Gain the expertise, network and mindset needed for a thriving career.

Do you thrive in situations where information moves quickly? Do you like to creatively solve thorny problems? Do you see the positive even when others only see the negative? Most importantly, do you think about the big picture and larger trends that influence communication?

If this sounds like you, a Strategic Communication Master’s (STC) degree might be your ticket to getting a job as a communication director for a global organization, crisis communication manager, corporate affairs specialist or a similar role.

Here are five powerful ways a master’s degree in strategic communication will set you up for a successful career.

1. Elevate your career.

Many strategic communication students already have communication jobs. What makes getting a master’s degree worth it? Consider the facts. Over 80% of STC master’s graduates get a raise and promotion or added responsibility within a few years of graduating. Simply put, they get ahead.

“They graduate with a better understanding of what strategic communication means,” said Attila Schillinger, director of the Strategic Communication Master’s program at the UO School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC). “To be trusted partners to leaders, they need to think at that higher level.”

2. Build valuable connections.

Access to a network of top global communication professionals, the Strategic Communication Leadership Network, is a major benefit of the Strategic Communication Master’s program at the SOJC. Members include professionals in corporations such as Microsoft, and Nike; global consultancies such as WE Communications, Edelman and The Brunswick Group; and nonprofits such as the Ballmer Group and the Gates Foundation.

STC Master’s students meet with the network twice a year to connect with leaders in the industry and build their networks, get career advice and find out more about strategic communication jobs. Professionals from this network are also guest lecturers and mentors, and they even host students for agency visits.

“Our network of leading global professionals shape the future of communication and generously share their expertise and insights with our students,” Schillinger said.

3. Get a big-picture mindset.

The world is rapidly becoming more complex. Corporations and nonprofits must adjust quickly to situations beyond their control: climate change, artificial intelligence, economic uncertainty and global conflicts. All these industry megatrends have the potential to disrupt business and impact livelihoods. A strategic communicator with an eye on the big picture can help businesses and organizations pivot and turn challenges into opportunities.

Courses such as Strategic Influence and Sustainability in Communication teach students how to adjust to the rapid changes in our complex environment. Strategic communicators need to provide the early alert to ensure a smooth flight, Schillinger says. They need to be the CEO’s wingman.

“We must monitor the full communication horizon, spot patterns and adapt strategies,” Schillinger said. “Students need to use research and data to inform those strategies and constantly be on the lookout for what might be next.”

4. Tame the megatrends.

Working with megatrends, such as the stakeholder economy, the polycrisis, climate change and rapid technological change, is a challenge because the issues are complex and happening simultaneously.

Corporate and organizational leadership must increasingly rely on strategic communicators to guide them to stay authentic and in sync with their ever-more-fragmented audiences. Managing brand reputation in the age of polycrisis requires an understanding of the interconnected nature of issues.

For example, while many use AI to gather data for sustainability reports, the recognition that AI demands huge amounts of energy and water, and exacerbates the issue of climate change is a new concern.

Here’s another example: Many recognize the effectiveness of a diverse workforce, but some companies roll back DEI initiatives under political pressure. Strategic communication requires a holistic understanding of these shifting paradigms.

“Megatrends are an opportunity to help leaders lead,” Schillinger said. “We must elevate our game to that next level by connecting the dots. We train our students to be future forward that way.”

5. Become a storyteller.

Telling a story is essential, but strategic communicators need to be story bonders. They develop a story for a brand or person that bonds with the key audience and stakeholders. You must understand your key audience and their psychology to do this effectively. Through this bonding, strategic communicators can take their business or organization from just responding to crises to driving positive societal change.

“There are positives about the transformations we are going through,” Schillinger said. “These things are not just happening to us. We can shape them and have a positive impact.”

–By Jennifer Snelling

Jennifer Snelling is a Eugene-based education journalist. She graduated from the SOJC with a master’s degree in journalism in 2001.