In 2004, Amy Shanler was a senior account manager for a Boston-area public relations firm by day and a COM master’s student by night. Juggling work, class and life was tough, but she soon saw the rewards: Within three years of graduating with her degree, Shanler (CAS’96, COM’96,’04) was a director of public relations at Staples. 

Today, Shanler is a professor of the practice of public relations and the associate chair of the mass communication, advertising and public relations department at COM. “I truly understand how empowering and fulfilling it is to learn something from a course and apply it to my work the very next day,” she says. Recently, Shanler has been applying that expertise to the design of COM’s new Strategic Integrated Communication program, the college’s first fully online master’s degree.

Shanler created the program, which will start next fall, with Anne Danehy, senior associate dean, and it will be administered by Amml Hussein, director of online programs. They hope that the format will be flexible enough to attract a range of mid-career communication professionals.

“It made sense to go in this direction to enhance access and flexibility,” Hussein says. “Remote learning technology allows us to reach students beyond our local area and create an inclusive learning environment that fits diverse schedules.” 

The program was inspired by conversations Shanler and her colleagues were having with COM alums and people in their professional networks. “They highlighted the need for broader literacy across communication disciplines as they proceed in their careers,” Shanler says. Many expressed that expertise in one discipline—such as advertising, public relations or marketing communication research—wasn’t enough as they moved into higher-level roles. They needed a more holistic perspective across communication fields.

The program will include part-time and full-time options, asynchronous courses with both synchronous and live event opportunities. Topics covered across eight courses include campaign strategy, crisis communication, project management, strategic writing and artificial intelligence and digital communication strategy. 

“I’m looking forward to talking with our new online students and helping them get more out of their jobs today and position them for greater success after finishing the new online master’s degree,” Shanler says. 

The program is part of a wave of new offerings that COM is launching over the next two years, including a master’s in human-centered design and a combined bachelor’s and master’s in branded content production.

“As the field of communication continues to transform at a rapid pace, COM must be equally agile in how we design our programs and curriculum,” Danehy says. “I’m proud that we remain nimble, forward-thinking and responsive to industry needs.”

Prospective students can learn more online and sign up for email updates.