Boston University’s Online MS in Strategic Communication
Communication leaders today sit at the intersection of strategy, technology, and trust. A single product launch now spans paid, earned, shared, and owned channels simultaneously. A crisis can escalate from a Slack screenshot to a board-level issue in hours. And AI is rewriting the economics of content, research, and audience engagement almost weekly. For the people responsible for what an organization says, to whom, and when, the job has become less about producing messages and more about orchestrating them across teams, channels, data, and tools.
Boston University’s Online Master of Science in Strategic Integrated Communication is built for exactly that reality. It prepares communicators, marketers, brand and PR professionals, and aspiring leaders to plan, execute, and measure unified campaigns that tie directly to business outcomes, while navigating the ethical and strategic questions that come with AI-enabled practice.
Communication Leadership in the Age of AI
AI is changing how leaders and teams communicate, from campaign planning and stakeholder outreach to research, analytics, and executive messaging. Modern AI tools can draft in a consistent brand voice, summarize large volumes of stakeholder feedback, surface patterns in social listening data, and accelerate media planning and performance reporting. For communication leaders, this creates a clear opportunity: more of the mechanical work of the craft can be automated, freeing human attention for the judgment calls that matter most.
Those judgment calls still belong to people. Deciding what a brand should stand for in a polarized moment, how to respond when a crisis breaks, which audiences to prioritize, and whether a message is true, fair, and on-strategy: these remain distinctly human responsibilities. The communicators who will thrive are the ones who can direct AI as a capable collaborator while holding the line on editorial judgment, creativity, ethics, and accountability. That balance, between human leadership and AI-powered execution, is a core theme woven throughout the program.
A Program Designed for Integrated Strategy
Delivered fully online across eight seven-week modules, the 32-credit degree can be completed in about 16 months. The curriculum moves beyond siloed disciplines, blending strategic foundations, tactical depth, research and analytics, leadership, and a portfolio-worthy capstone. Courses include Foundations of Strategic Communication, Research Methods for Strategic Communication Campaigns, Strategic Writing for Influence, Strategic Branding, Content and Project Management, Leadership Communication, AI and New Technologies, and Careers and Capstone.
Skills You’ll Learn
- Multi-channel communication strategy across paid, earned, shared, and owned media
- Leadership communication for crisis response, change management, thought leadership, and employee engagement
- Strategic writing for high-stakes moments, including executive and stakeholder communications
- Research methods and analytics, including social listening and ROI measurement
- Project and content management systems for leading teams in agencies, corporations, and matrixed organizations
- AI and emerging technologies for campaign planning and performance improvement
Career Pathways
Graduates are prepared for roles that sit at the center of how modern organizations communicate, decide, and lead. Potential pathways include:
- Strategic Communication Leadership: Lead integrated communication strategy, executive messaging, and stakeholder engagement across complex organizations and high-stakes moments.
- Brand, Content, and Digital Strategy: Shape brand narrative and content strategy across channels, using audience insights to drive growth and engagement.
- Research, Analytics, and Campaign Performance: Use research and measurement to guide campaign decisions, optimize performance, and demonstrate communication impact to leadership.
- AI-Enabled Communication Strategy: Integrate AI across media planning, research, content operations, and engagement monitoring to scale communication work responsibly.
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Learn About BU’s AI Degrees
Boston University’s AI Cluster includes multiple online master’s programs developed across BU schools, each serving a distinct pathway:
- Online MS in AI in Business: AI strategy, decision-making, and responsible adoption for business leaders
- Online MS in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence: Computer science foundations with applied AI depth for builders
- Online MS in Enterprise AI: Enterprise-scale AI implementation, including LLM applications, MLOps, governance, and organizational transformation
- Online MS in Software Engineering for Artificial Intelligence: Engineering practices for building and deploying AI-enabled software reliably
- Online MS in AI and Education: Understand AI as an epistemic infrastructure, evaluate technical claims, and design learning environments that protect student and teacher agency
Learn more about BU’s online MS AI cluster at www.bu.edu/online/degrees-certificates/ai-programs.