Program Overview

Public Relations Undergraduate Certificate

Certificate Requirements

The Certificate in Public Relations offers a sequence of courses that will prepare students for a successful career in public relations. This writing-intensive certificate program includes a selection of required and elective courses that integrate practical knowledge of the public relations industry with communication planning and research tactics needed in today’s ever-changing world. The sequence of courses is based upon the latest report from the Commission on Public Relations Education and the certification requirements of the Public Relations Society of America. To earn the certificate, students must complete a minimum of 21 credits in the designated courses with a grade of “C” or better.

• Required Courses:
  • COMM 1150: Introduction to Public Relations (3 credits)
  • COMM 2180: Public Relations Writing (3 credits)
  • COMM 3330: Research Methods in Communication I (3 credits)
  • COMM 4100: Communication Campaigns (3 credits)
  • COMM 4199: Applied Strategic Communication (3 credits)
• Elective Coursework (minimum of 6 credit hours required):
  • COMM 1369: Introduction to Health Communication
  • COMM 3150: Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Communication
  • COMM 3370: Social Media in Public Relations
  • MEDIA ST 3355: Media Law and Regulation
  • MKTG 3700: Principles of Marketing
  • MKTG 3721: Introduction to Digital Marketing Strategies
• Total Hours: 21

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Interpret and apply basic public relations principles to design, research, and plan public relations campaigns.
• Compose written public relations materials that are written in a clear, brief, concise format following the appropriate format and style.
• Make use of broad knowledge combined with principles of public relations in order to evaluate and create effective public relations campaigns.
• Plan and implement research projects; read and interpret research data as applied to public relations campaigns and message strategy.
• Create and conduct ethically sound and socially responsible public relations strategies and campaigns.