepts of strategic communication. Prerequisite: COM595; Program Director Approval. (3 units)