Public Relations Major, BA

Public relations has become an indispensable part of any organization, company, institution, or government trying to create a body of public opinion to support its mission, vision, or values. Understood as a management function in modern organizations in the corporate world, this same professional level has been adopted by NGOs, non-profit organizations, and even governments and countries as a whole. This new scenario offers plenty of opportunities for multifaceted public relations practitioners with skills in written and interpersonal communication, research, negotiation, leadership, creativity, logistics, and problem solving.

Graduation Requirement
Students must complete the two communication foundation courses (COM 201 and COM 207) with an overall average of B, in order to graduate from the major. In all other courses counted toward fulfilling major or minor requirements, a minimum grade of C- is required. 

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Combine communication strategies, tactics and planning in order to achieve organizational goals.
• Illustrate and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press in the United States and around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances;
• Communicate with cultural proficiency that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and ability, domestically and globally, across communication and media contexts;
• Present images and information effectively and creatively, using appropriate tools and technologies;
• Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve;
• Summarize professional ethical principles and apply them in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
• Think critically, creatively and independently;
• Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the media and communication professions in which they work;
• Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts;
• Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
• Apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communication professions in which they work.
• Outline the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping media and communication.