Graduate
Degree Programs
Public Relations
The program is designed to prepare students for public relations management positions in a wide variety of industries. The degree is ideal for those with professional experience who are ready to advance their careers and for professionals from allied disciplines who wish to transition to public relations or further enhance their knowledge and skills.
This is a professional graduate program with all coursework offered at night and on IUPUI’s downtown Indianapolis campus in modern, state-of-the-art facilities. The program is specifically designed for working professionals with three to seven years of experience. The degree requires 34 credit hours and selected coursework is online. No thesis is required, although it is optional. The degree may be completed in two or three years.
This interdisciplinary graduate degree requires courses from the IU Department of Journalism and Public Relations at IUPUI and IU’s Kelley School of Business (Kelley Direct MBA program).
Graduates are prepared for management positions in public relations firms, corporations, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, associations, and health and life sciences organizations.
Students may specialize in three different areas of management:
- General Public Relations Management-This focused area of study prepares graduates for public relations positions that require an increased amount of managerial knowledge and ability. The courses in this area of study are designed to focus on general management skills and experience, paired with an advanced public relations curriculum.
- Public Relations in Health Care and Life Sciences-This unique area of study prepares graduates for positions in today’s rapidly growing fields of health care and life sciences. This is a vital and growing business sector in Indiana with multiple organizations in the health care, life sciences and biotechnology, major hospitals and pharmaceutical industries. This track of study includes an advanced curriculum in public relations and business courses, with distinctive coursework concentrated in health care and life sciences public relations.
- Sports Public Relations Management-This focused area of study prepares graduates for public relations positions in sports organizations both professional and amateur ranging from sports teams to sports leagues and sports federations nationwide. Specific courses focus on various unique aspects of sports public relations at all levels.
Degree Requirements for the M.A. in Public Relations Completion of 34-36 credit hours including:Public Relations Core Courses: (5 courses)
- JOUR-J 560 Public Relations Research and Evaluation (3 credits)
- JOUR-J 560 Public Relations Planning (3 credits)
- JOUR-J 529 Public Relations Campaigns (3 credits)
- JOUR-J 528 Public Relations Management (3 credits)
- JOUR-J 560 Public Relations Theory (3 credits)
Business Core Courses: (2 courses)
- BUS-A 501 Accounting & Financial Reporting or BUS-A 202 Managerial Accounting
- BUS-C 570 Strategic Marketing Management
Electives: (5 courses)
- PR Management Track In addition to the core, students take one business elective from Kelley Direct and four general electives in Journalism and Public Relations or Communication Studies.
- PR Sports Track In addition to the general core, students take three core sports courses (JOUR-J543, JOUR-J540, and JOUR-J542) and two electives in Journalism and Public Relations or Communication Studies.
- PR Healthcare and Life Sciences Track In addition to the general core, students take two core topics courses (public relations in the life sciences and integrated marketing communication in healthcare) and three electives in Journalism and Public Relations or Communication Studies.
Grades
No grade below B- (2.7) will be counted toward this degree.