{"id":44491,"date":"2025-12-02T12:56:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T17:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=44491"},"modified":"2025-12-02T12:59:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T17:59:13","slug":"com-launches-its-first-fully-online-masters-degree","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/com-launches-its-first-fully-online-masters-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"COM Launches its First Fully Online Master\u2019s Degree"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin bu-blocks-block-editorial-leadin is-style-default has-media has-media-focus-center-middle\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"Amy Shanler speaks in front of a group of students during a visit to IBM.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-636x358.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-992x558.jpg 992w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1500x844.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1984x1116.jpg 1984w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1628x916.jpg 1628w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1600x900.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1366x768.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-1280x720.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2024\/01\/comtalk-ibm-pr-crisis-banner-854x480.jpg 854w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Amy Shanler, professor of the practice of public relations, addresses students while on a site visit to IBM. Photo by Derek Palmer.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCOM Launches its First Fully Online Master\u2019s Degree\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">The Strategic Integrated Communication program is designed to advance the skills of mid-career professionals<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-categories\">\n\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/category\/public-relations\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPublic Relations\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">December 2, 2025<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/authors\/marc-chalufour\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarc Chalufour\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div style=\"display:none;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-inner js-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t\t<h4>Share<\/h4>\n\t\t<p class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-article-title\">COM Launches its First Fully Online Master\u2019s Degree<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-article-link\">\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/com-launches-its-first-fully-online-masters-degree\/\" readonly>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<label>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Copy URL:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"js-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Copy<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>In 2004, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/profile\/amy-shanler\/\">Amy Shanler<\/a> was a senior account manager for a Boston-area public relations firm by day and a COM master\u2019s 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\u201996, COM\u201996,\u201904) was a director of public relations at Staples.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. \u201cI truly understand how empowering and fulfilling it is to learn something from a course and apply it to my work the very next day,\u201d she says. Recently, Shanler has been applying that expertise to the design of COM\u2019s new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/academics\/public-relations\/master-of-science-in-strategic-integrated-communication\/\">Strategic Integrated Communication program<\/a>, the college\u2019s first fully online master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shanler created the program, which will start next fall, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/profile\/anne-danehy\/\">Anne Danehy<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt made sense to go in this direction to enhance access and flexibility,\u201d Hussein says. \u201cRemote learning technology allows us to reach students beyond our local area and create an inclusive learning environment that fits diverse schedules.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The program was inspired by conversations Shanler and her colleagues were having with COM alums and people in their professional networks. \u201cThey highlighted the need for broader literacy across communication disciplines as they proceed in their careers,\u201d Shanler says. Many expressed that expertise in one discipline\u2014such as advertising, public relations or marketing communication research\u2014wasn\u2019t enough as they moved into higher-level roles. They needed a more holistic perspective across communication fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019s degree,\u201d Shanler says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The program is part of a wave of new offerings that COM is launching over the next two years, including a master\u2019s in human-centered design and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/com-to-introduce-combined-bachelors-and-masters-degree-in-branded-content-production\/\">a combined bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s in branded content production<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs the field of communication continues to transform at a rapid pace, COM must be equally agile in how we design our programs and curriculum,\u201d Danehy says. \u201cI\u2019m proud that we remain nimble, forward-thinking and responsive to industry needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prospective students can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/academics\/public-relations\/master-of-science-in-strategic-integrated-communication\/\">learn more online<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/admissions\/graduate\/new-graduate-program-interest-form\/\">sign up for email updates<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2004, Amy Shanler was a senior account manager for a Boston-area public relations firm by day and a COM&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1654,"featured_media":38206,"template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[961,1803],"bu-publication":[],"discipline-type":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/44491"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1654"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/44491\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44495,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/44491\/revisions\/44495"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44491"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=44491"},{"taxonomy":"discipline-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/discipline-type?post=44491"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=44491"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=44491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}