Program Overview

Overview of the J.D./M.A. in Public Relations Program

The J.D./M.A. in Public Relations is a joint degree program that allows students to earn both a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Public Relations within 3 to 3.5 years. This program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of law and public relations, enabling them to pursue careers in fields where these two disciplines intersect.

Curriculum Requirements

The program requires a total of 109 credit hours, with 73 credit hours dedicated to J.D. requirements and 36 credit hours for the M.A. in Public Relations. The curriculum is structured to allow 9 J.D. credit hours to be applied to the M.A. degree and 6 M.A. credit hours to be applied to the J.D. degree, resulting in a savings of 15 credit hours between the two programs.

J.D. Requirements

• Law Electives Taken in Fulfillment of Both Degrees: 9 credit hours
• Total J.D. Credit Hours: 73

M.A. in Public Relations Requirements

• Required Communication and Public Relations Core Courses:
  • COM 601: Theories of Communication (3 credit hours)
  • COM 602: Foundations of Quantitative Communication Research Methods (3 credit hours)
  • or COM 603: Qualitative Research Methodologies (3 credit hours)
  • STC 620: Public Relations Fundamentals (3 credit hours)
  • STC 621: Writing for Public Relations (3 credit hours)
  • STC 622: Design for Strategic Communication (3 credit hours)
• Public Relations Electives: 12 credit hours
  • Students must select four of the following courses:
    • STC 623: Crisis Communication and Management
    • STC 624: Media Relations
    • STC 625: Cases in Public Relations Administration
    • STC 626: Sports, Publicity, and Promotions
    • STC 628: Public Relations Management
    • STC 629: Special Topics in Public Relations
    • STC 634: Social Media Strategies
    • STC 635: Advanced Research Methods for Public Relations
    • STC 644: AI-Enhanced Social Media Analytics
    • STC 650: Strategic Communication in Health Care
    • STC 660: Corporate Communication and Public Relations
    • STC 682: International Public Relations
    • STC 690: Public Relations Practicum I

Total Credit Hours

The total credit hours required for the completion of the J.D./M.A. in Public Relations program is 109. This joint degree program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in both law and public relations, preparing them for a wide range of career opportunities.