Master of Arts in Strategic Communication

CREATE YOUR OWN PATh WITH HPU's MASCOM DEGREE

Effective communication is essential to organizational success. Hawaiʻi Pacific University's Master of Arts in Strategic Communication (MASCOM) prepares students to develop communication strategies, engage diverse audiences, lead communication initiatives, and support organizational goals across business, government, nonprofit, military, and public-sector environments. 

The program combines strategic communication theory with applied learning experiences in digital communication, communication campaigns, visual communication, and emerging communication technologies. Through hands-on projects, faculty mentorship, internships, and capstone experiences, students develop the communication leadership, analytical, and technical skills needed to thrive in today's rapidly evolving communication landscape. Whether advancing an existing communications career or building complementary expertise from another professional field, students gain practical skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace. 

Strategic Communication Students Learn Job-ready Skills

Learn By Doing with Skills-based Learning

The MASCOM program pairs communication strategy with hands-on learning, helping students build practical skills they can apply immediately. Through campaigns, digital projects, web design, visual storytelling, internships, and capstone work, students learn to create, manage, and evaluate communication across platforms and audiences. 

Strategic Communication Skills 

Learn to develop communication strategies, analyze audiences, engage stakeholders, manage organizational messaging, and support communication goals across business, government, nonprofit, and community settings. 

Digital Communication & Applied Technology 

Gain practical experience with communication technologies through coursework in digital graphic design, web design, social media, visual communication, and content development. Students create real communication products rather than simply study communication concepts. 

Global and Intercultural Communication 

Build communication skills for diverse, multicultural environments through coursework in international communication, media globalization, and cross-cultural communication. Hawaiʻi’s location and international connections provide valuable context for studying communication in a global society. 

Real-World Learning Experiences 

Located in downtown Honolulu, the program places students near government agencies, media organizations, communication firms, nonprofits, and multinational businesses. Students can connect classroom learning with internships, professional experiences, collaborative projects, and capstone work focused on real communication challenges.  

Faculty Mentorship 

Faculty in HPU’s MASCOM program are excellent teachers and involved mentors for all students. Their awards and experiences include a Fulbright Senior Fellow Nomination, the Walt Disney-Hollywood Pictures Fellowship Writer’s Award, the Lawrence A. Frost Literary Award, the HPU Trustees Award for Teaching Excellence, the CLIO Award for Advertising, KHON2 media commentator, and Peace Corps volunteer. As mentors, they support students’ academic development, professional growth, and career preparation throughout the program. 

The MASCOM program is a professionally oriented curriculum; however, students planning to continue studies toward a Ph.D. will find the program’s intellectual breadth and depth, academic rigor, and emphasis upon integrating theory with practical application perfectly aligned with their future plans. Students may take up to two electives from other related programs, such as Master of Business Administration, Master of the Arts in Sustainability, and others, to count toward their MASCOM degree. 

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION 

Graduates of HPU's Master of Arts in Strategic Communication apply their communication, leadership, digital media, and strategic planning skills across a variety of industries. Alumni have launched successful businesses, advanced into leadership positions, and built careers in public relations, marketing, social media, project management, communications, and media organizations in Hawaiʻi and around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with a Master's in Strategic Communication? 

A Master's in Strategic Communication can prepare graduates for careers in communications leadership, public relations, corporate communication, public affairs, digital communication, social media strategy, community relations, marketing communication, project management, and related fields. Graduates apply communication strategy, audience engagement, and leadership skills across business, government, nonprofit, healthcare, education, hospitality, and media organizations. 

What is strategic communication? 

Strategic communication is the purposeful use of communication to help organizations achieve goals, engage audiences, build relationships, and manage reputation. The field combines communication strategy, digital communication, stakeholder engagement, organizational communication, public relations, and media planning to support effective leadership and decision-making. 

How is strategic communication different from marketing? 

Marketing primarily focuses on promoting products, services, and customer engagement. Strategic communication takes a broader organizational perspective by helping organizations communicate with multiple audiences, manage relationships, support leadership objectives, and align communication efforts with strategic goals. 

How is strategic communication different from public relations? 

Public relations focuses on building and maintaining relationships between organizations and their publics. Strategic communication incorporates public relations while also encompassing organizational communication, digital communication, communication leadership, stakeholder engagement, crisis communication, and broader communication strategy. 

What skills will I develop in the MASCOM program? 

Students develop skills in communication strategy, audience analysis, stakeholder engagement, communication leadership, digital communication, social media strategy, crisis communication, communication campaigns, visual communication, organizational communication, and communication research. The program also emphasizes applied technology through coursework in areas such as web design, graphic design, and digital communication. 

Do I need a communications background to apply? 

No. The MASCOM program welcomes students from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds. While communication-related undergraduate degrees provide a strong foundation, students with backgrounds in business, government, nonprofit organizations, education, military service, marketing, and other fields can benefit from developing advanced communication and leadership skills. 

What industries hire strategic communication graduates? 

Strategic communication professionals work across a wide range of industries, including business, government, nonprofit organizations, healthcare, education, tourism and hospitality, media, technology, public affairs, and community organizations. Communication skills are valued wherever organizations need to engage audiences, manage messaging, and build relationships. 

Can I work while completing the program? 

Many students balance graduate study with professional and personal commitments while earning their degree. Course offerings vary by term and may include in-person and online formats. Students are encouraged to review current course schedules and work with advisors to develop an academic plan that aligns with their individual goals and responsibilities. 

How long does it take to complete the MASCOM degree? 

The Master of Arts in Strategic Communication consists of 36 credit hours and can typically be completed in 21 months of full-time study. Students complete a combination of core courses, electives, an internship, and a two-part capstone experience. 

What applied learning experiences are included in the program? 

The MASCOM program emphasizes hands-on learning through communication campaigns, digital communication projects, web design, visual communication, internships, and capstone experiences. Students have opportunities to apply communication concepts in practical settings while developing skills that can be used immediately in professional environments. 

Apply to Earn your MASCOM DEgree at Hawaiʻi Pacific University