You should be interested in the handling and impact of media content and communication and enjoy working empirically. You should also be motivated to acquire an understanding of the analysis, implementation, and design of communication strategies in the context of corporate communication and within organizations.

In addition, you will need to possess a high level of self-management as well as public speaking and critical thinking skills, and be able to work in a team.

Your active and passive English skills should also be good enough to read English-language specialist literature.

A bachelor’s degree in communication studies or an equivalent higher education degree. A total of at least 90 credits or an equivalent percentage of the coursework and examinations required for the degree must have been earned in subjects related to communication studies. At least 12 of these credits must have been earned in the field of empirical methodology. Statistics must be included. Proof that you have completed these 12 credits must be provided by the application deadline.

If you did not earn your university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, HZB) at a German-language institution or complete a German-language degree program, you must provide proof of German proficiency at the DSH-3 level or 4 x TDN 5 to enroll.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

The examination regulations are available online (in German only).

Course sequence

In the first semester, you will get to know the multifaceted world of media psychology and acquire advanced skills in the field of statistics in two lecture courses. Two seminars focus on responsibility and sustainability in corporate communication and internal communication.

In the second semester, you will focus on the practice of strategic communication. You will take on the perspective of a PR agency and work with real-world partners to develop authentic communication strategies. In the context of a seminar, you will carry out small research projects and analyze current challenges from the PR world. Two more seminars will look at the ethical side of strategic communication, using practical examples and giving you the chance to engage with experts. You will also take a look at the relationship between corporate communication and journalism (media relations).

In the third semester, you will work on a research project on current topics in strategic communication research. Other seminars will focus on the various duties and challenges of organizational communication. Experts in the field of communications will give you insights into their day-to-day work and discuss interesting case studies with you. Practical application also plays a central role: You will take on the role of crisis manager and handle communication during a simulated crisis in real time.

The fourth semester is dedicated to your master’s thesis. An accompanying practice class will prepare you for writing your thesis. You will focus on how to choose and limit your topic and discuss challenges faced while writing. In addition, you will present the topic of your master’s thesis in a colloquium, receive valuable feedback from members of teaching staff and your fellow students, and be optimally prepared for finishing your degree.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Internships

As part of the program of study, you will complete one or multiple internships in the field of corporate communication/PR or other strategic communication fields.

You can complete the internship module at any point in the program. We recommend making use of the lecture-free period so you don’t miss any courses during the lecture period. Relevant part-time jobs or student traineeships can also be counted as mandatory internships. You can find further information (in German) on the website of the student advising office for Communication Studies: https://www.studium.ifp.uni-mainz.de/studierende/praktika/

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

As a graduate of the Strategic Communication master’s degree program, you possess comprehensive knowledge and skills that leave you well-prepared for the job market in the 21st century, such as

• comprehensive expertise in the field of communications management,
• skills in drafting and planning strategic communication,
• strategic thinking,
• refined techniques for working scientifically (conducting research, analyzing and processing research literature),
• knowledge of empirical methods in the social sciences, data collection (quantitative and qualitative) and statistical data analysis, data processing and presentation, and drawing strategic conclusions.

With these qualities, you are well-suited for a wide range of employers and professional fields. Many graduates of this program work as communications managers in companies, organizations, or agencies (e.g., communication consulting, press and public relations). Jobs in journalism and marketing are also typical fields for our graduates.

Various other jobs in different professional fields are also well-suited:

• Market, opinion, or social research
• Academia (e.g., university, college, research institutes, project work)
• Politics and social affairs (e.g., in ministries, political parties, political foundations, educational institutions, associations, and clubs)
• Education and culture (e.g., theaters, museums, private and public educational institutions, adult education)
• International relations (e.g., tourism, trade relations, associations, clubs, foreign service, international organizations)
• Public service and administration (e.g., as a specialist consultant, in public relations)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.