What is Strategic Communications?

  • Strategic communications explores the process and techniques for how an organization communicates
    and builds relationships with its key publics. The organization may be corporate, nonprofit or
    governmental, and the disciplines of communication include public relations and advertising.
    – Elon Comm
  • Strategic communications is a specialized approach to distributing and receiving information. It means
    communicating the best message, through the correct channels, to the right people, at the right time
    and using feedback from this process to stay focused on company goals. It is a method of delivering
    calculated, purposeful content intentionally…. It encompasses an integrated, multi-disciplinary field
    embracing all methods of communication regarding public relations, advertising, marketing and
    internal and external communications. – SIMPPLR

Classes and Curriculum Information

View Classes and Curriculum information here.

At Elon, our students develop the tools essential for public relations and advertising careers, learning to craft
messages and campaigns across multiple media platforms. Majors will learn how to use appropriate research
and critical thinking skills to develop strategic communications recommendations that help organizations
achieve their desired outcomes.

Common Career Paths

  • Agency: Communications agencies offer a full range of advertising, branding, marketing, and public
    relations services to companies. A communications agency works to figure out what the clients need
    and the best media channel to reach their target audience. They monitor and create communication
    trends for their clients.
  • Corporate Communications: Corporate communications assist public and private companies in
    improving their internal communication practices and typically help with areas such as employee
    training, leadership development, human resources, and team-building. Working with senior
    leadership, corporate communication brings clarity to a company’s long-term mission, along with
    creating clearer, more effective channels of communication between employer and employee.
  • Education: Strategic communications in education could be for a public or private school, college, or
    university. Schools use strategic communication to achieve goals as well as to construct organizational
    branding messages. This includes the purposeful and timely release of information among members of
    an organization and the public.
  • Healthcare: Health communication includes verbal and written strategies to influence and empower
    individuals, populations, and communities to make healthier choices. Health communication often
    promotes positive changes in attitudes and behaviors of a target community. Health communication is
    related to social marketing, which involves the development of activities and interventions designed to
    positively change behaviors. If you’re interested in this area, consider the Health Communications minor.
  • Non-Profit/Government: Strategic communications at nonprofits and political organizations work to
    craft communications, often to engage local, state, and national community members and legislators
    or to garner support for legislation or policy changes. Some of their responsibilities might include
    creating comprehensive media campaigns or promotional materials, building relationships on social
    media, or generating awareness through local print publications.

Types of Roles/Job Titles

  • Brand Ambassador
  • Program Coordinator
  • Account Coordinator
  • Account Executive
  • Content Manager
  • Public Affairs Specialist
  • Assistant Account Executive
  • Public Information Specialist
  • Director of Public Relations
  • Public Relations Coordinator
  • Event Coordinator
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Event Manager
  • Publicity Coordinator
  • Executive Assistant
  • Public Relations Manager
  • Manager, Digital and Social Media
  • Relationship Manager
  • Media Director
  • Social Media Analyst
  • New Media Coordinator
  • Social Media Manager
  • Technical Writer
  • Social Media Specialist
  • Content Strategist
  • Director of Digital and Influencer Marketing
  • Copywriter
  • Public Information Officer
  • Editor
  • Communications Manager

Employers and Titles of Recent Strategic Communications Elon Alumni

Company Title City State
Adam Schiff for Senate Press Assistant Los Angeles California
Xanterra Travel Collection Talent Marketing Specialist Denver Colorado
The JLS Group Social Media Marketing Manager Greenwich Connecticut
REQ, An Agital Company Junior Copywriter Washington District of Columbia
Bloomberg Industry Group B-Launch Corporate Sales Associate Washington District of Columbia
Arquitectonica Communications Coordinator Miami Florida
Florida State Golf Association Communications Intern Tampa Florida
Chicago Bulls Rotational Development Associate Chicago Illinois
Warschawski Digital Marketing Associate Baltimore Maryland
G&G Outfitters Account Coordinator Lanham Maryland
Uwill Student Mental Health Marketing Associate Boston Massachusetts
MetLife Sales Trainee Boston Massachusetts
Wayfair Commercial Strategy Associate Boston Massachusetts
INVNT Production Assistant Birmingham Michigan
FleishmanHillard Public Relations Intern Kansas City Missouri
Waivo Account Executive Bozeman Montana
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Corporate Communications Analyst Manhattan New York
Finn Partners Assistant Account Executive – Travel New York New York
Sound Beach Strategies Communications Intern New York New York
MikeWorldWide Account Coordinator New York New York
Michele Marie PR Showroom Coordinator New York New York
Jennifer Bett Communications Fashion PR Coordinator New York New York
Fortune Sales Assistant New York New York
Edelman Assistant Account Executive New York New York
ASTR Partners Analyst New York New York
AlphaSights Client Services Associate New York New York
H.I.S. International Assistant Merchandiser New York New York
Giant Spoon Social Content Creator Intern New York New York
Golin Associate New York City New York
Red Ventures Account Coordinator Charlotte North Carolina
McKinney Marketing Coordinator Durham North Carolina
Go Fish Digital Senior Account Coordinator Raleigh North Carolina
E&V Strategic Communications Communications Fellow Raleigh North Carolina
Wake Forest University WAKECommunities Coordinator Winston-Salem North Carolina
Golin PR Graduate Intern Dallas Texas
Ketchum Public Relations Intern Arlington Virginia
The University of Mary Washington Admissions Counselor Fredericksburg Virginia
Homes.com Sales Associate Richmond Virginia

Communications Job and Internship Boards

  • PRSA Job Center – Public Relations, Advertising, and Marketing Jobs and Internships
  • PR News – Public Relations Jobs and Internships
  • MarComm Jobs/Internships – Job and internship opportunities for advertising, communications, fundraising, marketing, and public relations
  • Public Affairs Council – Jobs in public affairs, government relations, communications, and PR
  • OPA Jobs – Jobs on Capitol Hill, DC
  • Diversity Action Alliance – List of communications jobs from organizations seeking diverse talent
  • The Media Job Board – Jobs and internships in the media industry
  • MediaBistro – Jobs and internships in the media industry
  • Jobs by ROSTR – Job Board for the music industry
  • FlexJobs – Job Board for remote and hybrid jobs, includes jobs in advertising, PR, and marketing
  • UpWork – Freelance jobs in design, print, copywriting, illustration and more

Extracurriculars at Elon

Professional Associations/News Sources

Professional Networks for Inclusive Excellence

– Updated November 2025