Strategic Communications

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers a BS in Strategic Communications, as well as a MSJ, MSJ-IMC, MS/JD, and a PhD. This prepares students to work in media sales and management and marketing communications fields, including advertising and public relations. At the capstone level, students apply their learning to professional practice in media sales and management or strategic campaign development. If you can see yourself developing advertising, marketing, or public relations campaigns, selling ideas, developing promotions for clients who have products or services to sell, or working for corporations, governments, profit or non-profit agencies, you will choose the Strategic Communication track.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication website

Sample of Related Skills

  • Learn the theory and practice of professional communication 
  • Understand the theoretical foundations underlying persuasive messaging  
  • Conduct detailed, extensive, and accurate audience analyses 
  • Employ basic techniques for data gathering, analysis and statistics 
  • Develop core skills in writing, editing, storytelling, and design 
  • Apply communication concepts and theories to address everyday dilemmas within the dimensions of ethics, society, law, technology, relationships, and culture  
  • Demonstrate oral communication skills including public speaking, advanced decision-making, and negotiation and collaboration 

Popular Career Paths

Corporate Communications: Involves careers that help "get the word out" in the corporate community to the public through public relations, training, and relationship building.

Consumer Communications: Concerns providing information to the consumer or customer to generate revenue.

Media: Focuses on spreading various broad messages through various methods and outlets to reach a large number of people.

Communication Disorders: Involves working with people who have one or more communication disorders to assist them in effectively communicating.

Writing: Allows individuals to express themselves through communication and provide entertainment and/or provide necessary or informative information the public through a variety of resources such as books, magazines, newspapers, or websites.  

Jobs to Consider

Places to Seek Employment

  • Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations Firms
  • Alumni Associations
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Consulting Firms
  • Corporate Companies
  • Institutions of Higher Education
  • Event Venues
  • Local, State, and Federal Government Agencies 

Explore More Career Resources

Adweek Media Job Market - online career resource center with job listings and career ideas for those interested in working in media 

American Marketing Association of Kansas City - professional development opportunities in the marketing, as well as career tips, networking opportunities, and job and internship listings 

American Marketing Association - a marketing career management center, where you can "ask the expert," receive career tips and strategies, receive newsletters, and search for jobs  

American Association of Advertising Agencies - Provides links to career and internship pages to top advertising agencies 

KU's School of Journalism job and internship listings - list of jobs and internships in strategic communications 

Go government - explore potential careers and internships in public relations or strategic communications within the federal government 

Marketing Jobs - job listings and industry magazines for careers in advertising and marketing 

Media Bistro - job listings, networking and freelancing resources, and more 

Media Jobs - job and internship listings in media 

Public Relations Society of America - a PR and communications job center with job listings, featured employers, salary information, and job alert features 

Public Relations Society of America: Kansas City - information and networking opportunities in PR, as well as job postings and an internship directory