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
Julia Spiker
Professor, School of Communication
330-972-7198
jspiker@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 | 12-24 | |
| Communication Core | 15 | |
| Public Relations Core | 12 | |
| Public Relations Electives | 12 | |
| Minor Requirement | 18 | |
| Additional Credits for Graduation * | 15-3 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- *
Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.
General Education Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Foundations | 12 | |
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 Learning | 2 | |
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 Hours | 36 | |
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 | 12-24 | |
- 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 210 | Multiplatform Production | 3 |
| COMM 245 | Argumentation | 3 |
| COMM 384 | Communication Research | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| COMM 480 | Communication Internship 2 | |
-or- | ||
| COMM 485 | Honors Project in Communication | |
-or- | ||
| COMM 499 | Capstone in Communication | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- 1
Grade of C or better is required in Communication Core courses.
- 2
Students must have 90 credits to qualify.
Public Relation Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 12 | |
Public Relations Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 9 credits from the list below and 3 credits from any COMM course not included in the list: | 12 | |
| COMM 307 | Principles of Social Media | |
| COMM 309 | Public Relations Publications | |
| COMM 350 | Event Planning | |
| COMM 406 | Public Relations Theory | |
| COMM 410 | Digital Content Creation | |
| COMM 429 | Advanced Strategic Social Media | |
| COMM 450 | Special Topics in Communication (Crisis Communication) | |
The following courses DO NOT satisfy this requirement: | ||
| COMM 105 | Introduction to Public Speaking | |
| COMM 106 | Effective Oral Communication | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
- 1
Co-curricular activities (Forensics, WZIP, ZTV, Buchtelite) are limited to a total of three credits to be applied to the Public Relations Electives.
Minor Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of a Minor or Second Major (not in Communication) or earned Associate Degree | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Recommended Sequence
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| COMM 101 | Introduction to Communication 5 | 3 |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I | 3 |
| COMM 105 or COMM 106 | Introduction to Public Speaking 4,5 or Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| STAT 260 or STAT 250 | Basic Statistics 2 or Statistics for Everyday Life | 3-4 |
| Beginning Language I or Certificate Course 1 3 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 112 | English Composition II 1 | 3 |
| COMM 210 | Multiplatform Production 5 | 3 |
| Beginning Language II or Certificate Course 2 3 | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COMM 245 | Argumentation 5 | 3 |
| COMM 325 | Intercultural Communication 6 | 3 |
| Natural Science with lab Requirement | 4 | |
| Intermediate Language I or Certificate Course 3 | 3 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM 219 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| Intermediate Language II or Certificate Course 4 | 3 | |
| Public Relations Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| Global Diversity Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COMM 303 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| COMM 384 | Communication Research | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| Public Relations Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 8 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM 404 | Public Relations Cases | 3 |
| Public Relations Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Arts Requirement | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 8 | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 8 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COMM 409 | Public Relations Strategic Campaigns | 3 |
| Public Relations Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 8,9 | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 8,9 | 3 | |
| Certificate Course 5 or Upper Level Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Complex Issues Requirement | 3 | |
| Minor Requirement 8,9 | 3 | |
| Certificate Course 6 or Upper Level Elective | 3 | |
| Certificate Course 7 or Upper Level Elective 10 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| COMM 499 | Capstone in Communication | |
| COMM 485 | Honors Project in Communication | |
| COMM 480 | Communication Internship | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 121-124 | |
- 1
ENGL 222 Technical Report Writing is an option for the second semester writing requirement.
- 2
Any course that meets the General Education Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic requirement may be taken.
- 3
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].
- 4
COMM 105 Introduction to Public Speaking and COMM 106 Effective Oral Communication are the required courses to meet the General Education Speaking requirement.
- 5
A grade of C or better is required in order to graduate.
- 6
The School of Communication recommends COMM 325 Intercultural Communication to meet both a Communication elective and the Domestic Diversity requirement.
- 7
Public Relations Electives: Complete 12 credits of coursework from COMM 209 Principles of Sales, COMM 309 Public Relations Publications, COMM 325 Intercultural Communication, COMM 405 Media Copywriting, COMM 406 Public Relations Theory, or any 7600 courses not included above and not including COMM 105 and COMM 106.
- 8
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, (3) A second major not in Communication.
- 9
Degree requirements in Arts & Sciences require a minimum of 40 credits of 300/400 level courses (excluding workshops). In order to meet this requirement, courses in the minor area of study should be at the upper level. In order to assist students in graduating on time, only students in a degree granting college may take upper level (300/400) Communication courses. General electives can be any course not already required.
- 10
This course is not needed if a modern language is taken instead of the a certificate program.