Whether you’re a recent graduate looking to jumpstart your communication career, a communicator who wants to build or advance their career on the global stage or a mid-career professional seeking expanded skills and digital fluency to move into communication management, the M.S. in Global Strategic Communication may be the perfect graduate program for you. 

It’s a professionally-focused, interdisciplinary, non-thesis program designed to prepare graduates for successful careers in public relations, advertising, digital and social media, corporate communication, content marketing and related fields. It accommodates busy working professionals with evening courses, online electives and full- and part-time options. 

The Global Strategic Communication (MS) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year.  Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.

Related Programs

Curriculum

Degree Requirements

The program requires satisfactory completion of 30 credit hours (10 courses): eight required courses, including a capstone experience (24 credit hours); and two electives (6 credit hours). No thesis is required.

Besides the traditional Master's program, the Global Strategic Communication (MS) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can complete the program in a fifth year.  A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.

All required courses during the fall and spring semesters are taught once a week from 7-9:30 p.m. at Loyola’s Water Tower campus. In addition, one elective is offered online each summer.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in good standing in the program and to be eligible for graduation.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
COMM 401	Foundations of Global Strategic Communication	3
COMM 403	Strategic Communication Research Methods	3
COMM 413	Writing for Strategic Communication	3
COMM 411	Strategic Communication Ethics and Law	3
COMM 431	Campaign for Social Impact	3
Global Strategic Communication Immersion Experience		3
COMM 421	Global Strategic Communication Boot Camp Chicago
COMM 470	Special Topics in Advertising and Public Relations 1,2
COMM 426	Strategic Business Communication for Social Impact	3
COMM 441	Global Strategic Communication Capstone	3
or COMM 498	Directed Study for Graduate Students
Two (2) Electives from List of Electives for GSC		6
Total Hours		30

¹

If selecting COMM 470, must be Special Topics Abroad.

²

If not taken to satisfy Global Strategic Immersion Experience.

Electives for Global Strategic Communication

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
COMM 402	Organizational Leadership and Change Management	3
COMM 417	Media Planning	3
COMM 421	Global Strategic Communication Boot Camp Chicago 1	3
COMM 422	Global and Multicultural Audiences and Stakeholders	3
COMM 425	AI-Powered Marketing and Analytics 2	3
COMM 432	Public Interest Communication	3
COMM 433	Corporate Communication	3
COMM 436	Social Media Crisis Communication	3
COMM 445	Creating ADPR Content with AI	3
COMM 461	Health Communication	3
COMM 462	Health Literacy & Digital Technology	3
COMM 469	Digital User Experience Strategy	3
COMM 470	Special Topics in Advertising and Public Relations	3
COMM 491	Advertising/Public Relations Internship	3
COMM 498	Directed Study for Graduate Students	1-3

¹

If not taken to satisfy Global Strategic Immersion Experience.

²

Only after all Digital Media and Storytelling students have enrolled.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Traditional Master's Program

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
COMM 401	Foundations of Global Strategic Communication	3
COMM 403	Strategic Communication Research Methods	3
COMM 413	Writing for Strategic Communication	3
	Hours	9
Spring
COMM 411	Strategic Communication Ethics and Law	3
COMM 421 or COMM 470	Global Strategic Communication Boot Camp Chicago or Special Topics in Advertising and Public Relations	3
COMM 431	Campaign for Social Impact	3
One course from List of Electives for GSC		3
	Hours	12
Second Year
Fall
COMM 426	Strategic Business Communication for Social Impact	3
COMM 441	Global Strategic Communication Capstone	3
One course from List of Electives for GSC		3
	Hours	9
	Total Hours	30

Accelerated Master's Pathway

Students can take up to 12 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP.  These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.

Plan of Study Grid

Senior
Fall		Hours
COMM 401	Foundations of Global Strategic Communication	3
COMM 403	Strategic Communication Research Methods	3
	Hours	6
Spring
COMM 411	Strategic Communication Ethics and Law	3
COMM 421 or COMM 470	Global Strategic Communication Boot Camp Chicago or Special Topics in Advertising and Public Relations	3
	Hours	6
Master's
Fall
COMM 413	Writing for Strategic Communication	3
COMM 426	Strategic Business Communication for Social Impact	3
COMM 431	Campaign for Social Impact	3
One course from List of Electives for GSC		3
	Hours	12
Spring
COMM 441	Global Strategic Communication Capstone	3
One course from List of Electives for GSC		3
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	30

Length of Program

Full- and part-time options are available. Full-time students take three courses in the fall and four in the spring with summer options, allowing them to complete the program one and a half years. Part-time students have up to three years to complete the program. The program is flexible – it’s possible to switch between full- and part-time study.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to help recent graduates successfully launch careers in communication and to enable professional communicators to take their careers to the next level. Courses emphasize acquiring expert knowledge and up‑to-date digital and analytical tools, developing a global perspective and honing skills – such as critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, writing, business literacy, leadership and entrepreneurship – needed for a competitive edge.

The program’s touchstones include an emphasis on strategic planning, consideration of multiple stakeholders, cultural relevance and sensitivity, social justice, effective use of digital channels and ethical decision making. Courses teach a combination of practical skills and “big-picture” knowledge intended to help students develop into skilled strategists, capable organizational leaders and ethical communicators.

In addition, multicultural and multinational examples, cases and perspectives are integrated throughout the curriculum to help students build or enhance a global perspective. The program also offers opportunities for study and immersion in China and London.

These are some of the topics examined in the program:

• As our economy further globalizes, how do we understand new stakeholders and create culturally sensitive and relevant messages and campaigns to engage them?
• Many corporations are embracing “profit with purpose” and building alliances with nonprofits, as well as optimizing their operations for their communities, employees and suppliers. Strategic communication campaigns tell these compelling stories.
• The Internet knows no boundaries: YouTube has become the globe’s jukebox, and people around the world participate in revolutions via SMS text and Twitter. The Internet has created a new category of earned media – one that presents new opportunities but must be negotiated carefully because everyone is potentially an influencer.
• Digital messages can be measured with unparalleled precision. We can now use big data and other unobtrusive tools to find insights, and use web and social analytics to precisely measure the success of our communication programs.

Courses are taught by seasoned teachers and communication professionals who are digitally fluent and savvy in both media and business. Classes are small, personal and hands-on, include the Convergence Studio, state-of-the-art computer labs and exceptional infrastructure for learning and demonstrating digital communication skills.

Classes frequently partner with local nonprofits as pro bono clients, and students will have ample opportunities to do meaningful real-world projects. Whether it’s developing a social media strategy or crafting an entire communication campaign, this work enriches student portfolios and enables students to shape and effectively express their personal brand.

Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways

In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.

Admission and Matriculation

Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.

Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.

Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.

Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.

Advising and Registration

Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.

Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.

Shared Credits

Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.

In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.

Degree Requirements and Conferral

Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.

The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.

If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.

Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.

Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.

Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations

Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the graduate program in Global Strategic Communication will:

• Create and implement strategic communication campaigns that combine advertising, public relations and integrated marketing communication, and are responsive to community needs and organizational goals in local and global contexts.
• Develop strategic messages to engage with diverse stakeholders through multiple channels, including both traditional and digital media.
• Understand the digital marketing and analytic strategies and tactics for marketing, advertising and public relations practices.
• Apply appropriate research methods to plan, monitor and evaluate public relations, advertising and other communication campaigns and activities.
• Practice ethical communication to create a social impact that both benefits the organization and the society
• Demonstrate the competencies to work as a professional in strategic communication management for social impact