MS in Communication Degree Concentrations

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. 

Concentrations are often provided within degrees that serve as a broad foundation to a larger industry, and when learning opportunities are identified by new employment trends. They provide specialized skills within an industry — delivering focused, expert-level information that allows graduates to step into new roles with confidence on day one.

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.

Strategic Communication/Public Relations Concentration

Learn to identify and overcome key issues to successfully manage organizational relationships with stakeholders, develop communication strategies tailored to the unique needs of specific audiences, and facilitate effective responses to organizational crises while understanding global challenges associated with strategic communication initiatives. In the Strategic Communication/Public Relations concentration, you’ll use a new global perspective to master crisis communications in the 21st Century, and learn how to build an integrated strategy that properly identifies, then involves, all key stakeholders. By the end of the program you understand specifically how to:

• 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

Understand the need—and methods—to engage all stakeholders within an organization to create effective messaging strategies, using persuasion theory to develop strategies and branding initiatives that reflect the integration of marketing, advertising and public relations.

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

Management Communication and Leadership Concentration

Identify communication strategies when the stakes are high and learn how you can increase team productivity through communication. You’ll develop data-fueled communication strategies and manage the challenges that occur naturally throughout conflicts, negotiations and change. 

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

Learn how to communicate within the increasingly complex healthcare industry. You’ll improve the communications of internal and external teams, including industry stakeholders, patients, providers, payers and government agencies while learning how to address advocacy issues. 

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