Integrated Marketing
Communications — Explained

Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) is a strategic, collaborative, and promotional business function through which a targeted audience senses consistent, persuasive, and reinforcing brand messaging.

As a discipline, IMC attempts to unify all pieces of marketing communications, including advertising, public relations, direct marketing, social media, and sales promotion. Integrated Marketing Communications adopts a human-centered approach where messaging caters to an audience and is consistent across all channels.

With this resource, we’ll cover a variety of topics, including what Integrated Marketing Communications really is, how it differs from other communications tracks, what the career outlook is for IMC professionals, and much more!

Let’s get started.

Unique Features of the Discipline

Are you wondering how IMC differs from other advanced communications programs? Are you wondering what makes IMC a unique discipline? We’re here to answer these questions for you.

In the broadest sense, to study communications means to study the craft of delivering a message in an effective way. It’s the “marriage of theory and application;” it’s a “wide-ranging generalist path that can be tailored to work in a variety of specific industries.” Similarly, advanced communications-related degrees — like a Master of Arts in Communication Studies, Mass Communications, Journalism, or Public Relations degrees — tend to be more broad and general in subject matter.

IMC differs from general communications degrees in that it teaches communication professionals how to realign their marketing activities to ensure a constant flow of information to consumers from a variety of media. As a graduate of an IMC program, you not only would excel at marketing communications, but would also be able to execute valuable projects such as analyzing data and managing strategic project planning.

As technology continues to advance and as digital media becomes increasingly important in a variety of businesses, marketing professionals must learn to integrate the approaches of outbound and inbound marketing — in other words, an integrated approach to marketing and messaging as a way of connecting the consumer to the brand involved. The IMC approach attempts to unify all pieces of marketing communications, including advertising, public relations, direct marketing, social media, and sales promotion.

Employment Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals working in marketing at a senior level make an average of $131,180 a year. In 2016, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $67,490, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $208,000. Similarly, the employment rate of marketing managers is expected to grow 9 percent from 2016 to 2026, higher than the national average. Marketing positions are highly desirable and are often sought by other managers and experienced professionals. These statistics demonstrate the high demand for advanced professionals in the marketing field.

In order to make the most of your IMC education and career, here’s a look at how you can use the next 10 years to establish and enhance your career:

Integrated Marketing Communications at WVU

“We are a program that, from the beginning, has stressed the importance of the impact we want to have on the lives and careers of our students. We do everything in our power to ensure that all students have a valuable experience and learn skills and insights they need to be competitive. And they need to learn at the pace of the industry, not the pace of higher education.” —Chad Mezera, Assistant Dean at WVU's Reed College of Media

The Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications program, the first of its kind, was launched by the Reed College of Media at West Virginia University in 2003. In the program, communications professionals learn how to align their marketing activities to ensure the constant flow of information to consumers from a variety of media.

One hallmark of the WVU IMC program is its learn-it-today, use-it-tomorrow focus that is built into the curriculum and teaches students the importance of applying the best strategies and tactics in reaching key audiences. IMC students are able to take the knowledge they gain in the classroom and immediately apply it to the challenges they face in their professional careers.

The IMC program at West Virginia University is also offered exclusively online, with no classroom attendance required. This enables a student to earn a master’s degree in this fast-growing field from anywhere in the world. How, where, and when you complete the program is completely up to you. There are zero in-person commitments. You can schedule multiple courses at a time to finish quickly or spread them out to balance school with work and family!

In the IMC program, students earn a practical, customizable graduate education that is designed to equip them with the skills to emerge as leaders in the field. IMC students select three electives out of the 29 course options currently offered. Options include social media marketing, web metrics and SEO, crisis communication, diversity and inclusion, virtual & augmented reality, advanced creative concepts, digital video production, entrepreneurship, media analysis, sports marketing, healthcare marketing, political marketing and many more. And we’re always adding to the elective options as the industry changes and the needs of our students evolve. For instance, we are offering three new elective courses in disruption innovation, higher education marketing, and executive communications and PR leadership in Spring 2019.

Coming Fall 2019, students will have even greater opportunities to customize their degree with a declared Area of Emphasis (AOE). By taking only one extra elective course, students will be able to specialize their IMC degree in areas like Creative Strategy, Data Marketing Communications, Digital and Social Media, Healthcare, Higher Education, Management, and PR Leadership.   

