Strategic Communications Major
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About the Major
Strategic communications explores the process and techniques for how an organization—whether corporate, nonprofit or governmental—communicates and builds relationships with its different audiences. Majors learn how to become creative storytellers and use appropriate research and critical thinking skills to develop strategic communications plans.
Jobs in Strategic Communications
- Brand manager
- Communications strategist
- Publicist
- Research analyst
- Social media manager
Past Elon Strategic Communications Internships
- BOLD LA Communications and Marketing
- Edelman
- First Citizens Bank
- Jennifer Bett Communications
- Sircle Media
Related Majors
Internships in strategic comms paved way for ‘Abbott’ award-winner
The mockumentary sitcom “Abbott Elementary” has taken home numerous awards in its first two seasons on ABC. And an Elon University alumna is behind one of the accolades for helping promote and publicize the hit show.
Sarah Teicher, a publicist at Warner Bros. Television Group who graduated from Elon in 2018 with a degree in strategic communications, was honored alongside her colleagues in March 2023 with the Maxwell Weinberg Award for Television Publicity Campaign at the 60th Annual ICG Publicists Awards.
It was through my internships that I really learned how to function in the workplace.
Teicher started her career with Warner Bros. in 2019 as an executive assistant. From there, she worked her way up the ranks to become a coordinator, and today she is a publicist.
While reflecting on her time at Elon, she credited her internships and networking as the most important aspects that got her foot in the industry. During her four years studying at Elon, Teicher interned with Showtime Networks, KINC Communications Agency and Frederick Keys, working in corporate communication, public relations and marketing departments.
“It was through my internships that I really learned how to function in the workplace,” she said. “It was also through those internships that I made connections with studio and network employees who then helped set me up with their colleagues for informational interviews and open roles.”
A Los Angeles native, Teicher grew up in Washington, D.C., before landing at Elon. In hindsight, the alumna said she always felt that her ambitions remained unfulfilled back in her hometown, and that has impacted her career choices.
“I always aspired to return and build a career in entertainment public relations,” Teicher said. “I was determined to break into this competitive industry, and to have the opportunity to work with so many talented people. And to receive an award like this at this stage in my career is surreal.”
Teicher encourages students who want to follow in her footsteps to chase their dreams, no matter how daunting the journey may seem. Her main advice is to constantly network and make connections.
Did You Know?
- The strategic communications major is housed in Elon’s School of Communications. Elon is one of only 18 private colleges and universities in the nation to have an accredited communications program.
- To promote academic depth, all students must complete a minor, a double major outside of the School of Communications or a semester abroad (totaling 12 credit hours or more) in an Elon-approved program.
- The curriculum for the strategic communications major changed in the fall of 2023; among the changes are new required courses in Brand Identity, Strategies for Emerging Media and Inclusive Leadership in Communications.