4+1 Accelerated Degree in Strategic Communication (B.A./M.A.)
Jump-start your strategic communication career
To meet the increasing demand of employers for professionals with advanced degrees, the University of Delaware offers current communication majors the opportunity to apply to the 4+1 accelerated degree program. Students in the program complete a B.A. degree in communication and the online M.A. degree in strategic communication within five years.
UD students build on the strong foundation of their undergraduate education, then use their graduate degree to specialize in the fields of strategic communication, public relations, digital media and social media.
Offered completely online, the graduate courses are taught by full-time faculty and adjunct instructors who are also PR practitioners recruited from across the country. Topics cover social media management, public relations campaign planning, digital media strategy, and strategic communication theory and research. The coursework concludes with a capstone course, which requires students to identify a research-based or applied strategic communication project.
Academic Areas of Study
Choose a specialization or build your own:
- Public Relations
- Digital and Social Media
- Customized Degree Option
Program Benefits
Students in the accelerated 4+1 degree program can:
- Complete both degrees in less time.
- Take graduate credits during their undergraduate senior year, applying up to six credits toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- Complete a full-time master’s degree without interrupting their professional careers.
- Gain a competitive advantage in the job market upon graduation.
- Access opportunities for advanced study beyond what can be attained at the undergraduate level.
- Customize their program of study according to their own goals.
Program Goals
After completing the program, learners will be able to:
- Develop a deeper understanding of strategic communication and acquire the skill set necessary to apply what they learn in the professional world.
- Design and implement research for their organizations.
- Design, implement, and evaluate communication campaigns.
- Deliver recommendations for the future of projects and issues they may face in their careers.
- Write for multimedia with a professional audience (strategic communication/public relations) in mind.
- Analyze and evaluate competitors' strategic communication efforts.
Recording of the University of Delaware's virtual open house for the online M.A. in Strategic Communication, on October 27, 2023.: https://capture.udel.edu/media/1_0jeqqygc/
Admission Requirements:
The Department of Communication offers a 4+1 B.A./M.A. that allow students to complete both the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and the Master of Arts degree in Strategic Communication. All requirements of both degree programs must be satisfied. Up to six credits of graduate coursework in strategic communication may be applied toward satisfying the requirements of both degrees.
Students applying to a 4+1 B.A./M.A. must be in their junior year of study at the University of Delaware, enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts degree program administered by the Department of Communication and must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. The application process requires three letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, and a written personal statement of goals and objectives. The core requirements for the M.A. program must be completed and the UD Bachelor’s degree must be awarded before a student can register in the +1 year of the 4+1 program.
Program Requirements:
The Master of Arts in Strategic Communication requires 30 credits, including 27 credits of graduate level coursework and 3 credits from a required capstone course. The program is designed to be completed in two years, with one year of graduate level coursework to coincide with their senior year of their undergraduate degree and one year of just graduate level coursework, but due to the online nature of the program, students may take up to five years total.
The department's graduate program policy statement specifies degree requirements, policies, and procedures for communication graduate students. The statements are reviewed and approved by the Faculty Senate's Graduate Studies Committee.
