Strategic Communication Certificate Curriculum
Our certificate of strategic communication program is designed so that students earn the certificate in three semesters as a part-time student. The cost of completing the certificate will vary, depending on how many hours the certificate-seeker enrolls in each semester, but you can learn more about the LSU fee schedule.
Degree Requirements
I. Core Required Courses (9 hours)
- MC 7042: Foundations of Strategic Communication (3) Fall Only
- Overview of strategic communication, concentrating on theory, research, planning, implementation and evaluation; how professionals use advertising, public relations, social media and marketing to develop integrated messages for a variety of audiences.
- MC 7043: Strategic Communication Campaigns (3) Spring Only
- Pre-requisite: Credit in MC 7042
- Conceptualization and practice of strategic communication in a variety of settings; students use principles and contemporary practices to implement campaigns aimed at aligning and advancing organizational and stakeholder goals.
- MC 7019: Emerging Media: Theory, Application, and Effects (3)
- Policy and Technology (Emerging Media). Think of this class as your primer on all things digital. We will focus on studying emerging media effects on culture, economics, politics and the presentation of news. Taught in the newly constructed Social Media Analysis & Creation (SMAC) Lab.
II. Two Mass Communication Electives (6 hours)
- Certificate students can take any graduate-level mass communication course. Elective
courses taken by previous certificate students include but are not limited to the
following:
- MC 7018: Legal Problems of the Mass Media
- MC 7032: Health & Science Communication
- MC 7033: Race & Gender in Political Communication
- MC 7040: Crisis Communication
- MC 7041: Political Communication Writing
- MC 7044: Visual Communication
- MC 7999: Special Topics in Mass Communication
Admission
*Note: The GRE is not required for spring 2023 or fall 2023 admission. You may submit your scores, but they are not mandatory.
To be considered, you must have the following:
- A cumulative 3.0 undergraduate GPA (transcripts from all undergraduate institutions must be submitted)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Writing sample
- Resume
When you complete the online application:
- Make sure you choose Mass Communication as your degree program (NOT Communication Studies)
- The LSU institution code for the GRE* and TOEFL is 6373
- Encourage your recommenders to submit letters to the online system. If they insist on paper, they can mail letters to: Attn: Graduate Program, Manship School of Mass Communication, Journalism Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.
*Note: The GRE is not required for spring 2023 or fall 2023 admission. You may submit your scores, but they are not mandatory.
Domestic Students:
- Fall Admission: June 30
- Spring Admission: November 15
- No summer admission
- We accept applications on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.
International Students:
- Fall Admission: April 15
- Spring Admission: October 1
- No summer admission
- We accept applications on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.
Start Your Online Application Today!
Want to learn more about our certificate of strategic communication?
For further information, contact msand@lsu.edu or ManshipGrad@lsu.edu.