About Lori Bindig, Ph.D.: Lori Bindig is the Program Director for the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Public Relations (SCPR) program in the School of Communication, Media, and the Arts at Sacred Heart University. As Director, Dr. Bindig oversees the admissions committee, curriculum assessment, student advising, advisory board, PRSSA membership, and special events programming. She is also an Associate Professor in the School of Communication, Media and the Arts, and teaches Strategic Communication in the Digital Age, Multimedia Communications II (InDesign & Web Design), Gender, Identity, and Media, Social Media, and Strategic Communication Capstone. In addition, she teaches other graduate and undergraduate courses including Media Ethics in a Professional Context, Sports Communication in the Digital Age, and Advanced Seminar in Communication Theory.
As a scholar, Dr. Bindig’s research interests focus on the intersections between media, youth, and gender. She has published books on popular teen television programs like Dawson’s Creek, The O.C., and Gossip Girl and has studied how companies market their brands to young audiences through these programs. Dr. Bindig’s research on teen television also examines how media producers use new technologies and a variety of social media strategies to market their programs to target demographics. She was drawn to the field of communication because she wanted to examine how media was used to shape people’s everyday lives.
She earned her BA in American Studies in 2002, her BFA in Musical Theatre in 2004, and her MA in Communication in 2005 from the University of Hartford. In 2009, she received her Ph.D. in Communication and a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Feminist Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. As an undergraduate student, Dr. Bindig had the opportunity to work as an intern at a non-profit, where she saw first-hand how vital strategic communication campaigns can help achieve organizational goals; this experience motivated her graduate studies and impactful work in research and academia.
Interview Questions
[MastersinCommunications.com] Could you please provide an overview of Sacred Heart University’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Public Relations program, and how it is structured? What are the key learning outcomes students can expect from this program, and how much flexibility do students have to craft their own individualized course of study?
[Dr. Bindig] The MA in Strategic Communication and Public Relations (SCPR) at Sacred Heart University is a 36-credit degree that students can earn in as little as one year. Classes are structured on a module system, meaning that each class meets once a week for 8-weeks. Full-time students take two classes per module and finish in one year, and part-time students take one class per module and finish in two years. The module format allows students to work full-time while completing their degree. While the program provides a solid foundation in strategic communication and public relations theory, practice, and multimedia technologies, students also have the opportunity to choose from three concentrations, allowing students to tailor their educational experiences to their personal interests and career goals:
- Corporate Communication and Public Relations
- Digital Multimedia Public Relations
- Political Communication and Media Production
Regardless of the concentration that students pursue, they graduate with a holistic understanding of strategic communication and public relations. Students explore the various subfields of internal and external communication and create a range of real-world PR materials for traditional and digital distribution using multimedia tools. They learn how to strategically develop and implement campaigns to strengthen their organization’s brand and respond effectively and ethically in times of prosperity and crisis. Students take the knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom and put them to use in internships, based on their interests and professional goals. As their culminating experience, all students develop a personalized digital portfolio that showcases their unique knowledge, skills, and experiences. The SCPR program includes the following 8 core courses:
CM 502: Strategic Communication in the Digital Age
CM 503: Media Ethics in a Professional Context
CM 519: Multimedia Communications I (Photoshop and Illustrator)
CM 520: Multimedia Communications II (InDesign and web design)
CM 640: Social Media
CM 660: Crisis Communication and Social Movements
CM 626: Strategic Communication Capstone
CM 696: Internship
Based on concentration, students have the opportunity to take four of the following classes:
Corporate Communication and Public Relations
CM 597: The PR Agency in the Digital Age
CM 602: Strategic Communication in the Digital Age 2: Political Communication
CM 616: Event Planning
CM 646: Advertising, PR, and Consumer Culture
Digital Multimedia Public Relations
CM 521: Video for Strategic Communication
CM 597: The PR Agency in the Digital Age
CM 617: Live Event Production
CM 646: Advertising, PR, and Consumer Culture
Political Communication and Media Production
CM 521: Video for Strategic Communication
CM 546: Race, Politics, and Media
CM 547: Gender, Identity, and Media
CM 602: Strategic Communication in the Digital Age 2: Political Communication
Upon completing the SCPR program, graduate will have:
- Developed a theoretical, historical and practical understanding of the relationship of media to democracy and society, and the profound ethical and social responsibilities that come with being a professional communicator.
- Developed a critical and aesthetic understanding of strategic communication and its social impact.
- Acquired the social, artistic, and technical skills necessary to create and implement substantive and professional multimedia strategic communication campaigns, events, presentations, and artifacts.
- Acquired the skills necessary to succeed in today’s job market and work environment, including effective communication and time management, teamwork and problem solving, and planning, organizing and leading in a professional context.
- Become proficient in the use of the industry-standard digital technologies and software used to produce and distribute multimedia content.
[MastersinCommunications.com] For their final graduation requirement, students must complete a Capstone in Communication course, during which they develop a portfolio. What are the required deliverables for the capstone portfolio, and what steps do students take to complete it?
[Dr. Bindig] From the moment students start the MA in Strategic Communication and Public Relations they begin developing their professional portfolio. Over the course of the program, students work with faculty, career placement services, and industry professionals to develop content that showcases their skills and knowledge as well as their unique personal brand. Each portfolio contains highlights of written and multimedia work that reflects students’ personal and professional interests. In the Strategic Communication Capstone course, students refine their portfolios by updating, editing, and adding representative materials from their coursework and internship experiences. In this course, students engage in career preparation and counseling to ensure they leave the program poised for success. Over the course of the program, students will present their portfolios to both faculty and peers.
