The Armstrong Liberty Center, which serves as the Hinesville, Ga. location for Armstrong State University, will offer a new master’s degree in Professional Communication and Leadership starting in Fall 2015. Courses at the Liberty Center will be offered in a flexible, seven-week minimester format, with evening and online options that accommodate working adult students.  

“The Professional Communication and Leadership program has been incredibly popular on our Savannah campus, and we will now offer the same outstanding learning opportunities to area residents and military-affiliated students in Hinesville,” notes Col. Pete Hoffman, director of the Armstrong Liberty Center. “The fact that students will be able to earn this interdisciplinary degree in Hinesville from start to finish, without travel to another campus, is extraordinary.”

The Professional Communication and Leadership degree prepares working professionals and college graduates for workplace communication, critical thinking and leadership. Students complete four core writing and management courses – Professional Communication Strategies, Technical Editing, Organizational Communication in Diverse Contexts and Leadership in the Public Arena – in addition to six electives. These include writing for the nonprofit sector, health communication, digital media management, information design, conflict resolution and professional and applied ethics, among others. 

Graduates enjoy careers in leadership positions within the military and government services, management, human resources, nonprofit organizations, marketing, public relations, publication design, health care administration and recruitment. Some go on to earn doctorate degrees in specialized fields such as law and education.

“While this program is ideal for many civilian professions, it is also a perfect fit for military students,” says Hoffman. “Leadership and communication skills are essential to success in a military career, and having a graduate level degree could make a difference when it comes to officer and non-commissioned officer promotion boards. Continuing education has never been more important than it is right now as the Army goes through a period of downsizing.”

Currently, the Armstrong Liberty Center offers associate degree tracks in liberal studies, criminal justice, business and a variety of health profession areas, as well as bachelor’s degrees in liberal studies and criminal justice. With a 20 percent increase in enrollment over the past two academic years, construction on a larger facility is underway.  

The new Armstrong Liberty Center is set to open in January 2016 and will offer 21,000 square feet of learning space at the corner of Memorial Drive and Welborn Street in downtown Hinesville, replacing the current leased facility on East General Stewart Way.