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_fdb0t8n9/
Admission Policy
Admission to the M.A. in Strategic Communication program is competitive. Those who meet standard minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer appropriate strengths and skills.
Applicants will adhere to the University's Office of Graduate and Professional Education procedures using the online admission process accessible at Graduate Admissions | Graduate College | University of Delaware (udel.edu).
Admission decisions will be made by the Graduate Committee of the Department of Communication. Students will be admitted to the program based on enrollment availability and their ability to meet the following minimum entrance requirements:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. This degree need not be in communication or a related field.
- Transcripts for all undergraduate (and graduate studies where applicable) must be included. Transcripts issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by an official translation into English.
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
- A written statement of goals and objectives (the personal statement) that clearly describes why the applicant wants to pursue this degree and how it could assist them now (or in the future) in achieving their professional or career goals.
- Three letters of recommendation from professional sources and/or professors that can speak to the applicant's ability as a student or to their academic and/or professional motivations and/or potential. All letters of recommendation will be submitted online per the Office of Graduate and Professional Education admission policy.
- Official results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam taken with the last 2 years (for non-native English speaking applicants only). For the TOEFL a score of at least 600 for the paper-based exam or 100 for the internet-based exam is required. For the IELTS exam a minimum score of 7.0 is expected. All scores must be received before an admissions decision can be rendered.
- A résumé or curriculum vitae (CV).
Completed applications (application form, official transcript(s), GRE scores, TOEFL or IELTS scores (if required), letters of recommendation, résumé/CV, and statement of purpose will be compiled by the Department of Communication's M.A. in Strategic Communication Program Director.
Application Deadlines
- Applicants applying for admission to begin the program at the start of the fall semester must submit their complete application by August 10.
- Applicants applying for admission to begin the program at the start of the spring semester must submit their complete application by January 21.
- Applicants applying for admission to begin the program at the start of the summer session must submit their complete application by May 20.
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.
