Testimonials

"This is a much-needed program for the public relations professional and the organizations we serve. We need to balance the important communications skills our profession demands with strategy--what is the business problem we need to address, what are the insights that come from our research, and what are the best strategies for effective communications?"

"Columbia University's Strategic Communications Program addresses one of today's greatest needs: educating, training and developing strategic thinkers who have the knowledge and insights to create communications programs that solve problems and bring about a desired result. It makes rich use of resources available only in New York and provides a credential that is truly unique." 

"The course encouraged me to analyze situations and think strategically. Course lectures and presentations were always very engaging and enjoyable. I liked the open class atmosphere I learned a lot from my peers. "

"I appreciated the professor's approach to the work--her passion for the subject matter made complicated material easy to comprehend. This was one of the best classes I've had in this program. I truly appreciated the combination of structure and interaction."

"Jane Praeger is very enthusiastic about the course and learing. She is open to discussions on both sides of issues and does a great job of relating class examples to the business setting. "

"Edith Updike's class was unequivocally one of the best courses that I have ever taken. It helped me land my dream job at Conde Nast. I closed the deal with letters that were attention-grabbing, compelling, and showcased my sense of humor--a formula that I crafted under Edith's tutelage. Her critiques are bountiful professional and well thought out, and if you follow her advice you will most assuredly be a better writer. This course gave me the nuts-and-bolts grammar kick in the pants that I needed I learned to jettison passive sentence constructions, zero-in on split infinitives, and rid my sentences of laborious extra-wordiness. Beyond that we were trained to think strategically by viewing the world through a journalist's critical lens. Effective strategies rely on orientation and animation. By writing and rewriting and rewriting again you are also training your mind to think clearly, logically, and efficiently, a skill that will undoubtedly serve students well in their personal and professional lives. "

 "Peter Hirsch brought in a guest to present and analyze the Duke rape case from a crisis communications perspective. It was the best class I have had to date in the program. Together we deconstructed the case looking at how each major player reacted to the crisis, related to the media, and how the media shaped the story. In the course of our discussions, Peter would take the opportunity to teach us strategy. What were the implications of this person's statement or action? What if they had done this instead of that--would the media have reacted differently? We were forced to look at things from different angles, even the not-politically-correct angle. Here, Peter's leadership was superb. He helped the class see beyond the hot-button issues of race and class and look at the strategy! This activity-based approach is the best way to teach strategy and strategic thinking."

"This is a great course and I feel lucky to have taken it. I learned so much about the power strong opinion has to persuade. I learned how to poke holes in my thinking in order to make my arguments stronger, and, as a result, my writing has already improved dramatically. I learned the different skills involved in media interviews and speech writing, two areas I knew nothing of. The best thing about this course is that you practice your strategic thinking, because just as with any communication campaign, when you're writing an op-ed or doing a three-minute media interview you have to know who you're talking to, what you want them to do, and how you want them to do it before you even begin. It's hard but very rewarding." 

 "I enjoyed Shawn McIntosh's class very much. There were many assignments, but I felt they were manageable and enhanced my learning. Shawn's standards are high but I was glad for that--it definitely challenged my thinking and, as a result, this class has already helped me professionally in my day-to-day work environment. I also thought Shawn ran the class really well--he supported class dialogue, provided some great insights of his own, was fair with grading, and in general was very encouraging to the entire class about the important role communicators have in society today."

 "This class is exactly what a graduate experience at Columbia should be. Rigorous, challenging, a clear learning value. I’ve come away knowing and appreciating far more about market research than I expected. Truly exceptional teaching."

"I wanted to let you know that the Positioning and Communications Strategy class I took this summer helped me while interviewing for a job. They put me on the spot with lots of questions for which I had to think strategically, and your breakdown of the principals of communications strategy really informed my thinking. After two interviews I got a job as account director. " 

 "When I watch an interview on TV or read an op-ed I am keenly aware of how people choose to express themselves. This class has helped me develop a more critical eye and it has already helped me in my work. I am also far more impressed by people who are great communicators because I realize how difficult it truly is."

 "I thought all of the speakers had very valuable information. They gave the course pertinent meaning in the real world and showed us how the theories we were learning could be applied."

 "Now that I'm removed a little bit from the intensity of the thesis, I really see how at each step we were pushed to develop our ideas further and further. That's what made the project so difficult but also so interesting. Because we were able to choose our own company and really invest in every angle of thinking and tackling the problem, it was especially rewarding."

 "I chose to pursue the M.S. in Strategic Communications instead of an M.B.A. because I realized that I was more interested in the creative side of the business world than the quantitative side. The program has expanded my understanding of how pivotal great communications can be for any business."

 "This is one of the best seminars I've been to. I was wondering about media planning as a career option, but now I know I'd much rather be on the strategy side. So it was very helpful in that regard, but also very helpful in that regard, but also because I have a much better grasp of what media planning involves and how it plays out in the real world. The presenters were all articulate and they seemed to love their jobs, which is always inspiring."

"The knowledge gained in this course is invaluable. It is a true building block in terms of strategic thinking. It is so important to get these concepts down, and Jim Eiche is excellent at teaching them. I learned so much. I felt like I really took away something I will use every day in my career."

"Steve Jarmon was an excellent professor. He really took the time to explain things and apply them to situations we could relate to. His prior work experience was a fountain of knowledge for us, and he was always very approachable. He truly represents what a Columbia professor should be. He challenged us in a warm and open environment and fostered collaborative communication throughout the semester."

"Barbara Becker is an inspiring teacher with so much knowledge to share. She facilitated group discussions so that we could all learn from each other too- it reminded me of what a graduate class is all about: bringing diverse original thinking to the table. She's plugged in to all the Web 2.0 trappings of social media and communications but she doesn't put those tools at the heart of the curriculum, which was refreshing."

"I absolutely loved this course and really learned a lot. I now feel very capable to tackle digital media projects with confidence and am eager to bring a digital angle to all my future work projects."

"Steve Jarmon was magnetic, eager to teach, and provided an energetic classroom forum where I was excited to learn. I tapped into his energy and experience, and was driven to work hard because of the fun and vibrant learning environment. He clearly knows the material, and has a passion for it."

"I obtained a high-level communications position that was the result of networking opportunities created by Columbia's strategic communications program. The experience and practical knowledge I gained through Columbia's Strategic Communications program enabled me to obtain a position for which I would not otherwise have been qualified. " 

 "I was very impressed by the way that the Columbia students delved into this project, particularly in terms of their energy, the detailed research done by each team, and the understanding they gained about what factors drive the complex New York commercial real estate market. Their insights led to grounded strategies and creative communications programs which can help the Empire State Building achieve its business goals."