The “Selected-Client” WVU IMC Capstone Experience project presents the opportunity of working with an actual client, thus building your resume and enhancing your portfolio while completing a course requirement.

WVU is also one of the 115 R1 institutions in the nation, meaning we are recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education for our dedication to research. We’re a member of the Big 12 Conference and West Virginia's land-grant institution. We have a "Go First" mentality with a heavy focus on innovative learning and technologies.

IMC Network — 1,500+ Strong

Our 1,500+ Alumni Are Innovating All Around the World

WVU IMC graduates have opportunities to network with alumni all over the world. Coupling the innovative curriculum with these connections, IMC graduates at WVU are introduced to a broad range of strategic marketing positions. The ever-growing alumni network remains a key advantage of the program for those wanting to advance or change their career. Another advantage of WVU’s program is that an IMC alum might re-apply with guaranteed admittance to the program as a non-degree seeking student in order to continue their education. These are only a few key features of a rich program with the history, staff, and alumni to keep it one of the premier programs in the country.

Every year at the Integrate Conference, students and alumni gather together in order to stay up-to-date on the latest market trends. Current students and graduates also use this as a networking opportunity in order to make advantageous connections.

IMC graduates hold positions such as:

• Brand managers — create brand images that leave a lasting impression on the consumer, while also observing market trends and overseeing a broader marketing strategy

• Marketing directors — perform a mix of marketing, marketing communications, sales, and business management

• Public relations directors — strategically curate a favorable opinion of your employer and oversee all outgoing communication and announcements

• Business owners — for the entrepreneurial type, be your own boss and market your communications skills for your own business

• CEOs — responsible for the ultimate, strategic-decision making for a company

• Social Media Strategists — develop and execute a social media strategy in order to increase a company’s online presence and improve marketing and sales efforts

• Creative Director — creative leads at advertising and marketing companies, who manage designers, artists, copywriters, sales teams, and marketers in order to create a vision for products of their company

• Communications Specialists — facilitate and maintain relationships between their clients and the public often using media outlets to  produce press releases, email communications, and social media

94

percent of total respondents rated their overall satisfaction level with WVU’s program at an 8 out of 10 or higher.

98.3

percent of respondents stated that they would recommend the IMC program to a friend or colleague.

41

percent of IMC graduates experience more than 25 percent of an increase in income since completing the degree.

INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AT WVU

Are you already interested in the IMC program here at WVU? Speak with our admissions team or attend an information session to get your specific questions answered. 

Upon successful completion of WVU’s Integrated Marketing Communications curriculum, students will be able to:

Flexibility of the IMC Program

As stated above, WVU’s Integrated Marketing Communications program at West Virginia University is offered exclusively online, with no classroom time required. This enables a student to earn a master’s degree in this fast-growing field from anywhere in the world.

All WVU IMC courses are delivered through a Blackboard-based system, a learning management system with a great deal of functionality. The discussions in the courses are all asynchronous but occur within a dedicated window of time. In other words, there is no set class times in any of the IMC courses because WVU has students from all around the world, but there are established deadlines each week in all courses for assignments and class participation. Students must provide their input and participate before the deadline.

Graduate students engage in an online discussion with their course instructor and peers every week. The professor presents a prompt or a set of problems for students to research and respond to over two days of active discussion. Students are required to post a minimum of four research-based and/or professional responses to their peers, but there are often hundreds of responses as students engage in multiple dialogues and delve into a variety of IMC issues ranging from the ethics of communication in politics or health to the evolution of human interaction and the latest communication technologies. Many of the students are working professionals, and therefore have a rich background of experience to bring to their discussions, which enriches their peers’ perspectives as well.

Faculty are also expected and in fact required to participate in the discussions they oversee in their classes. While it is not a synchronous environment in terms of the faculty and the students all being in the same space at the same time, it is a dynamic message board interface that results in an incredibly robust learning space.

Accessibility to quality education is one of WVU’s primary missions. We have sophisticated online learning technologies and are able to offer a myriad of resources students can leverage to supplement their academic experience.

Dedication to Affordable Learning

Although an advanced degree can set your career flying, higher education can also crash your bank account if you aren’t strategic regarding financial budgeting. While some programs can be extremely expensive, some online programs (like WVU’s IMC program) allow their students to pay in-state tuition regardless of residency. Keep your career on path by searching for highly-ranked online programs that won’t financially debilitate you.

