The Department of Strategic Communication and Media offers a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with concentrations in Strategic Organizational Communication or Social Media.
B.A. Communication, Strategic Organizational Communication Concentration
Students develop the expertise to analyze communication challenges, design evidence-based messaging strategies, and lead communication efforts that align with organizational goals and values. Coursework emphasizes leadership, teamwork, stakeholder engagement, crisis and issues management and development of communication strategies.
Through applied projects and critical analysis, students learn to integrate research, messaging, and evaluation to support informed decision-making and organizational effectiveness. The program prepares graduates to manage communication as a strategic resource that shapes culture, reputation, and long-term organizational success.
B.A. Communication, Social Media Concentration
Students develop practical and analytical skills to plan, create, manage, and evaluate social media content across digital platforms. Emphasizing audience analysis, storytelling, branding, analytics, and ethical practice, the program explores how social media shapes relationships between organizations and their publics. Coursework addresses platform strategy, content creation, influencer engagement, community management, social listening, and crisis response in networked environments.
Through hands-on projects and applied research, students learn to align social media initiatives with organizational goals while adapting to rapidly changing technologies and trends.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| GE: Mathematics Course *Any approved GE: Math, MATH 2623/2623C recommended | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.) | ||
| HIST 2650 | CL History of American Democracy | 3 |
| Select 1 Arts and Humanities course | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences (7 s.h.) | ||
| Select 1 Natural Science course | 3 | |
| Select 1 Natural Science with Lab | 4 | |
| Social and Behavioral Science (6 s.h.) Met with CMST 2610 and MCOM 1595 in major | ||
| General Education Elective (9 s.h.) CMST 1545 or 2620 required for major meets 1 course | ||
| Select any 2 General Education Courses | 6 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| CMST 1500 | Exploring Communication | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| or CMST 2620 | Science Communication | |
| CMST 2600 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| CMST 2610 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| CMST 2655 | Communication in Groups | 3 |
| CMST 2656 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| CMST 3700 | Quantitative Communication Research | 3 |
| CMST 3710 | Qualitative Communication Research | 3 |
| CMST 3756 | Interviewing | 3 |
| CMST 3790 | Personal Brand Communication | 3 |
| CMST 4896 | Communication Internship | 3 |
| or CMST 4859 | Organizational Cultures | |
| Required Support Courses *MCOM 1595 is a support course and Gen Ed | ||
| MCOM 1595 | Media Literacy and Culture | 3 |
| MCOM 3711 | Social Media Content Creation | 3 |
| JOUR 2602 | Media Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 3743 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 3 |
| Concentration Requirements | 18 | |
| Senior Capstone | ||
| CMST 4899 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Free Electives *Hours will vary based on what is needed for 120 SH | 25 | |
| Student must complete a minimum of 39 SH of Upper-Level Courses (3700-5800) | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
Social Media Concentration
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media Concentration | ||
| CMST 2630 | Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| CMST 3740 | Social Media Communication Strategy and Tactics | 3 |
| CMST 4850 | Social Media Campaigns | 3 |
| CMST 4851 | Communication Futures: Emerging Technologies and Trends | 3 |
| Communication Electives (Select 2 Courses) | 6 | |
| Presentational Speaking | ||
| Gender Communication | ||
| Argumentation and Advocacy | ||
| CE Argumentation and Advocacy | ||
| Interpersonal Communication Relationships | ||
| Leadership, Diversity, and Belongingness in the Modern Workplace | ||
| Conflict Management and Negotiation | ||
| Communication for Instructors and Trainers | ||
| Persuasion and New Media | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
Strategic Organizational Communication Concentration
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic Organizational Communication Concentration | ||
| Select 6 Courses from the list below | 18 | |
| Presentational Speaking | ||
| Gender Communication | ||
| Argumentation and Advocacy | ||
| Interpersonal Communication Relationships | ||
| Leadership, Diversity, and Belongingness in the Modern Workplace | ||
| Communication for Instructors and Trainers | ||
| Conflict Management and Negotiation | ||
| Persuasion and New Media | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 18 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| CMST 1500 | Exploring Communication | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| CMST 2655 | Communication in Groups | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| GE: Arts and Humanities | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 2600 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| CMST 2630 | Social Media Literacy | 3 |
| CMST 2656 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| MCOM 1595 | Media Literacy and Culture | 3 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 2610 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| JOUR 2602 | Media Writing | 3 |
| MCOM 3711 | Social Media Content Creation | 3 |
| GE: General Education Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 3790 | Personal Brand Communication | 3 |
| CMST 3740 | Social Media Communication Strategy and Tactics | 3 |
| HIST 2650 | CL History of American Democracy | 3 |
| GE: Math | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 3700 | Quantitative Communication Research | 3 |
| CMST 4850 | Social Media Campaigns | 3 |
| ENGL 3743 | Introduction to Professional Writing | 3 |
| GE: General Education Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 3710 | Qualitative Communication Research | 3 |
| CMST 3756 | Interviewing | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CMST 4851 | Communication Futures: Emerging Technologies and Trends | 3 |
| CMST 4859 or CMST 4896 | Organizational Cultures or Communication Internship | 3 |
| GE: Natural Science | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CMST 4899 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | |
| GE: Natural Science with Lab | 4 | |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| Free Elective | 2 | |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Regardless of track, students graduating with a B.A. degree in communication will meet the following learning outcomes:
LO 1: Collect, analyze, and report qualitative and quantitative data, demonstrating information literacy, critical thinking, and problem solving.
LO 2: Effectively employ mediated communication technologies, including their features, functions and applications.
LO 3: Create professional, coherent and organized oral messages, which adapt to various purposes and audiences.
LO 4: Embrace individual and cultural differences, respect diverse perspectives, and create messages that accommodate differences to be prepared for multicultural workplaces.
LO 5: Apply communication theory and concepts for personal communication and professional career readiness.