Online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy

Build expertise in digital strategy and strategic communication with three online certificates.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

By submitting my information, I consent to being contacted by The University of Oklahoma and/or OU Education Services via SMS/text message, phone, email, and other electronic means, including through the use of an automatic telephone dialing system, AI-powered technologies, and artificial or pre-recorded voice, for purposes related to OU’s program portfolio; my contact information will not be shared with third-party affiliates. Message and data rates may apply. Opt-out of communications any time by replying STOP to SMS, asking to be removed during a call, or clicking the unsubscribe link in emails. For support, refer to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for more details.

At a Glance

The OU Online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy, offered through OU’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, equips professionals in marketing, communication, and digital strategy to lead integrated, data-driven initiatives across today’s channels. As AI and emerging technologies continue to reshape how organizations connect with audiences, the program prepares you to adapt, leverage new tools, and lead in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Develop advanced skills in digital strategy, audience research, and strategic communication leadership—empowering you to take on bigger roles where you’ll drive impactful results.

Earn an embedded certificate in Crisis Communication, Media Analytics, or Social Media Marketing to gain specialized expertise and a credential aligned with your professional goals.

100% Online

Time to Complete:

20+ months

Credit Hours:

Time Commitment:

15-20 hours weekly

start dates

Fall, Spring, & Summer

cost

Earning an online Master’s in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy from OU Online offers a flexible, high-quality path for marketing and communication professionals to expand their expertise and advance their careers.

Tuition is $845 per credit hour, offering competitive value for a fully online graduate degree from a respected institution. The total cost varies based on the number of credit hours completed.

Please note that books and additional materials are not included. The program’s accelerated option and embedded certificates allow you to gain specialized skills efficiently, maximizing the value of your investment.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

About the Online MA in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy

In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, organizations need communication leaders who can plan and execute integrated marketing campaigns, respond effectively to crises, and leverage data to make informed strategic decisions.

This 33-credit-hour program equips you with skills to analyze campaign data, engage audiences through social media, create compelling content, manage crisis communication, and build strong media relationships.

As part of the curriculum, students select one of three embedded certificates to tailor their studies to professional goals and career focus.

Crisis Communication Certificate
Prepare to manage organizational challenges and lead through high-pressure situations. Courses include Crisis Communication & Management and Leadership for Crisis Communication. You’ll learn to:

Develop for crisis communication plans and digital response strategies
Lead communication efforts during high-pressure situations
Protect and manage organizational reputation

Media Analytics Certificate
Gain fluency in data-driven decision-making for communication campaigns. Courses include Media Analytics and Digital Behavior. You’ll learn to:

Analyze digital data to inform communication strategies and evaluate campaign performance
Interpret audience interactions with content to create targeted messaging
Optimize campaigns based on insights from metrics and analytics

Social Media Marketing Certificate
Move beyond managing platforms to leading how social media creates value across an organization.

Develop advanced capabilities in strategic social media leadership, organizational alignment, and decision-making at scale. Courses emphasize how social media functions as a business capability—not just a communication channel. You’ll learn to:

Define the strategic role of social media within an organization and align it with broader business and communication objectives
Diagnose organizational maturity, governance, and structural gaps that impact social media effectiveness
Establish clear decision frameworks for audience prioritization, value creation, and resource allocation
Evaluate social media’s contribution to organizational outcomes and guide leadership decisions through insight—not activity

What Can You Do with a Strategic Communication Master’s Degree?

The University of Oklahoma prepares marketing and communication professionals to become skilled leaders in strategic communication and digital strategy, equipped to manage integrated campaigns, analyze data, and engage audiences effectively. Potential career paths include:

Public relations managers
Digital strategists / Digital marketing managers
Marketing communications specialists
Content marketing managers

Advertising and promotions managers
Social media managers
Brand managers

Industry Insights

Median Pay: $161,000 per year for communication and digital strategy professionals in leadership roles
Job Outlook: Employment for positions in digital strategy, communication management, and integrated campaign leadership is projected to grow 6% through 2034, faster than the average for all occupations
Job Openings: Approximately 36,400 openings per year are expected over the next decade, reflecting new positions and replacements

The median pay figures reflect earnings for professionals in leadership roles within strategic communication, marketing, and digital strategy, and may represent mid-career compensation. Entry-level salaries for graduates vary by role, employer, prior experience, and geographic location.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Program Outcomes: Marketing Leadership Skills You Can Apply Immediately

OU’s online Master’s in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy equips marketing and communication professionals with advanced skills to develop data-driven communication initiatives, engage audiences across digital channels, and manage organizational communication with confidence.