WVU stands out in this regard, as many other universities charge more for out-of-state, online students, while WVU makes exceptions for certain online degrees. Rates are determined by program rather than courses, meaning, taking a course with a subject not in-line with your desired degree will not increase the tuition for a student in a specific program. This allows students to experiment with other fields if their degree has flexibility for elective classes. WVU boasts the moniker “best value” university since tuition rates are low compared to similar higher education institutions.

Financing Your Degree

Making the decision to start a graduate level academic journey is the first step in achieving success for your preferred future. An IMC degree from WVU  But the next major hurdle to jump through is to comprehend and plan for a financial commitment. Perceiving graduate school as an investment for you, gives you a perspective that will guide you through the subsequent costs and commitments, both financial and personal.

At WVU, you get a lot of bang for your buck. Tuition is the same regardless of where you live, and because of the flexible programming, you can spread courses out to pay small amounts as you go. And, in the end, it's all worth it. In a recent survey of our graduates, 37.6 percent have received more than 25 percent salary increases since earning their IMC degrees.

Additionally, it’s easy to forget that the price of education continues to rise — so it may be more cost efficient for you to go to graduate school now rather than later. According to a report by JP Morgan Funds, higher education costs are rising faster than any other household expense in recent decades.

Finally, while cost of tuition needs to be part of your decision, do not let it cloud your perspective if your career would benefit from an advanced degree. With the industry always growing, the financial decision to attend graduate school seems less of a risk due to job availability. Not only will you learn marketing best-practices by pursuing your graduate degree, but you will also be able to leverage your degree for a much deserved raise. Similarly, financial aid (like the FAFSA), scholarships, and military benefits still apply at the graduate level.

Additional Financial Aid Tips

Student Spotlight

Why did you choose the WVU IMC program?          

I chose WVU’s IMC program because of its prestige, flexibility and affordability. Not only is this degree program known worldwide as a powerhouse, but it's fully online curriculum allows you to complete your studies on your own time and at your own pace, without completely breaking the bank.

Why did you decide to start graduate school right after you received your undergraduate degree?

Upon graduating from college, I didn’t feel like I had found my niche in the marketplace. I knew that eventually I wanted to continue my education, so I thought, “what better time than now?” It would help me broaden my knowledge and enhance my skills, and allow me to explore different facets of the communications and marketing worlds.

How did the IMC degree help you during your job search?

Actually, I learned of my current position and employer from a fellow WVU IMC student. I met him at Integrate West Virginia and when he posted a job opening in our IMC student Facebook group, I jumped on it! I don’t think I would have known about the position if it had not been for the WVU IMC program, and I know I wouldn’t have landed it without the knowledge and skills I gained during my studies.

Admissions

WVU’s committee conducts a holistic review of each applicant and looks for several key qualifications. Primarily, WVU looks at undergraduate GPA to assess academic potential. Writing is the critical skill that WVU looks for in all application materials, especially in their statement of purpose.

Professional experience is also considered. Students provide resumes as part of their application. In their personal statement, students should explain how the degree will positively impact their careers. The IMC Admissions staff really wants to understand applicants’ motivation, what drives them and what makes them passionate about what they’re doing. People who are passionate and care about the outcome of their graduate school experience have a greater level of grit and determination to get through the parts that are difficult or more ambiguous.

The personal statement is a way for WVU to get to know the applicant, so students should use it as an opportunity to speak with a genuine voice. WVU also uses personal statements to place students with an introductory course instructor who can best support them as they make the transition into their graduate education.

Letters of recommendation are optional, though students are advised to submit them if there are concerns in another area.

Think you’re ready to consider starting an application? As a WVU graduate program, the Integrated Marketing Communications program follows the typical master’s degree application criteria. Here’s a checklist to ensure you obtain and complete all the application elements:

1. Applicants must complete The Online WVU Graduate Application for Admission

2. $60.00 non-refundable application fee (May be waived by attending an information session)

3. Personal statement - detailing in 300-500 words your interest in the IMC program and how it will support your career objectives

4. Résumé

5. Official Academic Transcripts

6. TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only)

7. Letters of Recommendation (Optional)

8. GRE or GMAT Scores (Optional)