Darius Benton, PhD, Graduate Director
S1081, 713-221-5857
The Master of Arts in Strategic Communication (MASC) is a 30-credit hour, 100% online program that equips students with the cutting-edge strategic communication skills, research knowledge, technology competencies, and theories needed to create effective community engagement and messaging with culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse public audiences and stakeholders. With a special emphasis on community engagement, the MASC program promotes community advancement through collaboration and relationship-building by developing students’ abilities to engage diverse communities in organizational, public, corporate, and interpersonal contexts. In recent years, community engagement has become more integral to strategic communication as a way of building credibility with the public, creating more authentic experiences, and facilitating inclusive decision-making with various constituents.
The program will build on students’ strengths and prepare them to be advocates in their communities by focusing on several major strategic communication areas: (1) strategic public engagement, (2) stakeholder management and conflict resolution, and (3) crisis communication.
The MASC program prepares students to succeed in a range of jobs, including:
- social and community service managers
- city managers
- community engagement coordinators and managers
- strategic partnership coordinators
- communication directors/specialists
- emergency management directors
- public and community affairs specialists
- public engagement specialists
- training and development managers
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates who earn a MA in Strategic Communication will be able to:
- Analyze and critique communication issues, concepts, and theories as they apply to community engagement
- Develop research analyzing emergent communication practices in local and global community engagement contexts
- Design tailored responses to community engagement issues by using appropriate technology
- Create robust community engagement strategies with stakeholders in groups and teams
Admissions Criteria
The Admissions Committee will consider several factors when determining admission eligibility into the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication program, including the candidate’s:
- Experience and interest in the field
- Proven academic ability
- Demonstration of skills necessary to complete the program successfully
- Ability to contribute to the field of strategic communication
Applicants to the program must meet the following criteria:
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university.
- A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in prior undergraduate and graduate coursework. (Applicants who do not meet the 3.0 GPA requirement may be granted conditional admission when the combined strength of their application and supporting documents provides compelling evidence that they will be successful in the program).
- Proficiency in English (if a graduate of a university in which English is not the native language) provided by an adequate TOEFL (IBT score of 81) or IELTS (6.5) score.
Admissions Materials
Applicants must complete and submit all of the following items in order to be considered for admission: Resumes, personal statements, and writing samples can be uploaded through the myUHD portal, emailed to gradadmissions@uhd.edu, or mailed to:
Office of Admissions - Graduate Admissions
University of Houston-Downtown
One Main Street, Suite GSB 308
Houston, TX 77002-1001
Submit an application through the www.goapplytexas.org.
- Pay the $35 application fee.
- Request/submit to the email or mailing address above official transcripts from the institution where applicant received a bachelor’s degree as well as any graduate schools attended. (Community college coursework will not be considered in the admission process and need not be submitted).
- Provide a personal statement of approximately 1,000 words that addresses the following questions in detail:
- Why do you want to study strategic communication?
- What topics or issues in the field might you want to study further and why?
- What qualifies you to embark upon this field of study?
- What experience do you have in this field?
- How do you plan to use your degree?
- Have two recommendations sent directly from personal and/or professional contacts to the email or mailing address provided above. Suggested recommenders are individuals with knowledge of your work and who are able to address your academic potential. This can include work supervisors and former professors.
- Provide TOEFL/IELTS scores as outlined above (if a graduate of a university in which English is not the native language).
Admissions Process
Once an application is complete, the Admissions Committee will evaluate candidates using a matrix based on required application materials to determine if the applicant will be “admitted,” “conditionally admitted,” or “denied admission” to the program. Applicants may be considered for conditional admission in cases in which candidate materials do not meet established program criteria. The committee may also ask for further information from the candidate before making a final admission decision. The Program Director or the Assistant Director of Graduate Studies will notify prospective students, in writing (via email), of the committee’s decision. This written notification will contain pertinent information and next steps for students, as applicable. Specifically, for conditionally admitted students this written notification will detail the stipulations of the “conditional” status and the necessary steps/actions required to receive full admission to the program.
Admissions Appeals
Admissions decisions may be appealed through the process found in the CHSS Graduate Student Handbook linked on this page.
