Strategic Communication & Leadership M.A.

Program Details

Credit Hours: 33

Course Length: 8 or 16 weeks

Estimated Program Length: 24 months

Next Application Deadline: See Application Deadlines quicklink

Program duration may depend on course load and availability. Consult with your advisor.

Advanced training in communication is more vital than ever as our society is reshaped by access to information, technological advancement and increases in global interaction. Graduate students in the Strategic Communication & Leadership program will gain skills needed to excel in the career of their choice, from health care and business to nonprofit foundations and education, and more.

Why Study Strategic Communication & Leadership at UWF?

Exciting Curriculum: Classes are innovative, fast-paced, and hands-on. Students gain professional-quality experience and build their portfolios while studying real-life scenarios and working with actual clients.
Top-Notch Faculty: Nationally recognized professors work closely with students in and out of the classroom.
Convenient Class Times: Classes are designed to accommodate students’ busy schedules.
Career Success: Our graduates are successful in a wide variety of careers in public relations, higher education, media, health care, and more.
Certificate in Health Communication Leadership: Students earn this graduate-level certificate as they complete the master’s degree without taking additional classes.

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What You Will Learn

The Master’s in Strategic Communication & Leadership emphasizes collaborative leadership, effective listening, ethical practices, teamwork, data-driven decision making, and innovative message design.

Students interact with business and community leaders through roundtable discussions and real-world projects. Throughout the program, students create professional portfolios showcasing their best work.

The program culminates with a capstone project offering an in-depth partnership with professionals in each student’s chosen field.

UWF offers classes through various delivery methods, including face-to-face, hybrid, and online. Though UWF makes every effort to provide on-campus classes in face-to-face programs, there is a possibility that some classes will have limited availability and may be offered online only. For more information, please review the modes of delivery and instructional methods.

Courses

Courses & Requirements

Students will engage in roundtable discussions and hands-on projects while learning about cutting-edge theory and research relevant to communication challenges and career options that interest them. The curriculum is grounded in ethical leadership, appreciation for diversity, goal-setting, teamwork, strategy-building, and message design. As some courses apply to more than one certificate, students can earn all three 12- credit-hour certificates and the master's degree by completing a total of 33 credits.

Required Core Courses (15 credit hours)

COM 6207 - Advance Communication Leadership
COM 6525 - Strategic Communication
COM 5206 - Communication Training
COM 5025 - Health Communication
COM 6930 - Capstone Project

Skillful communication is a cornerstone of successful leadership. The Executive Communication Graduate-Level Certificate will give you the tools and skills toward dynamic leadership communication. Engage successfully in ethical leadership, workplace morale and innovation, data gathering and analysis, strategic message design and delivery. Give yourself a career booster in advanced training in leadership.

Executive Communication Graduate Certificate

Whether focusing on public relations, advertising, crisis communication or fundraising, effective communication and leadership skills are necessary for navigating the healthcare industry. This program will prepare you to master the strategic communication and leadership skills necessary to serve in healthcare leadership. Pursuit of this certificate may be applied toward completion of the MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership, though students pursuing another MA may apply.

Health Leadership Communication Graduate Certificate

Public relations and advertising efforts have become increasingly dependent upon the use of social media for successful communication and business strategies. To meet these demands, graduate students can now obtain the Certificate in Social Media for Public Relations and Advertising, either in person or fully online. While pursuing this certificate, you’ll engage in dynamic, hands-on learning experiences to help you develop highly marketable skills based on the latest knowledge and market need. Master skills and knowledge to help you excel in the integrated communication industry, which includes positions in public relations, internal communication, and brand management. Develop a professional portfolio to showcase your expertise.

Social Media for Public Relations and Advertising Graduate Certificate

A bachelor's degree or higher is required. Applicants need not have a previous degree in communication, and no prerequisite courses are required.

To Pursue One Certificate

Those interested in completing only one certificate should apply for non-degree-seeking status on the UWF Graduate School Admissions website and submit to Graduate Admissions a college transcript with an institutional GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4-point scale) in the last degree they earned.

To Pursue Two or More Certificates or the Master’s Degree

Anyone interested in completing two or more certificates or the entire master's degree should apply for degree-seeking status in the Strategic Communication & Leadership program via the UWF Graduate School Admissions website through express or regular admission.

Express admission is granted to a limited number of students who have earned a bachelor's or advanced degree from UWF with an institutional GPA of 3.25 or higher. Interested persons are invited to contact the Department of Communication at deptofcommunication@uwf.edu to see if they qualify. (Express admission is only available to those who have graduated from a UWF undergraduate program within 4 semesters of beginning graduate studies.)

Applicants are considered for regular admission based on University graduate admission requirements described in the Admissions section of the UWF catalog and the following:

Undergraduate degree or higher in any field
Minimum institutional GPA* of 3.0 on a 4-point scale in their last degree
Two letters of recommendation
Current resumé or curriculum vita
Answers to essay questions in the application

* Institutional GPA includes all coursework applied toward a degree with the exception of transfer credit.

Full Course Descriptions Registration Requirements

Careers & Outcomes

A master's degree in strategic communication and leadership empowers graduates with the skills to effectively lead and influence through communication, preparing them for roles in media relations, corporate communications, and organizational leadership.

Job Titles

Communication Director
Leadership Roles
Public Relations Professional
Advertising Professional
Social Media Director
Fundraiser
Project Manager
Public Affairs Specialist

Employers

Baptist Healthcare
Studer Group
Huron Consulting Group
Council on Aging
West Florida Hospital
Navy Federal Credit Union
University of West Florida
United States Army
United States Navy

Tuition Rate Per Credit Hour

Strategic Communication & Leadership M.A. Tuition
Component	Cost*	Total*
In-state Tuition	$377.60 per credit hour	$12,474
Out-of-state Tuition	$1,037.24 per credit hour	$34,221

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted.

Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Alabama, Military & Financial Aid

Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition

Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. To verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar. See Graduate School Tuition & Fees for more information.

Military & Veterans

The UWF Military & Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) serves as the campus advocate for military, dependents and veteran students. Contact the MVRC to learn more about the various military and veteran education assistance or tuition waiver opportunities and eligibility requirements.

UWF Financial Assistance

The University of West Florida offers various financial aid options for our students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students. We provide eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan. See Graduate School Funding Opportunities for more information.