Public Relations Interdisciplinary [BA]

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations equips students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career in the global public relations industry. The program covers topics such as public relations writing, social media, research, and ethics, and provides hands-on experience through a required internship. Graduates are prepared for roles in public relations agencies, corporate communication offices, and non-profit organizations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations prepares students for a global public relations industry career.

Objectives:

• To provide students with a solid foundation and understanding of the tools and skills commonly practiced within today's PR discipline.
• To offer exposure to numerous topics, including:
• public relations writing
• social media
• research
• public relations principles and practice
• integrated campaign planning through PR, marketing, advertising, and social media
• ethics within public relations
• crisis management in public relations
• case studies
• hands-on, applicable skills through a required internship

Program Description:

The dynamic field of public relations leverages relationship management principles to foster connections between an organization and its specific publics or audiences. Public relations practitioners are highly desired organizational resources in business, education, athletics, healthcare, government, or human services. Public relations professionals are accomplished problem solvers, conflict managers, writers, speakers, event planners, and media relations experts. Public relations professionals manage the organizational messaging and promote clarification of decisions, products, and services that contribute to a positive reputation and increase organizational success.

Outline:

Required Fundamental Courses:

• CMT 336 Electronic Publishing Technology (3 hrs)
• JRNL 215 News Writing and Reporting (3 hrs)
• PURL 201 Public Relations and Public Responsibility [GEKS] (3 hrs)
• PURL 221 Fundamentals of Social Media [GEKS] (3 hrs)
• PURL 312 Introduction to Public Relations (3 hrs)
• PURL 314 Writing for Public Relations (3 hrs)
• One course from the following:
• COMM 354 Organizational Communication (3 hrs)
• COMM 370 Nonprofit Organizational Communication (3 hrs)

Required Advanced Courses:

• COMM 475W Introduction to Communication Research [GEWI] (3 hrs)
• PURL 333 Integrated Campaigns (3 hrs)
• PURL 403 The Agency (3 hrs)
• PURL 408W Case Studies in Public Relations [GEWI] (3 hrs)
• One course from the following:
• CTAT 344W Continuity Writing for Electronic Media [GEWI] (3 hrs)
• JRNL 306W Feature Writing [GEWI] (3 hrs)
• One course from the following:
• JRNL 487L4 Cooperative Education in Journalism/Public Relations [GELB] (3 hrs)
• JRNL 490L4 Internship in Journalism [GELB] (3 hrs)

Restricted Elective Courses:

• ARTS 104 Graphic Design for Non-Majors [GEKA] (3 hrs)
• CMT 204 Photographic Communication (3 hrs)
• COMM 227 Interpersonal Communication [GEKS] (3 hrs)
• COMM 350 Persuasion (3 hrs)
• COMM 357 Interviewing as Communication (3 hrs)
• COMM 359 Small Group Communication (3 hrs)
• CTAA 264 News Production (1 hr)
• CTAT 141 Digital Media Production for Non-Majors (3 hrs)
• JRNL 270 Data and Storytelling (3 hrs)
• JRNL 307 Copy Editing (3 hrs)
• JRNL 379 Special Topics (3 hrs)
• MKTG 360 Principles of Marketing (3 hrs)
• PURL 317 Crisis Management in Public Relations (3 hrs)

Careers:

Graduates of the public relations program work in all field segments, including public relations agencies and firms, corporate communication offices, media relations, event planning, social media, fundraising, and not-for-profit public relations.