Graduates will be able to:

Analyze and interpret data to measure campaign effectiveness and inform strategic decisions
Plan and execute integrated marketing campaigns across digital platforms and social media
Develop engaging content and grow online communities to strengthen brand presence
Design and implement crisis communication strategies to protect and enhance organizational reputation
Collaborate with multi-channel teams to lead communication initiatives effectively

Ready to advance your marketing career? Take the next step toward mastering strategic communication and digital strategy.

Course Details

The online Master’s in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy combines asynchronous coursework with live online classes, giving working professionals the flexibility to balance career and study while building advanced skills in digital strategy, integrated marketing, social media, and analytics.

Course Structure

The Master’s in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy combines applied learning and practical projects with a flexible, online format that combines asynchronous coursework with weekly live sessions (typically weeknights, 7-9 p.m. CT), giving working professionals the skills they need to lead integrated campaigns and digital initiatives. Students complete 33 credit hours across 11 courses, offered in a mix of 8- and 16-week formats. If you cannot attend live, alternate assignments are available. Expect to dedicate 15-20 hours per week to coursework.

Click each section below to see the courses included in the MA in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy program.

Introduction to Research Methods

Credit Hours: 3

Introduction to research methods used in the study and practice of mass communication. Addresses how to formulate research problems and choose appropriate methods to study them, including both quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Social Media Marketing

Credit Hours: 3

This course explores the most effective marketing strategies and tactics used by brands to engage with consumers on each social media platform. You'll study best practices in social media marketing and apply them to the eight-step social media-planning model to construct an extensive real world social media marketing plan for a client.

Professional Seminar in Strategic Communication

Credit Hours: 3

Digital media brings new opportunities and challenges for strategic communicators that require new ways of thinking and responding. This course explores current, fast-changing industry topics and issues, including social and cultural issues, legal and regulatory issues, economic issues, and new technology issues, to help students understand and craft solutions to advance their organization's strategic needs.

Management & Leadership

Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on the management of organizations – how to build effective systems, motivate employees, and create innovative organizational cultures. Through scholarly and professional writings, students explore management roles and functions, leadership of people toward common goals, and processes of organizational development and change.

Ethics of Strategic Communication

Credit Hours: 3

The course will cover ethics among a variety of topics through cases such as corporate social responsibility, digital ethics, and global ethics. Students will explore the real-world and industry application of the ethical frameworks and conducts. Students will be able to apply different philosophical approaches and critical thinking skills to analyze and navigate contemporary strategic communication challenges.

Digital Strategic Communication Campaign (Capstone)

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a deep dive into methods, strategies, and technologies involved in the planning, execution, and evaluation of digital strategic communication campaigns. The focus areas include Social Media Marketing, Crisis Communication, and Media Analytics. Students will develop proficiency in researching and crafting digital strategic campaigns by using strategic problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Marketing & Media Analytics

Credit Hours: 3

This course will explore the many ways that data analysis informs strategic communication by using real-world examples of customer and media metrics, common analytic techniques, and key foundational concepts. Marketers need to know what data they should expect to see, what data they should ask for, and how to understand data to translate it into strategy and action.

Digital Behavior

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers the methods to understand the audience through data analytics. Several psychology theories will be introduced to understand the digital audience's pattern. Students will develop more effective communication strategies to engage digital audiences.

Crisis Communication

Credit Hours: 3

This course examines strategic communication practices throughout the three stages of a crisis event. Special emphasis is placed on crisis planning, media relationships, image restoration, ethical responses, and organizational learning.

Cross-Cultural Communication

Credit Hours: 3

This course strives to advance understanding and appreciation of the roles of culture in shaping society, our senses of reality, and media. The course uses research, analyses, and critical observations of media performances to focus on understanding media and culture, analyzing the power of mediated symbols to create public perceptions that misrepresent social/cultural groups, and developing cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Strategic Planning & Brand Strategy

Credit Hours: 3

This course will prepare students to identify and manage how change impacts their organization and how to strategically adapt to change. In addition, this course will explore the role of brand management and the brand planning process as an integral part of an organization's strategic planning process and how it can impact corporate brand value.

