The Master of Arts in Strategic Communication programme aims to address the communication needs of organisations. It does this by developing individuals with the requisite skills to help them use a combination of engagement platforms such as advertising, public relations, and events in connecting with their stakeholders. It seeks to enable students learn about the complex ways in which communication occurs in and is deployed by organisations in their quest for success. The programme is offered as both Regular and Special to make it available to both students who are able to study full-time and those who are not.
Programme Objectives
The objectives of the programme are to:
- prepare students to take up strategic communication roles in both public and private organisations
- prepare students to take up strategic communication roles in Ghana’s growing civil society sector
- prepare students to take up management roles in organisations, with a focus on strategic communication with both internal and external organisational publics
- prepare students to take up roles in the growing industries of advertising and public relations
Admission Requirements
Candidates must have a good first degree, at a minimum of second class lower in a related field of study from an accredited university. Applicants with third class may be considered for admission based on work experience and other qualifications.
Programme Duration: 15 months
Programme Pathways
Regular: Lectures are held on week days between 8:30aam to 5pm.
Special: Lectures are held online on week day evenings, and in-person during day time on weekends.
Components of the Programme
Semester 1: Core Courses
SCOM 601 | Integrated Marketing Communications | 3 credits |
SCOM 603 | Strategic Management and Communication | 3 credits |
COMS 601 | Communication Research Methods | 3 credits |
COMS 603 | Communication Research Methods | 3 credits |
Semester 1: Elective Courses
SCOM 605 | Consumer and Stakeholder Behaviour | 2 credits |
SCOM 607 | Social and Behaviour Change Communication | 2 credits |
SCOM 609 | Community Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility | 2 credits |
SCOM 611 | Communication Content Design and Production | 2 credits |
SCOM 613 | Writing for Media | 2 credits |
SCOM 615 | Organisational Communication | 2 credits |
SCOM 617 | Communication and the Public Policy Cycle | 2 credits |
COMS 613 | Communication and Public Opinion | 2 credits |
COMS 615 | Political Communication and Persuasion | 2 credits |
COMS 617 | Media and Information Literacy | 2 credits |
Semester 2: Core Courses
SCOM 602 | Corporate Image and Crisis Communication | 3 credits |
SCOM 604 | Designing Communication Campaigns | 3 credits |
SCOM 606 | Strategic Communication Ethics and Law | 3 credits |
COMS 604 | Data Analysis | 3 credits |
Semester 2: Electives
Each student chooses two from the following, as offered
SCOM 608 | Client Relationship Management | 2 credits |
SCOM 612 | Fundraising and Sponsorship | 2 credits |
SCOM 614 | Media Planning and Strategy | 2 credits |
SCOM 616 | Speech Writing and Public Speaking | 2 credits |
SCOM 618 | Event Communication | 2 credits |
SCOM 622 | Digital and Social Media Communication | 2 credits |
COMS 624 | Gender and Communication | 2 credits |
COMS 626 | Health Communication | 2 credits |
Mandatory courses (Year-long):
SCOM 600 | Dissertation | 12 credits |
SCOM 610 | Project | 6 credits |
SCOM 620 | Seminar | 3 credits |
SCOM 630 | Internship | 2 credits |
NB: The Project option is default. Students may be invited to take up the Dissertation option.