Indiana Wesleyan University's Strategic Communication program will prepare you for this exciting and fast-growing profession with a combination of practical experience and theory that allows you to gain skills in professional communication, strategic planning, writing, graphic design, event planning, media relations, and digital technology while working with real on-campus and area nonprofit organizations.

The IWU Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) provides students with opportunities to gain practical knowledge and experience through networking, meetings, national conferences, job shadowing, and internships with public relations professionals, and through career-building activities and special events on campus. IWU is the only Council for Christian Colleges and Universities member institution in Indiana that has a PRSSA chapter.

In keeping with our commitment to equip world changers, the Strategic Communication major and minor prepares students to integrate skills and knowledge with grounded ethical and moral principles in a way that glorifies God in their personal and professional lives.

Courses

Students gain expertise in strategic planning, writing, promotion and publicity, graphic design, and media tools and techniques. In addition, students select nine (9) credit hours in one of three concentrations below, based on their area of interest. Other concentrations can be customized in consultation with an advisor.

Media Relations: This concentration equips public relations professionals working with the media with the understanding and skills for a wide variety of mass media (e.g., television, film, radio, journalism, etc.), focusing on writing, production, and technological expertise.

Business/Organizational: This concentration offers students entering corporate, nonprofit, higher education, or ministry/para-ministry contexts specialized business, marketing, and leadership background and skills.

Public/Political Affairs: This concentration equips graduates for positions in government, public affairs, and public policy advocacy. Interdisciplinary study in history, political science, and international relations provides theoretical knowledge and preparation in practicing public relations in the field containing the highest number of professionals.

Preview your classes

Division Core Courses

Choose One

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION MAJOR CORE

Choose between COM-201 OR COM-300

Concentrations (Choose One)

Public Relations

Organizational Communication Concentration

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION MINOR

Required

Choose between COM-321 OR COM-326

Faculty

Profs who are practitioners, too

Faculty members who teach other courses in the major have worked in local and national television, radio, print, and online media, and in corporate and nonprofit organizations.