Interested in taking your career in communications or marketing to the next level? A graduate strategic communications degree from the University of Minnesota's Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication could help you unlock your potential.
Today, as digitalization and globalization continue to create communication challenges, the need for cohesive messaging across multiple platforms becomes clearer than ever. Professionals who can communicate skillfully and strategically are more effective at connecting with audiences and helping organizations achieve their goals.
So, what can you do with a strategic communications degree — and what does a Master of Arts (MA) in Strategic Communications entail? Dive into the details below to figure out whether this path may be right for you.
The Importance of Strategic Communications in Various Industries
Although a master’s degree in strategic communications may be best suited for those in communications, marketing, or advertising roles, the reality is that all organizations need leaders who understand how to communicate strategically across audiences.
The Demand for Strategic Communicators
Digitalization and globalization have changed the way organizations do business while introducing a number of tools designed to send and receive messages quicker and easier than ever. However, without the right strategic communication skills, these messages may be lost in translation, culturally insensitive, or otherwise ineffective.
With the skills gained in a graduate strategic communications program, professionals can craft and deliver effective messages that empower organizations to achieve their goals. Not to mention, possessing these critical yet rare skills can open doors to a diverse range of possible career paths.
Available Careers in Strategic Communications
Students who complete the MA in Strategic Communication program at the University of Minnesota (UMN) go on to work in a wide variety of roles in advertising agencies, public relations agencies, Fortune 500 corporations, nonprofits, and beyond. Explore some of the most common positions held by graduates of this type of degree program:
Public Relations Specialist
PR specialists are responsible for establishing and maintaining positive public images for their clients, with common job duties including:
- Writing press releases and other media releases
- Drafting speeches for executives and other leaders
- Researching and evaluating a brand's public image
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for public relations specialists is projected to grow 6% between 2023 and 2033.
Communications Specialist/Consultant
Communications specialists and consultants are responsible for serving as a sort of "translator" between a company and its target audience. These professionals leverage a wide range of media and other communication platforms to deliver an organization's message clearly and effectively to promote the company's image and values to a defined audience. They may also work alongside marketing and advertising professionals to ensure that a brand's message remains consistent across platforms.
Marketing Communications Specialist
Whereas a communications specialist focuses on an organization's overarching messaging and communications, a marketing communications specialist maintains many of the same roles and responsibilities with marketing materials specifically. This can include providing guidance on press releases, paid advertisements, website content, newsletters, and other marketing materials that a company may put out to its audience.
Corporate Communications Manager
Corporate communications managers play a pivotal part in helping larger companies and organizations communicate both internally and externally. Responsibilities may include:
- Fostering communication between executives, employees, and stakeholders
- Maintaining clear lines of communication for employees to provide feedback or ask questions to leadership
- Collaborating with executive leaders to refine messages and speeches before they are published
Nonprofit Communications Director
Nonprofit communications directors often take on a combination of a public relations role and a fundraising role within a nonprofit organization. As a result, common duties and responsibilities in this role include crafting materials and messages that will improve the organization’s public image and potentially lead to more donations or contributions to the cause.
According to the BLS, the demand for PR/fundraising managers is projected to grow by 7% between 2023 and 2033 (faster than the national average).
Social Media Strategist/Manager
Social media strategists and managers (also commonly referred to as social media specialists) are responsible for all aspects of a company's social media use. This may include maintaining a calendar for posting new content on social platforms as well as interacting with followers and audiences by responding to messages and comments on these platforms. These professionals play a central role in helping companies maintain a positive image.
Content Marketing Manager
Content marketing managers are responsible for conducting research and collaborating with content writers and strategists to create branded content that aligns with a company's overall voice, mission, values, and goals. Oftentimes, content marketing managers work closely alongside other professionals, ranging from public relations specialists and writers/editors to SEO and social media specialists.
Brand Strategist
Many organizations hire brand strategists to help them set their brand identity apart from competitors while creating a name for themselves in a given industry. The expertise of a brand strategist may be especially essential when a company is new, but strategists can also work with established brands to help them strengthen their marketing and communication strategies.
Government and Public Affairs Specialist
Many government agencies will hire public affairs specialists to take on a similar role as public relations specialists. These professionals work to advocate for an agency's best interests while maintaining compliance with laws and regulations and garnering a positive public image through media publications.
Media Relations Specialist
A media relations specialist is comparable to a public relations specialist. However, instead of focusing on every aspect of an organization's public image, a media relations specialist is specifically concerned with an organization's interactions with audiences through the use of various media (such as newspapers, magazines, television broadcasts, and the like). Therefore, they tend to work more directly with news outlets, journalists, and other media professionals to paint a positive image for a brand.
Consumer Insights Manager
Consumer or customer insights managers are responsible for conducting detailed research into a brand's target customer. From there, these professionals synthesize this research and present it in a way that is digestible for executives, marketing professionals, and others. The goal of a consumer insights manager is to help marketing and communications teams better understand their audiences in order to create content that is custom-tailored to meet their goals.
Emerging Strategic Communications Jobs
In addition to the more conventional strategic communication careers outlined above, there are also several emerging strategic communications jobs that professionals in an advanced degree program may want to pursue.
Digital and Social Media Analyst
Similar to a social media specialist, a digital or social media analyst is responsible for tracking and carefully analyzing data and statistics from a company's social media platforms. They can then use this information to help social media strategists make informed decisions regarding the content they post, when they post it, and how they reach their audiences.
Content Strategist for AI and Voice Technology
With artificial intelligence (AI) increasing in popularity and prevalence, many organizations are now leveraging some form of AI in their content marketing to boost efficiency or generate fresh ideas. In turn, the role of AI content strategist has emerged. These professionals focus on the use of artificial intelligence in creating and executing content marketing strategies — as well as the intersection of AI and voice technology to anticipate consumer needs and position brands ahead of the competition.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Communications Manager
As more businesses explore ways to be conscious of their environmental and social impacts, the demand for corporate social responsibility managers has also increased. Specifically, CSR communications managers are responsible for evaluating the current social and environmental impact of an organization before making recommendations to improve its eco-friendly and ethical practices. Meanwhile, professionals in this position serve as somewhat of a liaison between organizations and the public, providing information on company-wide initiatives to implement sustainable and ethical practices.
How an MA in Strategic Communications Prepares You for These Careers
Do any of the aforementioned careers seem up your alley? If so, then an MA in Strategic Communications could help you build the foundational skills and knowledge you need to pursue these kinds of roles. At UMN, for example, this 30-credit-hour program is designed for working professionals to complete in just 2 years, graduating with competencies that can advance careers such as:
- Planning and analytical capabilities
- Communications planning skills that take into consideration both strategic and holistic thinking
Likewise, students in UMN's MA in Strategic Communication degree program have the opportunity to make lifelong professional connections through projects and class sessions that bring real-world work situations directly into the classroom.
Start an Exciting Career in Strategic Communications With UMN
Although UMN's MA in Strategic Communication program is designed for communications and marketing professionals who have already entered the field, an undergraduate degree in communications is not necessarily required for admission to this program. In fact, many successful strategic communications professionals have backgrounds in other disciplines — so this program may also be an ideal fit for those looking to make a career pivot.
Plus, our Professional MA in Strategic Communication is offered with evening courses, the majority of which are in a synchronous online format for your convenience. To learn more about this 30-credit-hour degree program, get in touch today. Additionally, you can get started with your online application for admission here.
