Departments & Programs

The Media School

B.A. in Journalism
Concentration in Public Relations

The Public Relations concentration of the B.A.J. combines foundational journalism courses with public relations course work focusing on principles, concepts, research and application of best practices in developing and managing effective communication campaigns. The required three-course specialization in Public Relations and Strategic Communication provides Public Relations students with the opportunity to develop, practice, and launch a public relations campaign. The concentration prepares them for careers with public relations and advertising agencies, corporation communication departments, and nonprofit organizations employing a wide spectrum of media technologies.

Required Courses

Students in the Public Relations concentration of the B.A.J. will complete 36 credit hours comprised of The Media School Core (12 cr.), the Public Relations Concentration (15 cr.), and the Public Relations and Strategic Communications Specialization (9 cr).  

1)  The Media School Core (12 cr.):

  1. MSCH-C 101 Media
  2. Managing Media 1 course from the approved list
  3. Thinking Media 1 course from the approved list
  4. Making Media 1 course from the approved list

See "Choosing Managing/Thinking/Making Courses Based on Degree Sequence."

2)  The Public Relations Concentration Requirements and Courses—Students must complete the following five courses (15 cr.):
  1. MSCH-C 225* Reporting, Writing and Editing I (formerly JOUR-J 200)
  2. MSCH-C 226* Visual Communication (formerly JOUR-J 210)
  3. MSCH-J 300 Communications Law
  4. MSCH-J 410 The Media as Social Institutions 
  5. MSCH-R 321 Principles of Public Relations

*Students in the Public Relations concentration may count either MSCH-C 225 or MSCH-C 226 towards completion of the Making Media requirement of the core.

3) An approved statistics course** chosen from CJUS-K 300, ECON-E 370, LAMP-L 316, MATH-K 310, PSY-K 300, PSY-K 310, SOC-S 371, STAT-S 211, STAT-S 300, or STAT-S 303.

**This course counts towards partial satisfaction of the CASE N&M Breadth of Inquiry requirement.

4) 9 credit hours in the Public Relations and Strategic Communication specialization to include a capstone project or seminar   
  1. One advanced writing course (3 cr.):
    • MSCH-R 349 Public Relations Writing
  2. Two advanced skills courses (6 cr):
    • MSCH-R 428 Public Relations Planning and Research
    • MSCH-R 429 Public Relations Campaigns

5)  A second concentration of at least 24 unique credit hours that may include a second Media School concentration and specialization, a College-approved certificate or a College-approved minor. With written approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), students may choose to complete an Outside Area (the equivalent to a second major) in any of the departments of the College of Arts and Sciences offering the B.A. degree. This option is not a second degree from the College of Arts and Sciences.

6) Students must also complete the B.A. degree requirements of the College of Arts Sciences.