Our public relations (PR) program is considered among the 25 best PR programs in the country and is one of only a small number to be certified by the Public Relations Society of America.
The PR major incorporates theory, practical skills, and ethical foundations. We designed this major to prepare you not just for entry-level positions but also for more responsibility in communications management positions within public relations firms as well as corporations of all kinds, trade associations, hospitals, nonprofit groups, community service organizations, government agencies, and schools.
Subject matter provides you with a fundamental understanding of public relations principles and covers research and strategic planning techniques, management, marketing applications, ethics, and use of the latest in communication technology. Writing skills also get strong emphasis.
Working with Cardinal Communications, our student-run PR agency, provides you ample opportunities to apply what you learn. If you’re like your class mates in the PR sequence, you will tend to be active on campus—and find the skills you’re learning to be helpful in promoting the activities of the organizations in which you participate.
When considering a minor, know that public relations students often choose marketing or the foundations of business, while some find it useful to minor in one of the behavioral sciences or communication studies. Or you might pick a specific field in which you hope to work such as the arts or health care.