Master’s Degrees | Integrated Marketing Communication

Online Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication Degree

Connection remains the core of marketing communications—starting with a clear and simple message and extending to the influence a brand has on its consumers.

Connection in the modern marketing world isn’t simply crafting a fun tagline or designing a captivating billboard—effective connection flows through all aspects of a strong marketing campaign, distinguishing a disconnected approach from one that’s engaging and genuine.

Our students are fueled by ingenuity and excited to leverage the creative with numbers to continue forward leadership roles in communication. The University of Mississippi’s online Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication is built for passionate, forward-thinking professionals striving to make a meaningful impact. Our online program lets working professionals gain cutting-edge knowledge and earn a graduate degree on a part-time basis.

Program Info

ON THIS PAGE:
About
Program Objectives
Curriculum
Certificate Options
Admissions
Careers
Program Format

Quick Facts

FORMAT
Fully Online

CREDITS
36

ADMISSION DEADLINES
March 31 (Priority)
Spring & Summer (Rolling)

ENROLLMENT
Part-time or Full-time

About the Online Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communication Degree

The School of Journalism and New Media has graduated decades of professionals who’ve gone on to establish careers in print, broadcast, and, now, online media. Over the past decade, our team of faculty experts saw an increased demand for professionals with the higher-level skills to understand and influence behavior.

The residential Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communication program emerged from this need. Initially a part of our Master’s in Journalism, it expanded into an independent program in 2018. Further adapting to the needs of full-time working professionals across the globe, our online program prepares you to develop stronger campaigns that motivate consumers and crosses traditional and digital media boundaries.

Combining creativity, analysis, and insight, the online Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communication will help develop unique, compelling, and investable ideas that drive results across channels—whether you are from Oxford, Mississippi, or anywhere in the world.

The online master's in marketing integrates creativity, analysis, and insight to help you cultivate distinctive, compelling, and impactful ideas that effectively influence and generate results across various channels. As consumer behavior and technologies evolve, leaders are increasingly tasked with crafting campaigns that swiftly resonate with a wider audience, whether it's to raise awareness, foster engagement, or drive sales.

Program Objectives

The online Master's in Integrated Marketing Communication program helps establish you as an effective professional by:

Bringing established theories, current insights, and real-world applications together to help you provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolving media landscape and assemble a portfolio in the process
Taking a holistic approach to marketing communications, integrating advertising, public relations, brand strategy, digital media, direct mail, content marketing, and research, enabling you to develop and implement authentic, multi-channel strategies that land with your target audience
Prioritizing an audience-first approach and helping you craft more focused messaging that influences customer behavior

Equipping mid-career professionals with tools, knowledge, and leadership skills to design more effective campaigns for their organizations and advance within their fields
Exploring the dynamic relationship between strategy and creativity, as well as the intersection of business, marketing, and communications
Introducing you to market research tools and techniques to identify target audiences and orchestrate successful campaigns
Encouraging you to examine and present a solution for a real-world marketing program

Online Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communication Curriculum (36 Credit Hours)

Both online and on-campus programs adhere to the same structure. The curriculum begins with a foundation in social media and preparing you to connect with audience—why consumers think, feel, and act the way they do.

This modern framework equips you to take on brand-building concepts, with the goal of creating meaningful connections between people and organizations. In the process, you’ll build key creative and research skills to develop a campaign and be able to support it with data.

Of the program’s 36 credit hours, you’ll spend half (18 hours) on six core courses. The remainder of the program explores higher-level topics in social media analysis, interactive design, account planning, content marketing, and multimedia storytelling through a broad array of electives that lets you chart your path according to your unique goals and interests.

Review the full curriculum and all course descriptions

Online Certificate in Media Leadership (12 Credit Hours)

Not ready to commit to a master’s degree program? Our intensive certificate program stands on its own as a credential toward professional development and can later expand toward a Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communication should you continue pursuing more advanced media studies.

Geared toward mid-career new media and broadcast professionals, four fully online courses create an immersive experience that weaves in leadership theories, practical marketing communication applications, and the competencies needed to steer teams across multi-channel efforts.

Courses include:

Media Leadership: Get rich insights into the current state of the media and prepare for a leadership role.
Principles of Integrated Marketing Communication: Understand essential concepts in IMC and how to apply them to your organization’s goals.
Consumer Research and Insights: Explore the science of influence and how it applies to strategies and tactics.
Brand & Relationship Strategies. Learn to think critically about the role that a brand plays in effective organizational strategies.

The certificate program lets you test the waters of graduate study, and all credits earned can be applied toward the MS in Integrated Marketing Communication at a later date.*

*Participants must make a formal application to the University of Mississippi Graduate School after completing two courses if they wish to use all 12 credits toward the Master of Science in IMC. No Graduate Record Exam required.

Admission Requirements

Jumping at the opportunity to see your career soar? The School of Journalism and New Media requires interested candidates to fill out an application and submit:

official undergraduate transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution,
three letters of reference,
a resume, and
a personal statement.

Review all application requirements, deadlines, and tuition costs

UPCOMING ADMISSIONS DEADLINES
Fall: March 31 (Priority), Rolling (General)
Spring & Summer: Rolling

Careers in Integrated Marketing Communications

Just as marketing communications is a multifaceted field, your career prospects can take several divergent paths. The online Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communication positions you for advanced, management- or leadership-oriented positions in advertising, public relations, corporate communications, media, nonprofit organizations, sports marketing, or government.

Direct campaigns and drive department results as an advertising, promotions, or marketing manager, expected to see 6% greater demand between 2019 and 2029 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Develop more connections with clients and get the message out there as a public relations specialist, predicted to see 7% greater demand over the same period.
If you’re of the mindset that data fuels everything, apply your knowledge to a career as a market research analyst, predicted to see 18% more positions.

Online Format

The online master’s and certificate programs are ideal for the striving, imaginative professional. In order to adapt to working schedules, we’ve translated the intensity of our on-campus program to a fully online format:

Get inspired by our industry-leading instructors who are ready to lend their knowledge while teaching you the techniques to elevate your career path.
Work around your obligations with a partially asynchronous format, from anywhere in the world.
Expand your skill set with fast-paced courses requiring a commitment of 15 to 20 hours per week, with structured deadlines for readings and assignments.
Establish connections and network with accomplished peers, who are just as determined to excel in the rapidly evolving media world.

Direct campaigns and drive results with an Online MS in Integrated Marketing Communication from Ole Miss

When you’re already passionate about media and have a strong desire to impact others, realize your aspirations with an online Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communication from Ole Miss. Contact the School or Journalism and New Media today by email at jour-imc@olemiss.edu or by phone at 662-915-7146 to learn more about the program.