[MastersinCommunications.com] Could you elaborate on the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Public Relations’ internship requirement, including how students find internship sites and supervisors, and what learning outcomes they are expected to achieve?
[Dr. Bindig] As part of the MA in Strategic Communication and Public Relations students enroll in a 3-credit internship course. This course offers students the opportunity for hands-on learning, allowing them to build professional networks while gaining practical experience. Students are encouraged to choose an internship site based on their professional goals and skillsets. However, students are welcome to take advantage of our existing relationships with over 100 different nonprofit organizations, businesses, and media outlets at which our alumni have already completed successful internship experiences. All SCPR internships will have both an on-site supervisor and on-campus faculty supervisor in order to ensure rigorous supervision and substantive learning. In addition to completing internship hours, students are required to submit a supervisor evaluation, internship updates and a final paper reflecting on the experience. We encourage students to pursue both paid and unpaid internship opportunities.
[MastersinCommunications.com] What role does faculty mentorship play in Sacred Heart University’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Public Relations? Independent of faculty instruction and support, what career development resources and academic services are available to students, and how can they make the most of these mentorship opportunities and support systems?
[Dr. Bindig] In the Strategic Communication and Public Relations graduate program at Sacred Heart University, we pride ourselves on the personal attention our students receive. We work with students to ensure that their graduate experiences reflect their interests and prepare them for individualized career paths. Our classes are taught by a combination of award-winning scholars and respected industry professionals. In addition, the program features workshops and guest lectures from advisory board members who are accomplished professionals and leading experts in the field of strategic communication and public relations.
Beyond the classroom and advising, SCPR students are able to join the Sacred Heart chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the leading organization offering professional development, networking opportunities, and industry news for students interested in public relations and communication. As PRSSA members, SCPR students have the opportunity to join the professional organization at a discount when they graduate. Beyond PRSSA, SCPR graduate students are able to hone their skills through participation in other campus media organizations as well as professional development events hosted by the Graduate Student Advisory Committee.
Sacred Heart University also provides a host of support services to help our students grow as scholars and professionals including Career Development and Placement, Graduate Student Affairs, the Student Success Center, and the Global Affairs.
[MastersinCommunications.com] For students interested in Sacred Heart University’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Public Relations, what advice do you have for submitting a competitive application?
[Dr. Bindig] For admission to the SCPR program applicants must submit transcripts, a resume, a personal statement and two letters of recommendation, which are then reviewed by committee of faculty. While all components of the application are important, the committee places a great deal of weight on the personal statement and letters of recommendation. Over the years we’ve found that the most competitive personal statements are 1-2 pages that explain the applicant’s interest, knowledge, and experience in the field. Applicants should be sure to explain why they are applying to the Strategic Communication and Public Relations program at Sacred Heart University. They should explain how this specific program/ degree will help them achieve their professional goals. Not surprisingly, the best personal statements offer a clear rationale, specific examples, and are free of spelling and grammatical errors. Like personal statements, the strongest letters of recommendation are detailed and specifically address the candidate’s professional qualifications for the program.
[MastersinCommunications.com] What makes Sacred Heart University’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Public Relations unique, and a particularly strong graduate degree option for students?
[Dr. Bindig] The Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Public Relations at Sacred Heart University is unique because of its curriculum, faculty, and location. Developed in collaboration with leading experts, the SCPR curriculum pairs theoretical and historical understanding with hands-on learning, preparing students to meet the demands of an ever-changing workplace. Our students take classes in a state-of-the art facility and learn the latest multimedia tools and social media platforms in order to develop real-world materials for a variety of business, media, non-profit, and political organizations. Through internships and capstones, SCPR students gain practical experience and build their professional networks. As part of our integrated laptop program, students receive a new MacBook Pro laptop running the latest Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe software, which students take ownership of when they graduate. SCPR students also graduate with personalized digital portfolios, which showcase their unique talents and interests. Because of our module-based schedule, full-time students can complete their degree in one year by attending class two nights a week. Part-time students graduate in two years and only attend class one night a week.
The SCPR courses are taught by dedicated instructors comprised of established scholars and working media professionals with experience in every sector of the communication and media industry. SCPR students also have regular interaction with advisory board members who are leading experts in the fields of strategic communication and public relations. Students in the SCPR program reap unique benefits not only from our curriculum and instructors, but also from Sacred Heart’s ideal location. The Fairfield campus is a short train ride (just 55 miles) from New York City, the media capital of the world, and is strategically positioned in the heart of the creative corridor providing students with outstanding local opportunities for career development in the rapidly expanding fields of strategic communication and public relations.
[MastersinCommunications.com] Sacred Heart University’s School of Communication & Media Arts also offers a Master of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Media Production (BJMP). Could you elaborate on this program, its coursework and learning outcomes, and the kinds of careers it prepares students for?
[Dr. Bindig] The Master of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and Media Production (BJMP) is designed for students who are interested in careers in front of and behind the camera. Students receive hands-on training in photography, studio, and live event production in our state-of-the-art facility preparing them for careers as a digital journalist or production specialist. The BJMP and SCPR programs differ primarily in terms of their curriculum–BJMP focuses on producing stories for broadcast while SCPR provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to create meaningful messages and strategic campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences on behalf of business, media, non-profit, and political organizations. While both BJMP and SCPR feature an integrated laptop program and production courses, the BJMP primarily works with DSLR camera and studio based equipment. In contrast, the required SCPR production courses primarily focus on creative software programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, web design, and social media platforms (although SCPR students pursuing the DMPR and PCMP concentrations take video production coursework as part of their curriculum).
Thank you, Dr. Bindig, for your excellent insight into Sacred Heart University’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Public Relations program!
