Curriculum

36 points for degree completion Combination of on-campus and online instruction
Executive Master's Schedule* Fall intake only
4 consecutive terms to complete**
Capstone Project

*Does not meet full-time requirements for F1 student visa
**3 Residencies, 15 Saturday Sessions, summer electives. See program diagram below

In order to receive the master's degree in Strategic Communications, students must complete all requirements of the degree within 16 months with an overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better. The 36-point program is composed of 10 three-point courses and one six-point course.

Between residencies, students attend on-campus courses on five full-day Saturday sessions during the first fall term, five Saturdays during the spring term, and five Saturdays during the final fall term. On-campus attendance is required for all three four-day residency programs, as well as on-site Saturday courses.

When not meeting on campus, students are required to be active through our online platform. They should be prepared to spend 15-20 hours outside of class every week in order to complete assigned readings, work on projects, and participate in discussions.

Columbia’s Strategic Communications program is built around four essential disciplines: Strategic Leadership - the ability to bring vision, understand business strategy, lead teams, achieve and measure success in a highly competitive global marketplace; Strategic Thinking - applying critical and analytic thinking to communications problems and issues; Persuasion –writing and presenting ideas and information in concise, creative, and compelling ways to multiple audiences; and Media - understand and respond strategically to the changing needs of audiences using all forms and channels of communications in an ethical, considered way.

In order to allow for concentrated, accelerated study, the executive structure integrates and reinforces course content so that the full-day sessions are intense immersion experiences where ideas and information are examined through case studies, classroom exercises and experiential discussions.

This diagram illustrates the program's timeline and sequence of residencies and courses (click to enlarge).

 

Time Commitment

2012-2013 Residency Dates

August 23-August 26, 2012
April 18-April 21, 2013
August 22-August 25, 2013

Saturday Sessions

Between residencies, students attend on-campus courses on five full-day Saturday sessions during the first fall term, five Saturdays during the spring term, and five Saturdays during the final fall term.

2012-2013 Saturday Sessions:

Fall 2012

September 22, 2012
October 6, 2012
October 20, 2012
November 3, 2012
November 17, 2012



Spring 2013

January 19, 2013
February 2, 2013
February 16, 2013
March 2, 2013
March 23, 2013



Fall 2013

September 7, 2013
September 21, 2013
October 5, 2013
October 26, 2013
November 16, 2013



 

Work Outside of Class

When not meeting on campus, students are required to be active through our online platform. They should be prepared to spend 6 to 10 hours outside of class every week for each course in order to complete assigned readings, work on projects, and participate with work groups.

Activities during the residencies and Saturday sessions connect directly to the other program components. Therefore, full participation is critical for degree completion. The online component is separate from and does not substitute for the in-person residencies or Saturday sessions.

Administrative Obligations

Students will be given a Student Handbook, which will guide them through the required administrative processes (bursar, registrar, ID office, etc.).