MA in Media & Strategic Communication
Media & Strategic Communication
The M.A. in Media and Strategic Communication is geared toward aspiring media and political communication experts. The program blends analytical and applied skills, giving students a grounding in the function and influence of the media. As the most comprehensive strategic communication program in the heart of Washington, D.C., the degree prepares students to achieve advocacy goals in today's fast-paced media environment.
Students learn to design, implement and support campaigns, develop messaging to target audiences and encourage action. With a variety of elective options available, students can focus their studies on sustainability, science, public health, peacebuilding or other public affairs issues. They perform analytics and data analysis and learn how to apply insights from media effects, public opinion and persuasion. They gain the knowledge to advance their careers in fields that include public and nonprofit management, government media relations, academia and public relations and communications consulting.
Please contact Student Services Specialist Anna Camp with any questions at [email protected].
Media & Strategic Communication Info Session: December 3
Join us online for an information session discussing the field of media and public affairs and the GW Master of Arts in Media & Strategic Communication program.
Tracks
In addition to the general M.A. degree, students have the option to focus on a Climate and Sustainability Communications track.
Regardless of which track is chosen, all students complete a total of 36 credits. Students enrolled full-time complete their degree in two academic years.
- Climate and Sustainability Communication Track
Students in the Climate and Sustainability Communication track in the M.A. in Media and Strategic Communication learn the theory and practice of communicating about critical environmental issues. Students study both the basics and the process behind the science of climate and sustainability. This track is built on a foundation of analytical and applied skills. Students get a grounding in the function and influence of the media, and how to understand and create compelling advocacy campaigns – the why and the how of strategic communication.
Students in the Sustainability and Climate Communication track will focus their coursework on sustainability and climate communication, in addition to taking electives on the science and policy of this critical field. Elective courses for this track include:
- SMPA 6280: Environmental and Science Communication
- One elective about the science of climate and environmental change (one course selected from the following or similar course selected in consultation with DGS); this elective can be substituted with another approved elective if demonstrated competency in science or environment (for example, undergraduate major or minor in Environmental Science, etc.) as approved by the DGS.
PPPA 6101 Environmental Sciences I: Physical Sciences
PPPA 6102 Environmental Sciences II: Life Sciences
GEOG 6218 Arctic Systems
GEOG 6220 Seminar: Climatic Change
- Two elective courses selected from the following (or another course as approved by the DGS).
GEOG 6232 Migration and Development
GEOG 6243 Seminar: Urban Geography
GEOG 6244 Urban Sustainability
PHL 6281 Environmental Philosophy and Policy (available in Spring 2025)
PPPA 6140 Introduction to Environmental Law
PPPA 6066 U.S. Environmental Policy
IAFF 6151 Environmental Policy
IAFF 6153 Science, Technology, and National Security
LAW 6461-11: Selected Topics in Environmental Law - Comparative Environmental Law and Policy: Legal Frameworks Across the Globe
Note that the final capstone should be focused on an area of climate and sustainability communication.
- SMPA 6280: Environmental and Science Communication
Capstone
Students select one of three options for fulfilling their capstone requirement:
- Thesis Research (taken twice for a total of six credits)
- Strategic Communication Project and Strategic Practicum
- Media Capstone Project (taken twice for a total of six credits)
Admissions Overview
Admission to the M.A. in Media and Strategic Communication is managed by the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS), which houses the School of Media and Public Affairs. Basic admissions requirements are addressed in the GW Bulletin. For more information about applying, please visit the CCAS Admissions webpage or send an email to [email protected].
The GRE general is not required; however, if you feel your GRE scores will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them.
"The world-class faculty at SMPA were instrumental in providing me the tools, skills and support needed to conduct high-quality research on topics I found interesting. SMPA also provided me the opportunity to work with scholars from other major research universities and to present my research at academic conferences in Seattle, Washington and Paris, France. I am thankful that SMPA opened the door to a career in academia for me - something that I never thought was possible before."
Lorcan Neil
MA '22, Media and Strategic Communication
Recent Employers
- Pew Research Center
- Politico
- Department of State
- Fleishman Hillard
- U.S. House of Representatives
- CNN
- NowThis
- Deloitte Digital
- Finn Partners
- Eckel & Vaughan
- SKD Knickerbocker
- NBC News
- Widmeyer Communications Inc
Course & Curriculum Requirements
Students can enroll part-time or full-time. Students enrolled full-time complete their degree in two academic years.
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.
36 credits, including 15 credits in core courses, 3 credits in skills courses,12 credits in elective courses, and 6 credits in capstone courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Core courses 1 | ||
| SMPA 6202 | Media Effects, Public Opinion, and Persuasion | |
| SMPA 6204 | Strategic Political Communication | |
| SMPA 6208 | Politics and Public Relations Fundamentals | |
| SMPA 6241 | Research Design | |
| SMPA 6242 | Analytics and Data Analysis for Strategic Communication | |
| Skills course | ||
| SMPA 6201 | Strategic Communications Skills (taken twice for a total of three credits) 2 | |
| Capstone courses 4 | ||
| 6 credits to be taken over the last two semesters in the program (3 credits per semester) in one of three options, selected in consultation with the advisor. | ||
| Research thesis | ||
| SMPA 6999 | Thesis Research (taken twice for a total of six credits) | |
| Media project | ||
| SMPA 6297 | Media Capstone Project (taken twice for a total of six credits) | |
| Strategic communication project (taken in this order) | ||
| SMPA 6220 & SMPA 6298 | Strategic Practicum and Strategic Communication Capstone Project | |
| Electives 3 | ||
| 12 credits of elective courses selected with the approval of the advisor. | ||
1On the basis of academic or professional preparation, students may petition to waive any required course with substitution of another approved course.
2Taken on different topics.
3 Students may take an additional 3 credits of SMPA 6201 as electives. Students who select the strategic communication capstone option may not count SMPA 6220 as an elective.
4Students should consult their advisor in the second semester of the program regarding the capstone.
With permission of the advisor, a limited number of upper-division undergraduate courses may be taken for graduate credit, provided additional work is required by the instructor.