Public Relations, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Program Objectives
Graduates of the Public Relations program pursue careers with corporations, non-profits, educational, governmental, media, and public relations and advertising agencies. Managing the communication between an organization and its publics, practitioners write news releases, video news releases, newsletters, speeches, annual reports, advertising copy, promotional pieces, feature stories, and social media entries, to name a few. Public Relations practitioners provide appropriate counsel in employee, community, financial, consumer, government, and media relations, as well as crisis communication, all based on ethical principles set forth by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). They manage social media accounts, plan events, fundraise, and address public concerns. Students must demonstrate excellence in writing, research, planning, communication, and evaluation of public situations strategies using a variety of platforms to meet the standards for a public relations education as published by PRSA. One of only 40 Certified Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations Programs in the World!
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 09.0902
Summary Checklist for General Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Element 1 | ||
| A: Written Communication | 3 | |
| B: Written Communication | 3 | |
| C: Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Element 2 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Element 3 | ||
| A: Arts | 3 | |
| B: Humanities | 3 | |
| Element 4 | ||
| Natural Sciences | 6 | |
| Element 5 | ||
| A: Historical Science | 3 | |
| B: Social Behaviorial Science | 3 | |
| Element 6 | ||
| Diversity of Perspectives Experiences | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Students are expected to complete Elements 1 and 2 within their first 60 hours of college credit.
Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Graduation Requirements | ||
| General Education | 36 | |
| Student Success Seminar | ||
| Student Success Seminar (waived for transfers with 30+ hrs.) | 1 | |
| Writing Intensive Course (Hrs. incorporated into Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives category) | ||
| Upper division courses (42 hrs. distributed throughout Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives categories) | ||
| ACCT - Public Relations majors will fulfill ACCT with the following. (Credit hours are incorporated into program requirements below.) | ||
| Public Relations Campaigns | ||
or PUB 490S | Public Relations Campaigns | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| BEM 295 | Video Production | 4 |
| BEM 202 | Information Gathering | 3 |
| BEM 203 | introduction to Media Writing | 3 |
| BEM 305W | Storytelling & Feature Writing | 3 |
| BEM 405 | Media Law | 3 |
| PUB 305 | Public Relations Research | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Economic Reasoning and Issues | ||
| Contemporary Economic Problems | ||
| Fundamentals of Microeconomics | ||
| Fundamentals of Macroeconomics | ||
| MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing (NB) | 3 |
| PUB 320 | Design for Mass Media | 3 |
| or BEM 320 | Digital Publishing Design | |
| PUB 375 | Public Relations Principles | 3 |
| PUB 380 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| PUB 390 | Fundraising | 3 |
| PUB 410 | Social Media and Public Relations | 3 |
| or PUB 410S | Social Media & Public Rel | |
| PUB 470 | Public Relations Internship | 1 |
| or PUB 349 | Applied Learning in Public Relations | |
| PUB 475 | Advanced Public Relations | 3 |
| PUB 490 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| or PUB 490S | Public Relations Campaigns | |
| PUB 491 | Senior Seminar in Public Relations | 1 |
| PUB 425 | Crisis & Risk Communication | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose from six hours of the following: | 6 | |
| Media Ethics | ||
| Photojournalism | ||
| Studies in Communications:___ | ||
| Advertising Strategy and Practice | ||
or PUB 325S | Advertising Strategy and Practice | |
| PR Event Planning & Management | ||
or PUB 385S | PR Event Planning & Management | |
| Studies in Public Relations | ||
| Public Relations in Performing Arts | ||
| Integrated Communications | ||
| Independent Study in Public Relations | ||
| Integrated Public Relations Strategies | ||
| Principles of Management (NB) | ||
| Supporting Course Requirements | ||
| BEM 200 | Mass Media and Society | 3 |
| or BEM 200W | Mass Media and Society | |
| Choose from one of the following, any of which will fulfill Element 5B: G | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Principles of Politics and Government | ||
| Introduction to American Government | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Psychology: Writing Intensive | ||
| Introductory Sociology | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Choose from 23 hours of free electives | 23 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- G
Course also satisfies a General Education element. Hours are included within the 36 hour General Education requirement above.