Lauren Schatz’s graduate student journey spanned far beyond the brick and mortar walls of the Oklahoma State University campus. Her master’s degree from OSU’s School of Media & Strategic Communication took her from Stillwater to Spain and then on to a flourishing career.
“Graduate school enhanced my framework of thinking,” Schatz said. “I evaluate topics differently, looking more so at the bigger picture. As an undergraduate, I was content using communications tools to address various issues. I now ask how and why.”
The School of Media & Strategic Communication graduate program offers graduate students three specialty tracks to choose from: brand communication, sports communication or global communication. With globalization linking workplaces worldwide, Schatz’s decided to concentrate in global communication.
“The global communications track was very enticing,” Schatz said.
The classes in this specialization equipped Schatz with nuanced perspectives on the global communication environment. The breadth of faculty global communication expertise supplemented her classwork, cultivating her ability to communicate effectively across cultures and languages.
Her global communication concentration, coupled with her communication expertise, gave her the chance to intern at the Lukas Foundation in Madrid, Spain. She reflects on her internship as an opportunity that sharpened her global communication skills.
However, the chance to gain hands-on experience abroad and specialize in global communications weren’t the primary catalysts for her decision to pursue a graduate degree at OSU’s School of Media & Strategic Communication.
“I could have pursued a similar program elsewhere,” Schatz said. The SMSC family is what won me over—never have I been a part of a more dedicated and personable set of professionals. This caring environment truly fosters so much growth.”
Schatz thrived in this premier learning atmosphere. In 2019, she walked across the graduation stage as the first School of Media & Strategic Communication student to graduate with a global communication concentration.
Now working for a government contracting firm with clients such as HUD, NHTSA, and the IRS, Schatz continues to mirror the School of Media & Strategic Communication community’s spirit of dedication and professionalism in her career.
“I decided to pursue my master’s degree because I wanted a stronger foundation of knowledge in mass communications and a competitive edge in the industry,” Schatz said. “Better understanding communications’ powerful role in society has guided my career choices.”
Today’s economy spans time zones and geographic locations. Consequently, Schatz and other professionals in the communication field are called upon to communicate across cultures more than ever. Developing the skills necessary to communicate with people on a global scale is rapidly becoming indispensable to the success of communication careers.
OSU’s School of Media & Strategic Communication equips students like Schatz with the experience and expertise to successfully navigate the complex global communication terrain. Graduates of this program transition to the workplace armed with a toolkit of skills tailored for success in a multinational communication environment.
For more information about Oklahoma State University’s School of Media and Strategic Communication’s graduate program and concentration areas, visit https://media.okstate.edu/graduate-studies.