Strategic and Digital Communication MS
Major: Strategic and Digital Communication
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
Co-op Option: graduate co-op available for full-time on-campus students
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 09.0909
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-2011
About the Program
Drexel’s Master of Science in Strategic and Digital Communication prepares students for careers in a wide range of professional activities relating to communication in media environments and communication contexts that are characterized by advanced digitization.
With a robust core curriculum consisting of seven courses (21.0 credits), the program provides a strong foundation in theoretical approaches to communication, ethics and media/communication policy. This theoretical basis is designed to ensure that, as the field changes, students will continue to have an intellectual framework for evaluating and implementing new technology and changing media environments. Furthermore, the program trains students in leadership skills that will help them to lead teams to be innovative communication professionals in digitized media environments and different organizational communication contexts.
The program emphasizes flexibility, encouraging each student, in consultation with a faculty advisor, to craft an individual course of study tailored to the student’s individual interests and career goals. Throughout the curriculum students use four Communication electives (12.0 credits) to increase communication skills or to further develop areas of specialization. An additional four free elective courses (12.0 credits) can be taken in Communication or in other departments across the university. This allows students to continue to tailor their plan of study, to add on a graduate minor, or to complete a certificate program.
In order to gain valuable practical experience outside the classroom, students are expected to complete the equivalent of a six-month non-credit bearing internship. To complete the internship component, students can either enroll in Drexel’s graduate coop option (for full-time on-campus students only, more details available from the Steinbright Career Development Center), or they can work in one or several full-time or part-time communication positions of their choosing. Students entering the program already possessing significant communication-related experience and thereby meeting the internship requirement can apply for an internship waiver. The program director works with each student on an individual basis to see what option best meets their needs.
The program specializes in two areas:
- Strategic Communication (public relations)
- Digital and Social Media Communication
Strategic Communication
Strategic Communication has much to offer for those looking to work in public relations as well as for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Students typically choose from courses such as PR Writing and Planning courses, Crisis Communication, Media Relations, Nonprofit Communication, and others.
Digital Communication
With Communication being an area characterized by ongoing digitization, the program offers courses such as Strategic Social Media Communication, Digital Publishing, Digital Media Environments, Social Media Concepts That Matter, and others.
Students can attend classes on campus, full-time or part-time, or fully online on a part-time basis. They can begin the program in any academic quarter, and they can complete all required coursework in the evening. The degree requires 45.0 credits of graduate coursework and can be completed part-time in as little as two years or full-time in five quarters (just over a year).
Additional Information
For more information, visit the MS in Strategic and Digital Communication webpage.
Contact Julia May, Director of the MS in Strategic and Digital Communication program, at julia.may@drexel.edu for more information.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate studies. Prospective students must also submit:
- A 750-1,000-word statement explaining why they want to enter the program. The statement will be reviewed to evaluate each applicant’s writing skills and sense of purpose.
- Two letters of recommendation from either academic instructors or professional supervisors
- Transcripts of all college-level coursework
- A current resume
GRE scores are not required but are recommended for applicants with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0. GRE scores are evaluated based on the applicant's performance in the verbal reasoning and analytical writing sections. If GRE scores are not available, you are still encouraged to apply as applications will be looked at holistically with consideration to the applicant's writing skills, relevant professional experience, and academic aptitude.
For international students for whom English is not the official language, a TOEFL score of 100 (iBT) or IELTS Overall Band Score of 7.0 is required.
