About the Public Relations and Strategic Communication Management Bachelor’s Program
The B.A. in Public Relations and Strategic Communication Management is tailored to the needs of high performing undergraduate students who are interested in strategic communication management. The program doesn’t just teach students how to create and deliver engaging written, digital, and face-to-face messages—we train students how to manage integrated communication programs, campaigns, and resources to effectively and ethically advocate for the organizations and causes that our students are passionate about.
We set ourselves apart from other programs by combining the diverse expertise of our professional and research faculty members to create a curriculum that develops students’ proficiency in communication, leadership, media relations, global communication, diversity, ethics, data analysis, new technology, critical thinking, and strategic planning. Graduates will possess the tools and talent to launch promising careers in public relations, strategic communication, and related fields, as well as excel in a professional master’s degree program.
Special topic courses enhance students’ understanding of the public relations function as it relates to media relations, crisis communication, social media, community relations, sports communication, nonprofit organizations, public opinion, public affairs/government relations, international communication, and other practice areas.
Communication Literacy Requirement. Communication Literacy courses for the Public Relations and Strategic Communication Management major are PR 3312 , PR 3341 or PR 3345 , PR 4412 .
Students Majoring in Public Relations
Students are required to complete 61 hours within the college, including the following core courses (43 hours):
Group A
Public Relations Electives (9 hours):
Additional Electives
These courses may also be taken as Group A electives if not used to satisfy major core requirements.
Group B
Media and Communication (9 hours):
Students are encouraged to develop a concentration within another media and communication major area. Students not desiring to specialize may take any media and communication courses in any combination to satisfy the Group B requirement, including additional public relations courses beyond those needed to satisfy the public relations core and elective requirements.
Group C
Cognate (15 Hours):
Students majoring in public relations are encouraged to take 15 hours outside the college to develop a cognate, ideally focusing on a topic that will prepare them for a particular public relations role or practice area. Alternately, public relations majors also have the option of selecting additional Group B courses to satisfy the Group C requirement.
MCOM Global Communication Courses
Choose from ADV 4313 , COMS 3332 , CMI 3355 , CMI 3358 , JOUR 3370 , PR 4351 ; any approved 4301 special topics course, approved Study Abroad course, and any foreign language taken at the college level in which a C or better was earned.
