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Academic Catalog '16 - '17 | Strategic Communication and Public Relations (M.A.)

Strategic Communication and Public Relations (M.A.)

 

Faculty

Dr. Peggy Lewis, Executive Dean, School of Business and Graduate Studies and School of Professional Studies

Description

Trinity's Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Public Relations provides a professional track graduate education for creative individuals looking to change careers or advance their current position leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree.  The program is designed for students interested in public relations, media and strategic communication with the goal of becoming effective public relations practitioners and communications managers. Organizations need experienced communicators to effectively convey their messages.  The program combines the study of Strategic Communication focusing on how individuals and organizations work and use communication and media to persuade and influence key audiences with the practical PR skills of effective writing, messaging and audience engagement.  At the completion of the program students will have the skills needed to successfully connect organizations with their key publics, including employees, consumers, government and the media.  Students will know how to communicate the best message, through the right channels.

This innovative curriculum prepares students to work in today’s changing media environment including simultaneously pitching stories to journalists, writing a blog for the public and posting to social media. The industry demands that public relations practitioners and communications managers have expertise in writing, information/social marketing campaigns, web design, visual media, critical and strategic thinking, as well as expertise in media practices and reputation and crisis management.

The Program requires 36 credits (twelve 3-credit classes plus a first-semester Transition Seminar). Courses are offered in an accelerated format in the evenings and on weekends. Significant individual study and guided independent learning throughout each course are required to meet the objectives of each course and the overall goals of the program. Students normally take three courses per semester and complete their degree in two academic calendar years (21 months), although students may elect to complete the degree in three academic calendar years by taking two courses per semester.

Requirements

Core Courses (18 credits)
ALL of the following courses:[catalog-courses]
INT 501
SCPR 520
SCPR 540
SCPR 600
INT 601
SCPR 620
SCPR 670

Professional Skills Courses (9 credits)
Select THREE of the following courses:
SCPR 570
SCPR 560
SCPR 622
SCPR 624
SCPR 625
SCPR 626
SCPR 627
SCPR 691

Capstone (3 credits)
ONE degree capstone course:
SCPR 699

Electives (6 credits)
Select TWO of the following courses:
SCPR 530
SCPR 532
SCPR 534
SCPR 588
SCPR 605
SCPR 630
SCPR 634
SCPR 645
SCPR 675

Students can also opt to take any of the following elective interdisciplinary courses in the MSA or MBA programs:
ADMN 633
BADM 651
BADM 603
BADM 633

Program Policies

Comprehensive Assessment:

The Strategic Communication and Public Relations degree program requires students to complete a comprehensive final project in the Capstone Seminar.  Student will be required to interact with a real client and develop a strategic communications plan based on an issue, product, problem, or opportunity, or needed publicity campaign determined by you and the client. Students will present their findings at the end of the semester in a formal presentation to the client and a panel of faculty. Students must earn a grade of "B" or better on this project to complete the program.

Elective Courses:
All courses must be at the 500-level or higher to count toward the degree.

Grades in Graduate Courses:

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to graduate and no more than one grade of "C" may appear on their transcript.

Pass/No Pass:

Graduate students may not take courses on a Pass/No Pass basis; courses taken Pass/No Pass do not fulfill certificate requirements.

TELL Policy:

TELL credits are not applicable toward the degree.

Transfer Policy:
Students may transfer up to 6 graduate credits from other appropriately accredited institutions of higher learning toward the degree with approval from their faculty advisor. Associations recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEA) confer appropriate accreditation; these associations include but are not limited to regional accreditors.

Course Descriptions


INT 501
INT 601
SCPR 520
SCPR 530
SCPR 532
SCPR 534
SCPR 540
SCPR 560
SCPR 570
SCPR 588
SCPR 600
SCPR 605
SCPR 620
SCPR 622
SCPR 624
SCPR 625
SCPR 626
SCPR 627
SCPR 630
SCPR 634
SCPR 645
SCPR 670
SCPR 675
SCPR 691
SCPR 699

Trinity reserves the right to change, without prior notice, any policy or procedure, tuition or fee, curricular requirements, or any other information found on this web site or in its printed materials.

Questions may be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@trinitydc.edu.

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