MS in Communication Degree Concentrations
Below you will find the different concentrations for the MS in Communications Degree. To get more information on these concentrations, click one below to expand.
Given the growth and specialization of the communications industry, Purdue’s 100% online Master of Science in Communication speaks directly to the topics critical for advancement and provides a deeper focus with concentrations in four areas.
By selecting a concentration or customizing your degree, you’ll graduate with the expertise to take your career to new heights. You’ll complete the degree in just 12-20 months using what you learn to establish yourself—or cement your status—as a communication expert.
Strategic Communication/Public Relations Concentration
- Use your understanding of the key issues in managing organizational relationships with stakeholders to gain buy-in and create messaging faster and more effectively
- Develop plans tailored to the unique needs of specific publics so they are readily heard and acted upon
- Create responses to organizational crises in an ethical way
- Understand and overcome global challenges associated with strategic communication initiatives
Branding and Marketing Communication Concentration
By the end of the program you understand specifically how to:
- Develop communication strategies that reflect the integration of marketing, public relations and advertising
- Facilitate the development of communication plans
- Create advertising, marketing, and branding initiatives
- Develop messages that increase engagement using persuasion theory and best practices
Digital Media and Communication Technologies Concentration
By the end of the program, you understand specifically how to:
- Learn to articulate the role digital and social communication technologies play in the design of effective communication campaigns.
- Learn to use communication technologies to implement communication strategies to meet organizational goals.
- Leverage data from communication, social and digital environments to evaluate the impact of their messaging strategies on relevant stakeholders.
- Evaluate the role of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and generative language models and emerging collaboration frameworks on their practice as communication professionals.
Management Communication and Leadership Concentration
By the end of the program you understand specifically how to:
- Identify relevant theories and principles of leadership, organizational communication, and data-informed communications planning
- Understand how communication can increase team productivity
- Develop comprehensive internal and external communications plans
- Construct a communications plan to achieve a leadership position in a marketplace
- Advise peers and colleagues as they work through their own communication challenges
- Identify communication strategies to communicate with executives when stakes are high and explain the role of leadership and culture in global strategic communication
Health Communication Concentration
By the end of the program you understand specifically how to:
- Identify relevant theories and principles of leadership, organizational communication and data-informed communications planning in a healthcare setting
- Understand how communication can increase team productivity
- Develop comprehensive internal and external healthcare communications plans
- Construct a communications plan to achieve a leadership position in a marketplace
- Advise peers and colleagues as they work through their own communication challengesIdentify communication strategies to communicate with executives when stakes are high and explain the role of leadership and culture in global strategic communication
Plan of Study
If you do not select a concentration, the degree plan of study is as below:
PLAN OF STUDY BY AREA |
CREDITS |
| Core | 9 |
| Electives | 21 |
Total |
30 |
If you select a concentration, the degree plan of study is as below:
PLAN OF STUDY BY AREA |
CREDITS |
| Core | 9 |
| Electives | 12 |
| Concentration | 9 |
Total |
30 |
Below is a sample student plan of study.
AREA |
COURSE |
COURSE TITLE |
CREDITS |
| Core | COM 60111 | Seminar in Strategic Communication | 3 |
| Core | COM 60411 | Seminar in Communication Research Methods | 3 |
| Core | COM 61011 | Strategic Communications and Ethics | 3 |
| Elective | COM 60911 | Strategic Public Relations | 3 |
| Elective | COM 64400 | Strategic Personal Branding | 3 |
| Elective | COM 64600 | Strategic Corporate Branding | 3 |
| Elective | COM 65100 | Organizational Culture and Internal Communication Course | 3 |
| Brand and Marketing Communication Concentration | COM 64011 | Seminar in Advertising | 3 |
| Brand and Marketing Communication Concentration | COM 64100 | Introduction to Brand and Marketing Communication | 3 |
| Brand and Marketing Communication Concentration | COM 62111 | Strategic Communication and Social Media | 3 |
Courses and Curriculum
The selected coursework ensures you achieve a heightened understanding of communication and the tools needed to leverage effective messaging across any medium.
Students who wish to customize a learning track to meet their career goals with the 30 credit hour MS in Communication take three core courses and choose seven elective courses. If you opt to study a concentration, you’ll take three core courses, three concentration courses, and select four elective courses. Courses cannot be counted twice. Up to two concentrations are possible.
Consider These Points When Selecting a Concentration
- Your Natural Strengths and Interests. Note where work seems to “fit” you best. Where do you connect easily to information and generate ideas? What projects are you excited to work on? Conversely, what tasks do you find you drag your feet on? Make note of the “buckets” these fit into and look for commonalities that align to a concentration.
- Social Media/Job Sites. Use LinkedIn and Indeed to further research roles, and find the ones that excite you the most. Look at the qualifications needed, and see how coursework can fulfill those qualifications.