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Influence Change, Inspire Action

Expertise and Impact: It all comes together in the Public Communication division at AU's School of Communication.

Our location in the nation's capital helps you explore the fields of strategic communication, political communication, public diplomacy, and public relations. Our undergraduate and graduate programs help you plan campaigns, craft persuasive messages, and effectively target audiences.

You'll gain a solid foundation in storytelling and develop a clear understanding of the wide array of tools and platforms that will ensure your messages have the greatest effect. Our programs will equip you to handle a rapidly changing environment as you learn to navigate the intersection of integrated marketing and strategic communication, public relations, and digital strategy.

Graduates from our program understand the importance of effective communication within the public and global forum. When you study with us, you'll gain access to some of the world's most noteworthy communicators. Our faculty bring their experience with multinational corporations, major PR firms, NGO's, nonprofits and government agencies into the classroom.

The real-world skills and concepts taught in this program will open doors throughout the communications industry. Not only do our students learn the latest industry trends, they also develop the type of critical thinking that distinguishes them in the job market. Today's employers are looking for a creative, strategic mindset—that's exactly the kind of thinking we cultivate and encourage here.

Advance your own story at American University's School of Communication.

Our degree is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass CommunicationsÌý(´¡°ä·¡´³²Ñ°ä).

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NYC Career Intensive

An Experiential Learning program by SOC

SOC3's third cohort poses with Professor Pallavi Kumar

Communications ·

One Year In, Student-Run Integrated Communications Agency Going Strong

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PR Week's 40 under 40 recognizes AU alumni

Michael Kay, SOC/MA, Jenny Wang, SOC/MA'13, and Christine Cotter, SOC/BA'08, were recognized in PR Week's "40 Under 40."

Contextualizing Politics

Taylor Prochnow, SOC/MA '18

I wanted to be in this kind of classroom having these kinds of debates.

As a full-time student who also holds a full-time job in crisis communication and PR, Taylor Prochnow appreciates the emphasis on quantitative analysis in the Political Communication master's program. She can apply her studies directly to her work, tackling problems she sees and changes she wants to make. Conversations with her professors about the 2016 election kept her optimistic about politics, and she could analyze the election data scientifically and study messaging and follow-through; contextualizing in a constructive way.

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MA in Strategic Communication  On Campus & Online

Advance your career using messages that inspire action and data to prove it. 

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MA in Political Communication

Gain a thorough grounding in political science, strategic communication, research, and media.

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2023PRSC640

BA in Public Relations & Strategic Communication

Learn the skills and innovative methods that are in demand.

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Top 5

One of five finalists for Outstanding PR Education Program in 2019

by PRWeek