Degree Requirements
| Required Core Courses | ||
| COM 500 | Reading & Research in Communication | 3.0 |
| COM 574 | Organizational Communication in Project Management | 3.0 |
| COM 610 | Theories of Communication and Persuasion | 3.0 |
| COM 613 | Ethics for Professional Communication | 3.0 |
| COM 615 | Media Environments in a Digital World | 3.0 |
| COM 651 | Media and Communication Policy in a Digitized World | 3.0 |
| COM 698 | Managing Communication Professionals' Identities in a Digital Age | 3.0 |
| Program Electives | 12.0 | |
| Choose four of the following courses: | ||
| Campaigns for Health and Environment | ||
| Communicating Health and Risk in a ‘Fake News’ World | ||
| Science Writing | ||
| Document Design and Usability | ||
| Modern Desktop Publishing | ||
| Digital Publishing | ||
| Strategic Social Media Communication | ||
| Copy Editing | ||
| Foundations of Public Relations | ||
| Public Relations Writing | ||
| Public Relations Planning | ||
| Media Relations in a Digital Age | ||
| Crisis Communication | ||
| Creative Content Production | ||
| Fundamentals of Journalism & Newswriting | ||
| International Negotiations | ||
| Event Planning | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Nonprofit Communication | ||
| Communication for Civic Engagement | ||
| Focus Groups | ||
| Strategic International Communication | ||
| Graduate Seminar in Communication | ||
| Social Media Concepts that Matter | ||
| Investigative Journalism | ||
| Independent Study in COM | ||
| Independent Study in COM | ||
| Special Topics in Communication | ||
| Special Topics in Communication | ||
| Graduate Electives * | 12.0 | |
| Optional Co-op Experience ** | 0-1 | |
| Career Management and Professional Development for Master's Degree Students | ||
| Total Credits | 45.0-46.0 | |
- *
Students can select up to 12.0 credits of graduate-level electives (500-799) in the following subject areas: AADM, AAML, ACCT, BUSN, CCM, CHP, COM, CRTV, CW, DIGM, ECON, EDAM, EDHE, EDLT, EDUC, ENTP, ENVP, ENVS, EOH, HMP, HRM, LING, MGMT, MKTG, MUSL, NPM, ORGB, PBHL, PLCY, PROJ, PRST, RMER, SCRP, SCTS, SMT, TVMN. Other graduate courses outside these areas might be taken pending approval from the graduate advisor or program director. These 12.0 credits of graduate-level electives can be used towards a graduate minor or a graduate certificate program outside the COM discipline.
- **
Co-op is an option for this degree for full-time on-campus students. To prepare for the 6-month co-op experience, students will complete: COOP 500. The total credits required for this degree with the co-op experience is 46.0
Students not participating in the co-op experience will need 45.0 credits to graduate.
Sample Plan of Study
Option 1: Full-time with Internship
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| COM 500 | 3.0 | COM 610 | 3.0 | COM 698 | 3.0 | COM 574 | 3.0 |
| COM 613 | 3.0 | COM 651 | 3.0 | Graduate Elective | 3.0 | Graduate Elective | 3.0 |
| Program Elective | 3.0 | Program Elective | 3.0 | Program Elective | 3.0 | Program Elective | 3.0 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| INTERNSHIP* | INTERNSHIP* | COM 615 | 3.0 | ||||
| Graduate Electives | 6.0 | ||||||
| 0 | 0 | 9 | |||||
| Total Credits 45 | |||||||
- *
Internships are required but are non-credit bearing. Some students complete two 3-month internships; other students complete 12 months part time. Six months of full-time experience is required.The terms in which internships are taken will vary depending on the student's plan of study. Students who come in to the program with relevant prior professional experience can get the internship waived.
Students are only eligible for financial aid during terms in which they enroll for a minimum of 4.5 credits that count toward degree completion.
Option 2: Full-time with Graduate Co-Op
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| COM 500 | 3.0 | COM 574 | 3.0 | COM 698 | 3.0 | COM 651 | 3.0 |
| COM 613 | 3.0 | COM 610 | 3.0 | Graduate Elective | 3.0 | Graduate Elective | 3.0 |
| COOP 500* | 1.0 | Program Elective | 3.0 | Program Elective | 3.0 | Program Elective | 3.0 |
| Program Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
| 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| COOP EXPERIENCE** | COOP EXPERIENCE** | COM 615 | 3.0 | ||||
| Graduate Electives | 6.0 | ||||||
| 0 | 0 | 9 | |||||
| Total Credits 46 | |||||||
- *
COOP 500 is a non-billable course that does not count towards the academic requirement of the MS program. It is a required course for those students who choose the Graduate Co-op option.
- **
Students earn Drexel Co-op Units to remain financial aid eligible while on Graduate Co-op. In case no suitable Co-op position is found, students must register for full-time classes to remain financial aid eligible and also need to begin to look for an alternative internship position.
Option 3: Part-time with Internship
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| COM 613 | 3.0 | COM 615 | 3.0 | COM 651 | 3.0 | COM 574 | 3.0 |
| Program Elective | 3.0 | Program Elective | 3.0 | Program Elective | 3.0 | Program Elective | 3.0 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| COM 500 | 3.0 | Graduate Electives | 6.0 | COM 610 | 3.0 | Graduate Elective | 3.0 |
| COM 698 | 3.0 | INTERNSHIP* | Graduate Elective | 3.0 | INTERNSHIP* | ||
| INTERNSHIP* | INTERNSHIP* | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | ||||
| Total Credits 45 | |||||||
- *
Internships are required but are non-credit bearing. Some students complete two 3-month internships; other students complete 12 months part time. Six months of full-time experience is required.The terms in which internships are taken will vary depending on the student's plan of study. Students who come in to the program with relevant prior professional experience can get the internship waived.
Students are only eligible for financial aid during terms in which they enroll for a minimum of 4.5 credits that count toward degree completion.