Introducing a new kind of Master’s Degree for a new kind of communication leader
The communication industry is changing by the day, if not the minute. To stay competitive, you need a deep understanding of creative branding, insight-driven strategy, research and data analytics, the ins and outs of digital media. And now, AI tools.
We know. It’s a lot.
So how does a working professional make the time to learn so many essential career advancement skills?
Enter our new online Master’s in Strategic Integrated Communication.
Whether you’re looking to stay ahead of shifts in the field, sharpen your skill set to stand out among your peers, or pivot to a new career path with more meaningful opportunities, we’ve designed this dynamic, fully online, 32-credit Master’s degree with working professionals in mind.
Program Format & Timeline:
- Part-time or full-time, fully online asynchronous courses, with synchronous opportunities to participate in live cohort events
- Typical completion: 16 months (two seven-week courses per semester, including summer)
- Entry: Fall
- Deadlines:
- Fall: Priority deadline: May 1; then rolling through August 1 (final deadline)
Earn a top-tier Master’s degree – without putting your career on pause.
Our online communication master’s degree is built for busy professionals who want the rigor and distinction of a Master’s program from BU, but can’t afford to take years away from their jobs.
You can work on your own schedule, thanks to accelerated, 7-week asynchronous courses taught by top industry pros. You’ll also have access to weekly office hours for valuable 1:1 mentorship time – which you’ll definitely want – plus live online peer workshops and cohort experiences.
It adds up to the rich educational experience you’d expect from Boston University. Only right from wherever you are.
Great communication leaders aren’t born, they’re taught.
Instinct, however sharp, only gets you so far. Today’s communication leaders must deeply understand how to:
- Connect strategy across platforms and stakeholders
- Navigate the ethical use of AI and emerging technology
- Turn audience data into smarter choices
- Make decisions based on critical thinking and strategic insights
- Build systems that drive real action, not just awareness
- Develop the foresight to adapt to a fast-changing industry
With 8 relevant courses taught over 16 months, you’ll be equipped with the strategic knowledge, leadership skills, and systems-level thinking that move organizations forward in a big way.
Not to mention your own career.
What is Strategic Integrated Communication?
Strategic Integrated Communication is an approach to communication leadership that brings together public relations, branding, advertising, media relations, digital and social channels, data analytics, and leadership communication into cohesive strategies that work effectively across platforms and audiences.
Organizations need communication leaders who not only understand it all, but can connect it all. In fact, it’s mandatory for any leader seeking success in this fast-changing industry.
Is this online Master’s in Strategic Communication right for you?
The MS in Strategic Integrated Communication is designed to help you grow your skill set, learn the latest comms tools and techniques, and gain more confidence in your capabilities to become the leader that top organizations are demanding today.
Maybe you’re already leading teams and are deep into your career. Maybe you have a few years of work under your belt and are just starting to take on bigger responsibilities. Either way, you’ll be set up for success in this program if you have experience in:
- Public relations
- Digital and traditional marketing
- Social media/community management
- Advertising strategy
- Campaign development and creative execution
- Internal communication
- Data analysis
- Market research
- Content creation and production
- Brand experience marketing
- Journalism
- Nonprofit fundraising
Even if you’re balancing a full-time job, leadership responsibilities, family commitments, a potential career pivot, and roughly 47 open tabs on your browser, our MS program is designed to get you to the next level without burning you out.
(We’re big fans of balance.)
Build marketable comms industry skills, 7 weeks at a time. Here’s how it works.
- Instruction is fully online
- Choose full-time or part-time options
- Complete coursework asynchronously
- Engage in a once-weekly synchronous discussion
- Typical completion time: 16 months
Here, you don’t just learn it. You do it.
One of the biggest draws of our program, besides the flexibility, is the hands-on experiential learning you’ll get.
In other words, you don’t wait until graduation to apply what you’re learning.
Our students regularly put their coursework to use towards active campaigns, addressing existing workplace challenges, creating work for clients, and taking advantage of leadership opportunities you may have right this minute.
The elephant in the room: What happens to comms leaders in the AI era?
AI is certainly changing how communication of all kinds works. That also means that human decision-making, insightful strategic vision, and critical thinking skills matter more than ever.
Today’s communication leaders understand how algorithms shape visibility, how AI affects trust and reputation, and how audiences actually engage with information. The best leaders also know how to turn all of that into clear, authentic, human communication that builds trust and credibility.
We know that AI is not going away. It’s a useful and increasingly essential tool that’s embedded ethically throughout our program. Because leadership readiness is about more than understanding technology – it’s about knowing how to steer a team through it.
What will you be learning? Oh, where to start…
Across eight graduate courses, you’ll build expertise where it matters most.
Strategic communication foundations: Audience analysis, message development, and media planning across paid, earned, shared, and owned channels, with demonstration of their impact
Research and analytics: Qualitative and quantitative methods, sentiment analysis, and data visualization to demonstrate ROI
Executive writing: High-stakes communication including speeches, investor memos, and thought-leadership content
Branding and reputation management: Building brand equity and strategies to establish, advance, or repair organizational trust
Content and project management: Leading communication initiatives across teams, budgets, and global organizations.
