We consult regularly with our professional faculty and the top communication executives in our Strategic Communication Leadership Network to determine the skills and curriculum students need to become successful strategic communicators. To find out when these courses are offered and to register, visit the UO Class Schedule.
Core Courses
JCOM 610 Communication Ethics in the Digital Age 4 credits
Explore the ethical issues communication professionals face almost daily, with a focus on surviving and thriving in the turmoil and disruption of the current media landscape. We will explore what is changing, why it is changing, and how you can do good work despite—and sometimes because of—these changes.
JCOM 610 Research Methods 4 credits
Learn the principles of research for the strategic management of communication programs and campaigns.
JCOM 611 Media and Society 4 credits
This introduction to graduate study in communication emphasizes the major intellectual traditions and enduring issues in the field of strategic communication.
JCOM 616 Intro to Strategic Communication Marketing 4 credits
Approach the practice of marketing from the perspective of a general manager.
JCOM 618 Strategic Communication Management 4 credits
Learn the essential elements of managing and leading groups and organizations.
JCOM 621 Foundations of Strategic Communication 4 credits
Get an introduction to the many facets and theoretical frameworks of strategic communication, from public relations, advertising, and marketing to social media and corporate communication.
JCOM 623 Creativity in Strategic Communication 4 credits
Explore the use of creative conceptual thinking as part of the strategic basis in successful communication campaigns.
JCOM 624 Finance for Strategic Communication 4 credits
Explore the basics of financial statements and their application for anyone working in public relations, advertising, marketing, and corporate communication.
JCOM 624 Strategic Communication Topic: Crisis Communication 4 credits
In an era of unending crises, having the skills to help your organization navigate crises, from the C-suite to employees to external stakeholders, is incredibly valuable. This topics course is designed to identify best practices to fill your professional toolbox with resources and strategies to survive in a time of crisis.
JCOM 624 Campaign Planning & Management 4 credits
Explore common problems in strategic communication management and the specialized skills you’ll need to solve them. Examples of topics we’ll cover are crisis communication, creativity in business, and corporate social responsibility.
Final Project
Your program culminates with the option of a capstone project, an internship, a portfolio, or (rarely) a thesis. Choose only one of the following, with director approval:
JCOM 503 Thesis 6+ credits
If you want to pursue doctoral study or a career requiring scholarly research, you should complete a thesis. This is a substantial document that presents original research addressing questions about media and society. It typically includes a review of relevant literature, an appropriate research method, and an analysis of your findings. Your advisor and two other committee members supervise the research and preparation of the thesis, and a written proposal must be approved by the committee before work begins.
JCOM 604 Internship 1–6 credits
Repeatable for up to 12 credits.
JCOM 609 Terminal Project 9+ credits
The terminal project is an option if you plan to pursue a career more focused on creative or professional expertise than traditional research. A terminal project differs from a thesis in one major way: Instead of contributing to the scholarly literature, it contributes to the communication professions with a creative accomplishment or applied research. It’s more than a class assignment and will require as much research as a thesis. Final projects have included magazine or newspaper article series, video productions, practical guides for working journalists, and applied research projects. Your advisor and two other committee members supervise the research and preparation of the project, and a written proposal must be approved by the committee before work begins.
Elective Courses
Students can choose electives that build focused skills in their areas of interest. Courses vary by term, and not all of these classes may be available every term or every year.
JCOM 608 Audio Storytelling I 2 credits
Learn the technical aspects of audio field recording and editing using Adobe Audition software.
JCOM 608 Audio Storytelling II: Podcasting 2 credits
Explore narrative storytelling through audio. Get hands-on experience in field recording, interviewing, and editing an audio story for broadcast and other contemporary media platforms. Focus on short-form audio production that incorporates the use of interviews, actualities, voice-over narration, and sound effects. Special emphasis will be placed on writing for the ear and voicing scripts.
JCOM 608 Motion Graphics 2 credits
Gain exposure to the fundamental principles of motion graphics. Learn the basics of Adobe After Effects software, including 3D camera tracking titles and “2-½ D” photo movement.
JCOM 608 Storytelling with Data 2 credits
Get an introduction to data visualization techniques used in multimedia storytelling. Learn core vocabulary to more effectively communicate with designers and data visualization specialists.
JCOM 608 Story in Stills I: Intro 2 credits
Learn to think with more clarity and sophistication about how still images can convey narrative. You’ll discuss the process of finding, researching, shooting, and editing.
JCOM 608 Story in Stills II: Photo Story 2 credits
Learn how to find and tell stories effectively with pictures. Develop your ability to research, find, and report stories that explore and explain issues in communities. Explore the ethics of using pictures to tell stories, and look at where we are in the history of photojournalism and documentary photography. This class is for graduate students who have experience taking pictures in the tradition of photojournalism or documentary photography.
JCOM 610 Political Communication 2–4 credits
Examine how political messages are produced and transmitted. Students study messaging produced by political communicators and how the recipients of these political messages are affected.