Why OU Online: Preparing Digital Strategy Leaders for Today’s Marketing Landscape

OU Online delivers professional graduate programs in a fully online format from OU’s top-ranked Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. You will gain practical skills in strategic communication, digital strategy, and integrated marketing campaigns while balancing your career and personal commitments.

Faculty Expertise: Insight from Experts Who’ve Led the Way

Our faculty from OU’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication are industry professionals with proven experience leading industry initiatives at top companies. They bring real-world insights into the classroom, ensuring the curriculum is relevant, current, and aligned with today’s marketing and digital communication trends.

Robust Student Support

OU Online offers comprehensive student support services designed for working marketing and communication professionals. From academic advising and online tutoring to career development resources and mental health support, students receive guidance to help them succeed. The flexible online format allows you to grow your strategic communication, digital strategy, and leadership skills while balancing work, life, and personal commitments.

Global Alumni Network

As a student in OU Online’s Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy program, you’ll join a global network of more than 250,000 University of Oklahoma alumni. Graduates work across industries in marketing, communications, digital strategy, and media, creating a powerful community of professionals. Becoming a Sooner connects you to mentorship, career opportunities, and networks that support long-term growth and professional advancement.

Flexible Format

The online Master’s in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy can be completed in as little as 20 months while balancing work and other responsibilities. A mix of asynchronous coursework and mandatory weekly live online sessions provides flexibility to continue your career while building advanced skills in digital strategy, integrated marketing, and strategic communication.

Tailored Experience

OU Online’s curriculum is designed for the rapidly evolving digital communication landscape. Courses are curated to help students develop the expertise needed to lead campaigns, analyze data, engage audiences, and navigate multi-channel communication. As part of the program, students can earn one of three embedded certificates in Crisis Communication, Media Analytics, or Social Media Marketing allowing them to specialize their skills and gain a credential that aligns with their career goals, keeping their expertise competitive and relevant in today’s marketing and communication industry.

After deciding to make a career shift from TV broadcast journalism into a communications role, I was ready to expand my knowledge into this area of journalism. Being a full-time employee, the thought of starting school 10 years after completing my undergrad was immensely terrifying. However, from the first contact with OU, the process was seamless, easy, considerate of my time as a professional, and always accessible. I'd highly recommend the program to fellow professionals considering pursuing a master's degree.

Griselda Perez

M.A. in Strategic Communication and Digital Strategy

Cost & Financial Aid

Earning your Master’s in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy from OU Online is a meaningful investment in your professional growth, and we aim to keep costs transparent and manageable.

Tuition: $845 per credit hour (total cost depends on the number of credit hours required). Books and additional materials are not included.

Financial Aid & Scholarships: OU Online offers financial aid, scholarships, and employer tuition assistance. For personalized guidance, contact the OU Online Financial Aid Office at onlineaid@ou.edu or call 405-325-2929.

Deposit: A nonrefundable deposit of $350 is required upon admission to secure your spot in the program. This amount will be applied toward your first semester’s tuition.

Tuition and fees are subject to change, as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Transfer Credit

You may transfer up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level coursework per Graduate College policy, with departmental approval. Eligible courses must:

Be graduate-level and not previously applied toward a completed degree

Have been taken within the last 5 years with a grade of B or higher

Include a syllabus and explanation of how it aligns with OU coursework

Be verified via an official transcript from the granting institution

Take the Next Step

To apply to the online Master of Arts in Strategic Communication & Digital Strategy, you must:

Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or international equivalent)
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in undergraduate studies
Possess at least three years of relevant, full-time work experience

Relevant work experience may include fields such as project management, communications and marketing, data analysis, process improvement, search engine optimization, advertising, social media, and other areas as determined by the admissions team.

Application Process

Complete the online application at gograd.ou.edu/apply
Submit the following materials:
- Current resume
- Official transcripts from all previous institutions
- 500-word personal statement outlining your career goals and how the program aligns with them
International students must demonstrate English proficiency

The program can be completed at an accelerated pace, though this is not recommended for full-time working professionals.

Application Timeline

Admissions follow a rolling process, continuing until approximately two weeks before the start of classes.

A nonrefundable deposit of $350 is required upon admission to secure your place in the program. This deposit guarantees your spot in your first semester of courses and will be applied toward your first semester's tuition.

Step 1

Contact an Enrollment Coach to discuss your qualifications and interest in the program.

Step 2

Complete the online application.

Step 3

Provide supplemental materials, including a resume, official college transcripts, and a personal statement.