Program Overview

Public Relations and Advertising Program

The Public Relations and Advertising program at DePaul University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of public relations and advertising theories and practices. Students will develop critical thinking skills, learn to consider processes, products, and effects from multiple perspectives, and cultivate their ability to speak and write effectively.

Program Overview

The program is located in the heart of Chicago's business community, providing students with opportunities to intern and work professionally with leading public relations and advertising agencies upon degree completion. The program has been named the 2022 Outstanding Education Program by industry-leading publication PRWeek.

Coursework

The program offers a range of courses, including:

• Advertising & Public Relations Ethics
• Copywriting
• Creativity in Advertising
• Crisis Communication Management
• Digital Advertising
• Digital and Social Media Strategy
• Event Planning
• Writing for Public Relations and Advertising

Major Requirements

To complete the major, students must take a total of 16 classes (64 credit hours), including:

• Four core College of Communication courses
• Seven required classes
• Three Public Relations and Advertising electives
• Two additional electives from the College of Communication

College Core Requirements

The College of Communication requires all students to complete a four-course common core, which includes:

• Introduction to Human Communication
• Introduction to Mass Communication
• Intercultural Dialogue
• Public Speaking

Modern Language Requirement

Students who intend to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Communication must demonstrate a measure of competence in a modern language, which can be achieved through:

• Completing the last course in a second-year high school course work in a modern language or Latin
• Completing the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language
• Completing a college course beyond the first-year level in any language
• Achieving a satisfactory score on any of the Modern Language placement examinations administered at DePaul
• Achieving a satisfactory rating in a proficiency examination accepted by DePaul
• Achieving a score of 3 or higher on the Advance Placement (AP) test for any language
• Achieving a score of 5 or higher in the Language B assessment from a Standard or Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) program
• Achieving a satisfactory score on the CLEP examination

Language for Liberal Studies Option

The Language for Liberal Studies Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level necessary to meet the College's modern language requirement. Students selecting the option may substitute a three-course language sequence for three learning domain courses, or two upper-level courses in the same language for two learning domain requirements.

Career Options

Graduates of the Public Relations and Advertising program can pursue a range of career options, including:

• Account management
• Copywriting
• Event planning
• Media planning/buying
• Media relations
• Risk and crisis management
• Sales management
• Social media

Employment Statistics

93% of Public Relations and Advertising graduates were employed, continuing their education, or not seeking employment after graduation.