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Overview
Learn to strategically influence public buying decisions and promote brand awareness and loyalty with the advanced knowledge, cutting-edge tools and business insights you will gain in the Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication online program. In an era of information overload, savvy consumers, and user-generated content, IMC addresses the shortcomings of siloed approaches to advertising, public relations, promotions, etc., and equips graduates with a strategic framework for unifying and managing all organizational communication.
$11,742.30*
N.C. Resident
Tuition & Fees
as few as 12 months**
Program Duration
30
Program
Credit Hours
With the growing need for on-demand consumer interaction, more and more organizations are seeking qualified candidates with expanded marketing communication skills. This online master's program is ideal for recent college graduates who want to further their knowledge and expertise before entering the workforce, mid-career professionals who aspire to move up the ladder and military members with a keen interest in IMC who are transitioning into civilian life and pursuing professional growth.
The expert faculty at UNCW—the same educators who teach on campus—have carefully designed a broad-based online curriculum that sharpens your abilities to craft strategy, conduct research, devise appropriate messaging, enhance storytelling skills and tactfully manage media platforms in both a proactive and responsive manner. Faculty take it a step beyond other strategic communication master's programs by placing emphasis on ethical decision-making and diversity and inclusion in communication.
The M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication online program also features an applied learning project. This experience gives you the opportunity to participate in an IMC academic conference (for years ending with an odd number) or an applied learning, community-based project (for years ending with an even number).
Graduates of this online M.A. program should be able to:
- Plan, write, execute and evaluate an integrated marketing communication plan and effectively present an IMC plan to a professional audience
- Use quantitative and qualitative research to make data-driven communication decisions
- Understand branding and IMC within the context of political brands and campaigns, sports and entertainment, non-profit organizations, business-to-business and business-to-consumer, and institutional efforts
- Examine the connections between an organization's culture, brand and identity as well as how these are communicated to organizational stakeholders
- Understand the relationship of IMC to diversity and inclusion, digital storytelling, advertising, public relations, and events and experiential marketing
- Learn to create and employ digital media to communicate brand identity
In your final course, you will assemble a capstone project in the form of a thesis, project or portfolio that is the culmination of your applied knowledge and increased understanding of marketing communication. You will be able to showcase this capstone as proof of your qualifications to potential employers. See examples of past student work from various courses within the master's in IMC online program here.
As a graduate of the UNCW online IMC program, you will be prepared for evolving marketing communication roles such as: marketing manager, public relations director, social media manager, digital product manager, business strategy consultant and much more.
*Part-time tuition rate. Full-time tuition rate may be lower. Consult with your advisor. Total tuition and fees may vary by student and are subject to change. Learn more.
**Students taking a full-time course load throughout the program can complete it in as few as 12 months. Consult with your advisor.
Discover the advantages of earning your M.A. in IMC online from UNCW.
Graduate from our immersive online M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication program as a more thoughtful, ethical and effective communication professional.
UNCW is proud to be a member of the National Communication Association (NCA), a not-for-profit scholarly society dedicated to promoting free and ethical communication and the widespread appreciation of the importance of communication in public and private life, since 1914.
Ready to Get Started?
Begin your application today, or call 855-306-4734 with questions.
Tuition
Tuition for the online M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication degree program is highly affordable, and you pay by the course. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
| Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Total Tuition & Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Residents: | $333.29 | $1,174.23 | $11,742.30 |
| Non-North Carolina Residents: | $1,176.40 | $3,703.56 | $37,035.60 |
*Part-time tuition rate. Full-time tuition rate may be lower. Consult with your advisor. Total tuition and fees may vary by student and are subject to change. Learn more.
