Public Relations, BA
Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations
More on the Public Relations major
Public Relations is all about building and maintaining beneficial relationships between organizations and their stakeholders and customers. The organization’s message is the foundation of building those relationships. As a PR representative, students will create and shape those messages between an organization and its public.
Our PR degree path provides students with real-world experiences through service-learning; exposure to people, organizations and scenarios that foster creativity; and helps develop the critical thinking skills students will use throughout their career in the industry
Program Contact
McKenna Vietmeier
Assistant Director & Professor of Instruction, School of Communication
330-972-5657
mvietmeier@uakron.edu
The following information has official approval of The School of Communication and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.
Requirements
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 36 | |
| College of Arts & Sciences Requirements | 9-24 | |
| Communication Core | 9 | |
| Public Relations Core | 15 | |
| Public Relations Electives | 12 | |
| Communication Electives | 6 | |
| Minor Requirement | 18 | |
| Additional Credits for Graduation * | 15-0 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- *
Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework | ||
| Breadth of Perspectives courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
| Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 19 | |
Arts: 3 credit hours | ||
Humanities: 3 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Perspectives | ||
U.S. Perspectives | ||
Global Perspectives | ||
Civic Literacy | ||
| Integrated and Applied Learning | 1-3 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Capstone | ||
| General Education Elective 1 | 4-2 | |
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Credits may be selected from any approved General Education course not already accounted for.
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree requirements in Arts & Sciences include either 1) the demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the second year of a foreign language, or 2) the completion of a certificate program outside of the Communication department | ||
| 2 Year Language Proficiency | 14 | |
101 Beginning I | ||
102 Beginning II | ||
201 Intermediate I | ||
202 Intermediate II | ||
| Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only) | ||
-or- | ||
| Certificate program 1 | 9-24 | |
- 1
Please see your advisor for a list of available certificate programs
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either: | ||
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major; | ||
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops | ||
Communication Core 1
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| COMM 384 | Communication Research | 3 |
| or COMM 331 | Data Collection and Information Design | |
| Select one of the following Theory courses (Courses not used for this requirement can be taken for elective credit): 2 | 3 | |
| COMM 305 | Communication Theory | |
| COMM 360 | Theories of Rhetoric | |
| COMM 406 | Public Relations Theory | |
| COMM 474 | Media Theory | |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
- 1
Grade of C or better is required in Communication Core courses.
- 2
Courses not used for this requirement can be taken for elective credit.
Public Relation Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 210 | Multiplatform Production 1 | 3 |
| or COMM 309 | Public Relations Publications | |
| COMM 219 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| COMM 303 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| COMM 404 | Public Relations Cases | 3 |
| COMM 409 | Public Relations Strategic Campaigns | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- 1
Courses not used for this requirement can be taken for elective credit
Public Relations Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 12 credits from the list below: | 12 | |
| COMM 300 | Newswriting Across the Media | |
| COMM 307 | Principles of Social Media | |
| COMM 309 | Public Relations Publications 1 | |
| COMM 350 | Event Planning | |
| COMM 355 | Freedom of Speech | |
| COMM 364 | Legal Issues in Media | |
| COMM 406 | Public Relations Theory 1 | |
| COMM 410 | Digital Content Creation | |
| COMM 429 | Advanced Strategic Social Media | |
| COMM 475 | Political Communication | |
| COMM 480 | Communication Internship | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
- 1
Courses can be taken for elective credit if not taken for a required course above.
Communication Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose 6 credits from the list below: | 6 | |
| COMM 228 | ZTV 1 | |
| COMM 230 | WZIP-FM 1 | |
| COMM 317 | Topics in Media Production | |
| COMM 323 | Podcasting | |
| COMM 324 | Interpersonal Communication | |
| COMM 325 | Intercultural Communication | |
| COMM 435 | Organizational Communication | |
| COMM 438 | Health Communication | |
| COMM 450 | Special Topics in Communication | |
| COMM 472 | Video Production | |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
- 1
Co-curricular activities (WZIP, ZTV) are limited to a total of three credits to be applied to the Communication Electives.
Minor Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of a Minor or Second Major or earned Associate's Degree | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Recommended Sequence
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Communication 1 | 3 |
| COMM 105 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I | 3 |
| Beginning Language I or Certificate Course 1 2 | 3 | |
| Mathematics, Statistics and Logic Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II | 3 |
| COMM 210 or COMM 309 | Multiplatform Production or Public Relations Publications | 3 |
| Beginning Language II or Certificate Course 2 2 | 3 | |
| Natural Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COMM 325 | Intercultural Communication 3 | 3 |
| Natural Science with lab Requirement | 4 | |
| Intermediate Language I or Certificate Course 3 2 | 3 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
| General Elective | 2 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM 219 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| Intermediate Language II or Certificate Course 4 2 | 3 | |
| Public Relations Elective | 3 | |
| Arts Requirement | 3 | |
| Global Perspectives Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COMM 303 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| COMM 384 or COMM 331 | Communication Research 1 or Data Collection and Information Design | 3 |
| Public Relations Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM 404 | Public Relations Cases | 3 |
| COMM 406 | Public Relations Theory 1 or Theories of Rhetoric or Communication Theory or Media Theory | 3 |
| Public Relations Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Civic Literacy Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COMM 409 | Public Relations Strategic Campaigns | 3 |
| Public Relations Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| COMM Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Complex Issues Requirement | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 4 | 3 | |
| Upper Level Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Level Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C or better is required in order to graduate.
- 2
Students are required to complete four semesters of a modern language or sign language OR complete a certificate from the approved list (see below). Demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the second year of a modern language or sign language is required through coursework, AP, CLEP, or Oral Proficiency Interview. See your advisor for placement. Please note that all four semesters must be completed in the SAME language and it’s recommended you begin your first language course as soon as possible. Students can also complete one of the following certificates, instead of a language, to satisfy this requirement: Applied Political Communication [370019C], Artificial Intelligence [360010C], Conflict Transformation & Social Entrepreneurship [370016C], Parent and Family Education [H40203C], Entrepreneurship [630000C], Health Care Selling [660108C], Applied Politics [370005C], Asian Studies [340001C], Environmental Studies [337004C], Field Archaeology [324001C], Gerontology [300006C], Latin American Studies [300008C], Linguistic Studies [330008C], Middle Eastern Studies [340002C], Pan-African Studies [300002C], Research Methods for the Social Sciences [385000C], Teaching English as a Second Language [330003C], Women’s Studies [300110C], Manual Communication [H70007C], Museum and Archives Studies [140001C], Managing People [650010C], Campus Arts and Culture [140005C], Environmental Ethics [360006C], Applied Community Engagement [140004C], Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion [375001C], and Addiction Services [226106C].
- 3
The School of Communication recommends COMM 325 Intercultural Communication to meet both a Communication elective and the U.S. Perspectives course requirement.
- 4
A student must complete one of the following: (1) A university approved minor from the Undergraduate Bulletin, (2) an earned Associate's or Bachelor's degree, or (3) a second major.