Public Relations, BA

Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations (C60100BA) 

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

General Education Requirements36
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements12-24
Communication Core15
Public Relations Core12
Public Relations Electives12
Minor Requirement18
Additional Credits for Graduation *15-3
Total Hours120
*

Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.

General Education Courses

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major.
Academic Foundations12
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours
Speaking: 3 credit hours
Writing: 6 credit hours
Breadth of Knowledge 22
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours
Diversity
Domestic Diversity
Global Diversity
Integrated and Applied Learning2
Select one class from one of the following subcategories:
Complex Issues Facing Society
Capstone
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings.
Total Hours36

College of Arts & Sciences Requirements

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
SLPA 222
Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only)
-or-
Certificate program 112-24
1

Please see your advisor for a list of available certificate programs

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

COMM 101Introduction to Communication3
COMM 384Communication Research3
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): 23
COMM 305
Communication Theory
COMM 360
Theories of Rhetoric
COMM 406
Public Relations Theory
COMM 474
Media Theory
Total Hours9
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

COMM 210Multiplatform Production 13
or COMM 309 Public Relations Publications
COMM 219Introduction to Public Relations3
COMM 303Public Relations Writing3
COMM 404Public Relations Cases3
COMM 409Public Relations Strategic Campaigns3
Total Hours15
1

Courses not used for this requirement can be taken for elective credit

Public Relations Electives

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 Hours12
1

Courses can be taken for elective credit if not taken for a required course above. 

Communication Electives

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 Hours6
1

Co-curricular activities (WZIP, ZTV) are limited to a total of three credits to be applied to the Communication Electives.

Minor Requirement

Completion of a Minor or Second Major or earned Associate's Degree 18
Total Hours18
 
 

Recommended Sequence 

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
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 3
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
Spring Semester
COMM 219 Introduction to Public Relations 3
Intermediate Language II or Certificate Course 4 2 3
Public Relations Elective 3
Arts/Humanities Requirement 3
Global Diversity Requirement 3
 Hours15
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
Arts/Humanities Requirement 3
Public Relations Elective 3
Minor Requirement 4 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
COMM 404 Public Relations Cases 3
COMM 406
or COMM 360
or COMM 305
or COMM 474
 Public Relations Theory 1
or Theories of Rhetoric
or Communication Theory
or Media Theory
 3
Public Relations Elective 3
Arts Requirement 3
Minor Requirement 4 3
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
Spring Semester
Complex Issues Requirement 3
Minor Requirement 4 3
Minor Requirement 4 3
Upper Level Elective 3
Upper Level Elective 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
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], International Business [680000C], 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], and Addiction Services [226106C].

3

The School of Communication recommends COMM 325 Intercultural Communication to meet both a Communication elective and the Domestic Diversity 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.