[close-]Calendar
The M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring rolling admissions and six start dates each year. Choose the start date that works best for you.
| Term | Classes Begin | Application Deadline | Document Deadline |
Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
| Spring 1 | 01/15/24 | 12/09/23 | 12/16/23 | 01/17/24 | 01/18/24 |
| Spring 2 | 03/11/24 | 02/10/24 | 02/17/24 | 03/13/24 | 03/14/24 |
| Summer 1 | 05/13/24 | 04/13/24 | 04/20/24 | 05/15/24 | 05/16/24 |
| Summer 2 | 07/01/24 | 05/25/24 | 06/01/24 | 07/03/24 | 07/08/24 |
| Fall 1 | 08/26/24 | 07/27/24 | 08/03/24 | 08/28/24 | 08/29/24 |
| Fall 2 | 10/21/24 | 09/21/24 | 09/28/24 | 10/23/24 | 10/24/24 |
Students must register for courses by 5 p.m. (EST) on the registration deadline date.
Students must remit tuition payment by 10 a.m. (EST) on the tuition deadline date.
Ready to Get Started?
Begin your application today, or call 855-306-4734 with questions.
Admissions
To apply for the M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication online, you must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication Online Admission Requirements:
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for full admission
- If your GPA is below 3.0, you may be admitted provisionally
- Provisional admission requires a B or better grade in your first 4 courses
- Provisionally admitted students are encouraged to start with one class at a time
- One letter of recommendation to be submitted through the online application. This recommendation should be from an academic instructor OR a current or former supervisor.
- 500-word Statement of Purpose addressing how the M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication can help you achieve your personal and professional goals
Official transcripts from all colleges/universities are required.
Electronic Method (Preferred):
Password protected transcripts may be sent directly from the institution to [email protected]
Attn: Kimberly Goerne Harris
601 South College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28403-5955
Have a question? Call us at 855-306-4734.
[close-]Courses
The M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication online curriculum is comprised of 10 courses (30 credit hours), including 27 credit hours of core courses and 3 credit hours of electives.
Students in the M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communication online program must take the following courses.
COM 531: IMC and the Strategic Mindset
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Foundational course that addresses integrated marketing communication and branding in terms of ethics, diversity and inclusion. Topics include IMC’s history and role in organizations and relationship to communication and rhetorical theoretical approaches.
COM 500: Mixed Research Methods in IMC I
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Research methods and analytics used in IMC, including quantitative, qualitative and textual/rhetorical analysis.
COM 532: Critical Topics in IMC
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Overview of the types of industries, organizations and sectors using IMC and the primary challenges for each area. Topics include political brands and campaigns, sports and entertainment IMC, non-profit organizations and issue/stakeholder management, business-to-business and business-to-consumer IMC and brands, and institutional (government, healthcare, higher education) branding and IMC efforts.
COM 533: Organizational Culture, Identity and Brand
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Examines the connections between an organization’s culture, brand and identity and how these are communicated to organizational stakeholders.
COM 539: Integrated Marketing Communication Applied Learning Project
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Participation in applied learning project for community non-profit client.
COM 534: Communication Ethics and IMC
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Multiple approaches to communication ethics are applied to the theory and practice of integrated marketing communication.
COM 535: Diversity, Inclusion and the IMC Challenge
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Explores the issues of diversity and inclusion in integrated marketing communication organizations (agencies, practitioners) and in branding and IMC efforts by business-to-business and business-to-consumer brands.
COM 536: Digital Storytelling and IMC
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Students will analyze and create digital media used in integrated marketing communication contexts that communicate brand identity.
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Preparation for the culminating experience for the M.A. IMC program: thesis, project or portfolio.
Students must choose one of the following courses to complete their elective requirement.
COM 537: Crisis Communication and IMC
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Overview of the theories and practices of crisis communication as they relate to branding and integrated marketing communication.
COM 502: Mixed Research Methods in IMC II
Duration: 7 weeks : Credit Hours: 3
Advanced research methods and analytics used in IMC, including quantitative, qualitative and textual/rhetorical analysis.
Learn how our flexible online M.A. in IMC is designed for working professionals.
Featuring asynchronous seven-week courses and six start dates a year, our innovative online format helps you complete your graduate degree as flexibly and conveniently as possible.