Master’s in Communications Program Guide

Helping generate the public’s interest in their companies’ goods or services, these professionals work with art directors, advertising sales agents, and financial staff members to plan and execute marketing and advertising campaigns. They may develop pricing strategies, initiate market research, and negotiate advertising contracts. Most advertising, promotions, or marketing manager positions require a degree in a communication-related field.

Median Annual Salary: $132,620*

Public relations managers oversee a company’s presentation of itself to the public. They may design and create marketing materials, host events, or engage with the media. Fundraising managers undertake many of the same duties, but they typically focus on acquiring and developing donors to improve income for nonprofit organizations.

Median Annual Salary: $114,800*

Focused on the data side of marketing, these professionals help forecast a company’s product sales. They determine who will buy a product, when they will buy it, and for what price. Although this profession requires significant data management and statistical skills, communication can provide a strong background for market research analysis.

Median Annual Salary: $63,120*

Writers and authors may create advertisements, blogs, product descriptions, web pages, e-books, print books, or any other form of digital or print material. Many writers work for companies or marketing agencies, while some authors write scripts or screenplays for television and film producers.

Median Annual Salary: $62,170*

Technical writers help distill complex or technical information into easily digestible forms for instructional manuals, journal articles, how-to guides, online videos, and other educational pieces. Technical writers may facilitate communication among engineers, developers, and product designers, or they may help a company explain its products to the public. These professionals often hold degrees in communication, technical communication, or science writing.

Median Annual Salary: $71,850*

Graduates with this concentration usually work for organizations that affect the social sector such as healthcare, environmental, or educational institutions. These students need a clear understanding of behavior change theory, as well as skills in organizing and media production. Their coursework includes social marketing for media impact, grassroots digital advocacy, and political communications.

As experts in internet marketing and social media, communication managers in the entertainment industry help arts organizations find their way through the digital media landscape. These professionals hold extensive knowledge of media-related law and production management. They take courses such as the business of film, the production company, and the role of the producer.

Strategic communications leaders help organizations shape their strategic messaging. These professionals possess a keen knowledge of media trends, digital marketing, public relations, and entertainment. Students in this concentration take courses such as organizational communication in the digital age, case studies in public relations, and crisis communication & organizational image.

Working in international and domestic political environments, specialists in political communication professionals address complex situations with skill and accuracy. Learners acquire research and analysis skills, as well as knowledge of strategies for shaping public opinion. Coursework in this specialization includes economic policy and international relations theory.

Technical communicators design and distill complex information to make it broadly accessible. They work in one of the communication field’s most lucrative sectors. Students in technical communication learn business principles, digital platforms, and design theory. Coursework includes rhetoric in business, science, and technology, and a survey of advanced technical communication strategies.

Created in the belief that writing is the key skill for success in the communication professions, this course examines writing through the lenses of audience, medium, and messaging. Students practice their writing skills by creating examples of plans, press releases, social media, speeches, video scripts, and opinion pieces.

Organizations, political campaigns, and individual influencers use the power of the media to activate, educate, mobilize, and empower their supporters. This course examines key mobilization techniques, including eAdvocacy. Students learn the local and global factors that affect digital advocacy and critique examples of online initiatives and campaigns.

This course examines the historical, theoretical, and philosophical perspectives of the concepts of the narrative, the media, and the message. Students also look at the impact of media messaging and storytelling on the hearers and the culture at large, as well as at the narrative’s effect on the development of a recognizable worldview.

This course reviews the research methods, evaluation, and analysis techniques common in the media industry. This includes surveys, polling, data mining, content analyses, focus groups, and in-depth interviews. This course is suitable preparation for journalists, those who work in film and television, media analysts, public relations practitioners, communication scholars, and organizational communication consultants.

Students in this course examine risk communication theory and image repair. Using qualitative and quantitative research methods, students evaluate case studies to determine effective strategies for communicating with the public during an organizational crisis. Students also learn practical skills for communicating on camera.

I received a bachelor’s degree in speech rhetoric and political science and immediately went to work on political campaigns. It soon became apparent that if I wanted to set myself apart and get experience that would translate to any field, I needed to get a master’s degree in communications. I went back to school part time while working full time on political campaigns. After earning my degree, I was able to quickly move up and work in the communications department, which led to my first job on Capitol Hill.

I was always interested in politics, but, most importantly, I was driven by my desire to create change. That soon translated to the NGO/nonprofit world, where I have been ever since I left politics. Receiving my master’s degree in communications has been extremely valuable in making the transition from one industry to another, and I still rely on my education to this day.

Learning organizational communication in grad school was vital. I always say that strong internal communications reflect externally and I have found that to be true in every place that I have worked. Whether learning various styles of writing in grad school, how to increase positive internal communications, [or how to] implement strategies that are tested and true, my degree has played a role in every job I have had.

I went back for my master’s degree while I was working full-time; however, I was able to use my education as a bridge to grow in my field. At the time of my education, I was working on a presidential campaign and was mainly focused on the Iowa Straw Poll and other field operational activities. I wanted to work as a press secretary, so I asked to take on part-time communication responsibilities for no additional pay while I worked on completing my degree. That arrangement led me to apply what I was learning directly to my new job and, once I completed my degree, I made the transition full time into the communications field.

I was lucky to be able to pioneer Marist College’s online program over ten years ago and I’m very grateful for that opportunity because I, like most, would not have been able to go to grad school full time. As a result of working while going to school, I was able to show my employer what I was learning and leverage that into a new role upon completion of my degree. Even to this day I still rely on what I learned in grad school, whether I’m teaching at a conference, working with clients, or developing a strategic communications plan; the transition was natural and has benefited me everywhere I go.

I love the ability to consult because it allows me to take on projects that inspire me. It wasn’t something that I had planned to do as I have always enjoyed working on a team; however, having young children, I needed flexibility in my work schedule and consulting has allowed me that freedom.

The experience of working for the government was second to none. You are surrounded by brilliant people on a daily basis and I learned so much from those opportunities. The nonprofit field was inspiring and gave me a breadth of new experiences internationally, and consulting ties all that collective experience together and allows me to partner with other organizations and create a larger impact for them.

I’m a mom of toddler twins so, while I didn’t aspire to be an entrepreneur, it was the right decision for my family and has allowed me to be more creative in my strategies, travel when needed, and take on projects that inspire me. Formalizing my work into Drake Strategies has allowed me to appreciate the experiences I have had and truly focus on those areas where I’m most fluent.

If communication and storytelling inspire you, then go for it. Be humble, learn as much as you can, and collaborate with all of your classmates. You never know where someone will end up and how that relationship can strengthen your work one day. If you’re not sure communications is the field for you — take a free class or two online before making the commitment. But if you are motivated by the idea of sharing stories and inspiring others to take action, then this is the degree for you.