Get a master's in Global Strategic Communication

The field of communication incorporates professionals who create news and information pieces to push to the public (such as marketing and public relations practitioners) and people who deliver news and information (such as journalists, bloggers, and public speakers). Global strategic communication master’s programs train individuals for all these communications careers, combining theory and document development in a wide variety of forms and styles.

Comprehensive Communication Foundation

A global strategic communication degree from Florida Tech stresses research-based papers, academic articles, formal reports, and proposals; revising and editing technical, scientific, and managerial documents; designing and publishing professional quality documents; and problem-solving and communications-oriented decision-making in collaborative team environments.

Florida Tech’s global strategic communication master’s program has an open and interactive academic environment where students work closely with faculty and peers in a collaborative team setting. Coursework covers all aspects of communication for a wide range of knowledge. Students participate in a multitude of communication projects and through Career Management Services, and have access to numerous internship opportunities to gain hands-on experience to enhance their portfolio. Students can also choose to pursue a traditional, research-based thesis, or a design project to explore a real-world business, industry, government, or education topic.

Florida Tech offers students seeking a strategic communication degree a breadth of knowledge and skills essential for today’s communication professionals. The industry is rapidly changing due to technological advances, the continued evolution of social media, and new business methodologies aimed at the global marketplace. Florida Tech prepares students for a demanding communication environment with a comprehensive curriculum, hands-on projects, and real-world case studies to become an expert in emerging communication methodologies.

Small Class Sizes—Individualized Attention

Professors in the global strategic communication degree program are active researchers whose contributions to the understanding of global communication have been cited in well-known journals. Students learn in a close-knit community with personal attention by dedicated faculty who desire to increase each student’s understanding of communication theory. Professors engage students in their research and provide real-world case studies in such topics as corporate communication strategies, reputation management, intercultural communication, and more.

Real-World Learning

Hands-on learning opportunities put students together with real clients to challenge their expertise through planning and creating corporate communication tools equal to what they will do in a future career. Projects can include strategic marketing plans, public relations programs, research papers, academic journals, formal reports, and proposals.

International Student Body

Global strategic communication master’s programs benefit from a diverse student body like the one at Florida Tech, which represents more than 130 countries. The university’s small classes, combined with one-on-one faculty-student mentorship, hands-on research projects, and real-world case studies, provides graduates with a high level of training and experience that employers find compelling. Florida Tech’s faculty are active researchers, cited in well-known journals, and experienced in the global communication issues.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Coursework in the global strategic communication degree program covers all aspects of communication from cultural communication strategies and technical editing to visual and graphic communication and global politics. With this knowledge, there is an opportunity for students to dig deep, applying their skills in the Netherlands communication study abroad program. Housed at the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands, students enhance their cultural understanding of communication theory and engage with local business to better understand corporate strategic implementation.

Get Published

Florida Tech graduate programs provide opportunities for students to get published. Students earning a strategic communication degree can engage with academic journals as well as newspapers and magazines if they are engaged in the journalism aspects of the degree. They are encouraged to present at conferences such the International Professional Communication Conference, the International Communication Association Conference, and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, and others.

Design Project or Thesis

In lieu of course work, the global strategic communication degree program offers an option of pursuing a traditional, research-based thesis or completing a design project. The design project option is designed for students interested in exploring and resolving a designated real-world scenario in business, industry, government, or education. This extended problem-solving project prepares students for today’s challenging global marketplace and enhances understanding of communication strategies.

Located in the Heart of Florida’s High-tech Corridor

Florida Tech is the perfect place for a global strategic communication degree. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us), minutes away from the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in North America.

The area has the fifth largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce also provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.

Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches, and a short trip to the Florida Keys or the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs, and social activities.

Florida Tech communication students participate in many different academic activities outside the classroom to develop their skills including a strategic communication internship, professor-led research projects, design project or thesis, and if they desire, a study abroad program. These educational activities prepare graduate students earning an MS in global strategic communication to work in any industry developing strategic communication and leveraging new media methodologies for a successful business.

Florida Tech programs puts students in touch with nonprofit organizations and corporate clients that have a communication need. A strategic communication internship lets students do the type of work they will do after graduation, building valuable experience in a dynamic work environment.

Internships are available through a variety of businesses including:

• WFIT, the on-campus NPR station
• Nonprofit organizations
• Advertising agencies
• Corporate public information offices
• Florida Tech’s office of marketing and communication
• Florida Tech’s office of admissions
• Local newspapers and television stations

Research

In addition to strategic communication internships, graduate students participate in faculty research projects as well as a research-based thesis or design project. Professors at Florida Tech have a variety of research interests, including such topics as corporate communication strategy, intercultural communication, and social media topics. Students who choose the design option explore and resolve a real-world communication scenario in business, industry, government, or education.

Build Lasting Professional Relationships through Campus Organizations

Outside of research or a strategic communication internship, campus organizations are the perfect way for students to network and learn about internship opportunities. Journalism-focused students can get experience right on campus through the student-run newspaper, the Crimson, or Florida Tech’s student television station, FITV, and the college radio station, WFIT.

Communication careers can involve many industries and job types, from marketing, advertising, corporate public relations, public affairs, employee relations, technical writing and publishing, media, and more. Graduates with a master’s degree in global strategic communication are poised to provide strategic strategy for a corporate communication programs that benefits business goals, employees, customers, and vendors in a global marketplace.

Career Outlook

Strategic communication careers can be found in any industry and include such positions as:

• Communication specialist
• Corporate communications officer
• Public information officer
• Media specialist
• Employee communication specialist
• Government information officer
• Public relations practitioner
• Technical writer
• Journalist
• Publication editor
• Publicist
• Market researcher
• Copywriter
• Scriptwriter
• Blogger

With graduates having received training in all forms of communication that they can apply to different job types and industries, they are able to seek strategic communication careers in a variety of industries. Many communication professionals also choose to work as freelance writers and consultants supporting creative industries and small corporate clients.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides detailed information about hundreds of occupations, including, entry-level education, overall working environment, and employment prospects. According to the Bureau, employment in communication careers is expected to grow six percent through 2020, as online websites, blogs, social media, online publications, and other digital media outlets remain important tools for corporate communications. Experienced writers should find work in strategic communication careers such as public relations, particularly due to the climate in today’s businesses for reputation management.

Potential Employers

Many graduates pursue positions at publishing companies, engineering and aviation firms, pharmaceutical companies, public and private universities, and public relations firms. Past graduates of Florida Tech have found strategic communications careers with companies such as:

• Harris Corporation
• Northrop Grumman
• Jude Medical
• Parrish Medical Center