JCOM 610 Corporate Social Responsibility 2–4 credits
Build a deep understanding of CSR and related concepts such as sustainability, corporate citizenship, and corporate social advocacy.
JCOM 610 Strategic Social Media 2–4 credits
Learn the “why?” and “when?” of social media so you can meet organizational goals and objectives, build relationships, and demonstrate success.
JCOM 610 Building Strong Brands—Strategy to Creative 2–4 credits
Get the foundational tools to bridge the gap between business and creative, left-brain and right-brain, technical and intuitive.
JCOM 610 Design for Strategic Communication 2–4 credits
Build the skills to design memorable, meaningful, and ethical communications for a given message, audience, and medium using print, digital, and social media platforms.
JCOM 610 Writing for Grad School 1 credit
Learn the skills for success in graduate-level writing, including how to access and understand academic research, translate it for nonacademic audiences, and write with effective “academic voice.” Fundamentals of clear writing will also be introduced. (Offered every year.)
JCOM 610 Communicating for Social Impact 2 credits
Whether you work for a nonprofit or as a journalist, creating social change takes strategic planning, resource development, and fierce determination. This course explores contemporary cases and provides a roadmap for developing messages and campaigns that make the world a better place.
JCOM 624 Strategic Communication Topic: Sustainability in Communication 2 credits
This course enables students to apply their communication skillsets to organizational sustainability challenges. It aims to help build the vocabulary, understanding and mindset necessary to contribute to boardroom level business (both profit and non-profit) sustainability discussions, decisions and facilitate collaboration across departments and organizations.
JCOM 624 Introduction to Social Virtual Reality* 2 credits
Get insight into the history and evolution of social virtual reality, from its early stages in the game space to the emerging social platforms designed for immersion with VR headsets. Explore and experience several platforms and critically analyze current and potential use of immersive VR in community building, storytelling, marketing, design, education, and more. Consider the ethical implications of this technology and its potential impacts on equity and inclusion.
JCOM 624 User Experience and Design* 4 credits
This course is designed to teach fundamental principles of user experience (UX) and human-centered design (HCD) in the context of strategic communication. This course is heavily interdisciplinary, relying on various theoretical and applied approaches drawn from fields of human-computer interaction (HCI), media psychology, and many others. UX is also context-specific, and we will be highlighting UX design in various domains, including mobile apps, traditional web, service and customer experience, gaming, and product design.
JCOM 624 Marketing with Immersive Technology* 4 credits
An introduction to social virtual worlds (VW), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR) within the frameworks of building communities, marketing and storytelling.
JCOM 624 Spatial Design* 2 credits
In immersive storytelling, space is not just a backdrop—it's part of the story. This five-week course introduces students to the core principles of spatial design for augmented and virtual reality. You’ll examine how physical environments influence perception, behavior, and the impact of your message. Through hands-on activities and case studies, students will learn to design experiences that account for cultural context, environmental conditions, and user expectations. By the end of the course, you’ll understand how storytelling, hardware, and space intersect to shape immersive user experiences that resonate across platforms and settings.
JCOM 624 3D Design for Mobile*2 credits
3D models are central to nearly every digital media experience, from websites to video games. While creating 3D content once required highly specialized skills, today’s tools make the process more accessible than ever—whether you’re modeling buildings, products, or interactive environments. This course will teach you how to use no- and low-code tools and techniques to create, modify, and deploy 3D models for use with a wide range of mobile devices. You’ll leverage approaches such as photogrammetry, Gaussian splatting, and generative AI to create and optimize 3D assets for use in a variety of contexts. No previous modeling or programming skills required.
JCOM 624 Building in AR* 4 credits
Augmented reality (AR), which integrates digital content into physical environments via mobile and wearable devices, is rapidly becoming a powerful and accessible tool for immersive storytelling. From virtual mirrors that allow you to try on clothing to smart glasses that enable you to explore virtual buildings, brands across industries rely on AR to solve unique business problems. In this course, you will learn to identify a core communication challenge, rapidly prototype AR experiences using no- and low-code platforms, and test their impact with real-world stakeholders. By the end of the course, you'll gain practical skills in AR design, production, and evaluation—no prior programming experience necessary!
JCOM 624 Building in VR* 4 credits
Virtual reality (VR) headsets immerse audiences into simulated virtual environments, functioning as a powerful storytelling tool. From VR wellness spaces to collaborative virtual worlds, you can now quickly create and distribute immersive environments for a wide range of uses. In this course, you will learn how to use no- and low-code tools for creating and distributing an interactive VR experience to solve a specific communication problem and add value to your stakeholders.
* Offered in the Oregon Reality Lab and online in a "hi-flex" format for both in-person and online students.
Questions?
Need some guidance? Here are a few options:
- Download our graduate handbook for more details about program requirements and resources.
- Contact our graduate recruiter with questions about the program, the application process, and admission.