Leadership communication: Vision-setting, stakeholder engagement, change communication, and crisis response
AI and emerging technologies: Hands-on experience with AI tools for campaigns, messaging, analytics, and audience engagement
It all culminates in a final capstone portfolio project, plus personal brand audits and presentations.
With a Master’s in Strategic Communication from Boston University, the possibilities are remarkable.
If you’re a professional looking to advance into leadership, move into a strategic role, or position yourself for lucrative consulting and advisory work, our online Master’s program is a terrific place to start.
Picture these titles on your LinkedIn bio, for starters:
- Chief Communications Officer
- Director of Strategic Communication
- VP of Public Relations
- Senior Director of Integrated Marketing Communications
- Brand Strategy Director
- VP/Director of Internal Communications
- VP/Director/Head of External Relations
- VP/Director of Marketing
- Strategy Director
- Communication Consultant
- Director/Senior Director of Market Research & Analytics
- Senior Campaign Director
You may even create a role that no one’s ever done before. That’s what the best comms pros tend to do.
All the advantages of Boston University’s College of Communication, right from wherever you are.
COM at BU is renowned for our exceptional faculty. You’ll be learning from faculty who are pros in their fields and deeply connected to their industry. Combine that with research-driven thinking and deep expertise across media, PR, branding, creativity, and emerging technology, and you’re set up for success from day one.
Students choose COM programs because they want coursework that’s rigorous, relevant, hands-on, and connected to what’s happening in the industry right now.
It’s important that your graduate experience reflects how communication actually works today; not last year, and certainly not a decade ago.
Curriculum for the Online MS in Strategic Communication
The eight-course (32-credit) MS in Strategic Integrated Communication, delivered in seven-week modules, helps you to build a strong foundation, deepen tactical expertise, and culminate in leadership preparation and a portfolio-worthy capstone.
Core Courses
An overview of the multidisciplinary approach organizations use to plan, apply, and evaluate communication activities in alignment with business outcomes such as revenue growth, organizational culture, and stakeholder trust. Learn audience analysis, strategy and message development, communication across paid, earned, shared, and owned media, as well as budgeting and project management. (4 credits)
A focused, hands-on course in qualitative and quantitative research methods for campaign design and evaluation. Explore cultural, attitudinal, and behavioral perspectives; run sentiment analysis on social media data; and enhance data visualization skills to present results that demonstrate ROI. (4 credits)
A high-level writing course for organizational leaders. Craft influential communication for high-stakes moments such as CEO speeches, investor communications, change memos, and thought-leadership op-eds—refining an executive voice to persuade diverse stakeholders. (4 credits)
An in-depth, forward-looking exploration of brand creation, management, growth, and measurement. Examine how branding impacts organizational success, learn how to build brand equity, and explore strategies for building trust or repairing reputations through modern branding approaches. (4 credits)
Covers both the systems and the human dynamics of managing strategic communication initiatives. Gain experience with digital collaboration tools, budgeting, coordination, and implementation, while also learning to navigate conflict resolution, leadership in agency and matrixed organizations, and cross-cultural/global team management. (4 credits)
Explore the role of communication in effective leadership across contexts. Topics include communicating vision, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, change communication, thought leadership, employee engagement, and crisis response. The course integrates ethical considerations and the role of AI in leadership communication, preparing students to lead with clarity and authenticity. (4 credits)
Examine how artificial intelligence, data analytics, and emerging technologies are reshaping communication practice. Gain hands-on experience with AI-driven tools and digital innovations for campaign management, messaging, and audience engagement, while considering the ethical implications of technology-enabled communication. (4 credits)
A culminating experience where students complete a portfolio-worthy project demonstrating mastery in strategic integrated communication. The course also emphasizes executive career preparation, including personal brand audits, portfolio development, and mock boardroom presentations—positioning graduates for leadership roles in corporate, nonprofit, or consultancy settings. (4 credits)
Admissions Requirements for the Online Integrated Communication Degree
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. No GRE required.
Application Requirements:
- Online application
- Transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended
- Two letters of recommendation/reference
- Resume or CV
- English proficiency exam (for international applicants from non-English-speaking institutions; waivers available with proof of proficiency)
- Personal statement (≤500 words) describing how you plan to integrate this degree into your professional goals
Application Deadlines:
Fall priority deadline May 1; then rolling through August 1 (final deadline)
Comparing Programs
Learn more about our other graduate programs in communication and media, including:
- MS in Advertising: Choose Advertising to lead creative campaigns, shape brand stories with consumer insight, and gain hands-on skills in strategy, copywriting, and digital marketing through coursework and AdLab.
- MS in Public Relations: Pick Public Relations if you’re driven to shape public opinion and guide organizations through opportunity or crisis.
Lead More. Earn More. Start Now.
If you’re ready to build your communication skills, expand your capability for strategic thinking, and grow exponentially in your ability to lead through the fast-changing era of AI, Boston University’s online master’s in strategic communication has your name on it.
As you fill out your application, please reach out if you have any questions.
Comms professionals always do.