Masters
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall
On-Campus
About the Global Strategic Communication Master's at Loyola
Cookie-cutter messages and campaigns don't cut it in our globalized world. As business becomes increasingly multinational and top-of-mind issues take on a worldwide focus, communicators need to navigate an interconnected world to create culturally relevant messages and campaigns that engage a diverse range of stakeholders.
The MS in Global Strategic Communication will build your skillset and elevate your knowledge base to prepare you for today's more complex media and global communication roles. The two-year, 36-credit program features small, hands-on classes and real-world client projects focusing on critical thinking, creativity, strategic planning, global perspective, and ethical communication.
Whether you're a recent graduate looking to jumpstart a communication career, a communicator who wants to build or advance a career on the global stage or a mid-career professional seeking expanded skills and digital fluency to move into global communication management, the M.S. in Global Strategic Communication will prepare you with the expert knowledge and up-to-date digital and analytical tools needed for a competitive edge.
Our students have undergraduate degrees in public relations, advertising, marketing, journalism, communication studies, English, business, management, political science, and psychology. Relevant professional experience in communication or related fields is valued but not required.
Program Structure
The strategic communications program is structured to accommodate busy working professionals with evening courses and full-time and part-time options for completion.
Full-time students take three classes per semester and complete the program typically within two years
Part-time students take two classes per semester and have up to three years to complete the program
For added flexibility, you have the option to switch between full- and part-time enrollment to accommodate your availability and schedule.
Classes are held on weekday evenings at Loyola's Water Tower Campus, conveniently located off the Red Line in the heart of Chicago.
Are you a current Loyola undergrad?
This program is eligible for an Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's degree. Earn a Master’s with only one extra year of study following the completion of your undergraduate degree.
LEARN MOREWhy Choose Loyola for Your Global Strategic Communication Master's?
Our faculty spent more than a year researching the future of strategic communication and asking employers — leaders of major corporations, communication agencies, nonprofits, and start-ups — what they look for in hiring and promoting communication professionals. We took those insights and designed a program to develop versatile communicators who are strong writers and strategic thinkers, who understand business, and have a global perspective.
- Interdisciplinary focus aligns with today's media landscape
- A truly global scope
- Experienced faculty and strong connections
- Study and flourish in the heart of a global communication hub
- Small class cohorts = greater personal experience
- Communicating in the real world
Traditional silos of public relations, advertising, marketing, and digital and social media are eroding in our fast-changing globalized world. Today's communication professionals need the know-how and flexibility to tap into all of them. The strategic communication master's synthesizes these disciplines and prepares you to communicate precise messages that engage with the right audiences through the most effective channels.
Experiencing global communication is better than just reading about it, that's why study abroad is a key element of the master's program. Two-week study and immersion opportunities are offered in global media capitals like London and Seoul to give you firsthand experience of how strategic communication is practiced around the world. Multicultural examples, cases, and perspectives are integrated throughout the curriculum to help you build and enhance a global perspective.
Our faculty's principal focus is on students and their success. Professors have deep connections in the strategic communication field and help students find jobs during and after the program.
Our downtown campus is located in one of the world's great media markets. Chicago is home to multinational corporations, leading communication agencies, prominent nonprofit organizations, and tech startups. Our location brings in guest speakers, facilitates class visits, and creates abundant opportunities for networking, employment, and professional development.
The strategic communication master's program is distinguished by small, highly personalized classes, a diverse mix of students, and an environment grounded by ethics and awareness of social justice. Students really get to know their classmates and form a supportive learning community. They also develop close bonds with their professors that last long after graduation.
Classes frequently partner with local nonprofits as pro bono clients, offering ample opportunities to do meaningful real-world projects. Whether it's developing a social media strategy or crafting an entire communication campaign, this work strengthens our community partnerships, enriches your portfolio, and enables you to shape and effectively express your personal brand.
Meet the Faculty
The School of Communication’s 30+ full-time faculty members are highly experienced teachers and enterprising scholars with significant backgrounds as professional communicators. They have helped lead such global strategic communication agencies as Edelman, FCB, FleishmanHillard, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy and Porter Novelli, were strategic communicators at Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits, and led their own communication firms.
Faculty & StaffGlobal Strategic Communication: Career Connections
Our communication master's will prepare you for a variety of roles in ad agencies, public relations firms, nonprofit organizations, higher education, specialist firms in new media, search engine optimization, health, professional associations.
As a graduate of the program, you are well prepared to sit for the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credential that can position you as a leader in the public relations field. Many students earn certifications from Google, Facebook, and other social platforms.
Specific job options include:
- Communication director in a corporation, nonprofit organization, startup, or government agency
- Manager, coordinator, or executive at a public relations or advertising agency
- Marketing communicator
- Search engine specialist
- Public relations manager
- Brand strategist
- Account planner
- Media buyer
- Working internationally as a professional communicator
- Owning a strategic communication agency
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for specific careers and fields that interest you.
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Global Strategic Communication MS program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Global Strategic Communication MS learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2023-2024 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogGlobal Strategic Communications Results and Skills
The master's program allows you to develop the skills in demand for communication professionals working across a complex media environment. These include:
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Writing
- Business literacy
- Leadership
- Ethical communication
- Strategic planning
- Entrepreneurship
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or recent alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the Global Strategic Communication MS totals $40500.00, or 36 credit hours at a cost of $1,125 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
School of Communication Financial Aid & Scholarships
Information about scholarships can be found on the Financial Aid Office website.
Visit and Connect With Us
Take advantage of a variety of different visit opportunities to find your place in our Loyola community. Loyola offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
Schedule an Appointment
Early in your search?
Connect with an Enrollment Advisor to help find your fit.
Already submitted an application?
Connect with an admissions team member to help you through the process.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Global Strategic Communication MS are listed below. We encourage you to apply early as decisions may take longer during busy periods.
Fall: Rolling applications
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Global Strategic Communication MS include:
2 Letters of Recommendation
Personal Statement
Resume/CV
Writing Sample
International Student Requirements
Additional information regarding the application process for international students can be found on the International Student Requirements page.
Additional Details
For general information and a step-by-step guide to applying for graduate and professional study, please visit our Admission Process page. There is no fee to apply to graduate programs at Loyola.
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