Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications — Online Master's in Communications Programs

Syracuse University offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Communications and a M.S. in Communications Management, both of which can be completed online through the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Students of both programs attend live online classes via video conferencing and access course materials and watch recorded lectures at any time through their program’s learning management system. While the majority of coursework for the M.S. in Communications and M.S. in Communications Management is completed online, students of both programs are required to attend two in-person immersion sessions over their course of study.

Online Master of Science in Communications

The online M.S. in Communications program at Syracuse University consists of 33 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 15 months. The curriculum is divided between 15 credits of core classwork, 12 credits of academic specialization courses, three credits related to the immersion experiences, and a three-credit capstone course. The Newhouse School caps enrollment at 15 students for each class to drive engagement and active discussions between students, faculty and instructors.

The program’s curriculum centers around digital trends in communications, helping media professionals develop advanced knowledge and skills in online media tools and platforms. Through a five-class core curriculum, students study the foundational principles of digital communications, media law and communications theory. Core courses include multimedia storytelling, social media for communicators and digital communication systems.

In addition to completing core coursework, each student is required to select an academic concentration that consists of four classes. Available specializations include Advertising, Journalism Innovation, Media Management, and Public Relations.

The Advertising specialization concentrates on digital advertising, with courses in digital branding and strategy, strategic advertising principles and practices, and communications planning. Through this coursework, students develop skills in media and market research, campaign development and execution, content marketing and social media, and audience behavior and targeting.

The Journalism Innovation specialization includes coursework that focuses on the continually shifting media landscape, teaching students how to tell effective and engaging stories through digital technologies. Courses in web and mobile story production, emerging media platforms, and data-driven journalism help students develop skills in visualizing data for storytelling, virtual reality and 360-degree video production, social media communication, and creating news content for multiple digital platforms.

The Media Management specialization prepares students to leverage the latest data analysis technologies and market research methodologies in order to formulate and implement effective media plans and initiatives. Students take classes in areas such as social media planning and evaluation, site and media analytics (including SEO and web traffic management), and diversity and inclusion in organizational settings. Students also take one interdisciplinary course from the Whitman School of Management to complement their media management and analysis coursework.

In the Public Relations specialization, students explore the relationship between marketing and communication, taking courses that expose them to techniques and strategies for successful written and verbal communication across industries. Classes examine public relations theory, public relations management, and public relations campaign planning and execution, providing students with a broad skillset in managing public relations departments as well as designing, executing and evaluating public relations campaigns for clients.

As part of the online program, students are required to complete two in-person sessions. Called “immersions,” these visits each have a theme related to the program coursework. Students attend one immersion held on the Syracuse University campus in New York, and can then select a second immersion based on the available options which vary in theme and location. Through their two immersions, students meet classmates and instructors, connect with industry experts, participate in hands-on learning experiences, attend networking events and listen to guest speakers from the communications industry.

During their final semester, students complete a capstone project in which they synthesize the knowledge they developed through their coursework into an applied learning project. After identifying an important or critical issue within their academic concentration, they develop a strategic communication plan that defines the scope of the issue, presents a business model to address it and demonstrates how the messaging will be conveyed to target audiences.

Online Master of Science in Communications Management

The M.S. in Communications Management program at Syracuse University is designed for experienced media professionals who want to want to become global leaders in the media industry. This program features a unique combination of courses in communications, business management and leadership. The program consists of 36 credits, which students can complete in as few as 18 months of full-time study. All classes in the program are capped at 15 students to ensure each student is able to engage with course instructors and peers and can receive sufficient support and feedback throughout their enrollment.

The core curriculum for the M.S. in Communications Management is comprised of four courses-two from the Newhouse School and two from the Whitman School of Management. The communications-specific core courses cover strategic communications management in the digital age and research skills and tools, while the management core courses students take cover financial accounting and finance for non-financial managers.

After the core curriculum, students take a mix of courses in multimedia storytelling, social media, marketing management, strategic management, and diversity and inclusion. They are also required to attend two immersion experiences. The first immersion is held on the Syracuse University campus, while the second immersion location varies depending on the themes and topics covered. During these immersions, leaders in the media and communications industries hold guest lectures, and students apply the concepts they learned in their online classes to topics such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, conflict resolution and emotional intelligence, crisis communications, next-level leadership, and reputation management.

The final requirement for the program is a capstone project. For this project, students must create a plan for an innovative media solution for an organizational communication problem or challenge. Through their media plan, students are required to integrate the knowledge and skills they have gained in media management, business and finance management, entrepreneurship, and diversity and inclusion to create a comprehensive solution that demonstrates their leadership capabilities.

Syracuse University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

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