Program Overview

BS: Strategic Communication

The BS: Strategic Communication program at the University of Colorado Boulder is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to succeed in the field of strategic communication. Through experiential learning opportunities, students engage with real-world clients, build community with peers, and network with industry professionals. They develop critical thinking skills to analyze the impact of strategic communication on society and consider the differences in effective communication strategies across diverse cultures.

Program Tracks

The program offers three tracks:

• Advertising Strategy: Prepares students for careers in account management, account planning, or media management. Students learn fundamental principles of brand-building and audience engagement across media platforms, as well as research design, data analysis, and strategy development.
• Creative: Focuses on teaching students to imagine, design, and create consumer-facing touchpoints of strategic communication, including mass-media advertisements, social media campaigns, and promotions. Students develop and refine their vision as creators and have opportunities to participate in competitions like the Young Ones international award show.
• Public Relations: Prepares students for careers in one of the nation's fastest-growing fields, including roles such as publicist, copywriter, event planner, social media manager, and spokesperson. Students learn to work closely with news organizations, build relationships with media and stakeholders, create content for traditional and emerging media platforms, and manage public relations campaigns.

Strategic Communication Degree Requirements

For specific degree requirements or information about classes, students can refer to the university catalog. There are different requirements for students admitted prior to fall 2019 and those admitted in fall 2019 or after.

Media Design (Discontinued)

The Media Design track, which focused on design-thinking and best design practices to create consumer-facing content, has been discontinued. New students are advised to consider the Creative track instead.

College of Communication, Media, Design and Information

The College of Communication, Media, Design and Information at the University of Colorado Boulder offers a range of programs, including the BS in Strategic Communication, with the goal of fostering ethically minded, forward-looking communicators equipped with analytic, strategic, creative, critical thinking, and tactical skills necessary to identify and solve problems in their chosen field.