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 (DPR) 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:210Multiplatform Production3
COMM:245Argumentation3
COMM:384Communication Research3
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 Hours15
1

Grade of C or better is required in Communication Core courses.

2

Students must have 90 credits to qualify.

Public Relation Core

COMM:219Introduction to Public Relations3
COMM:303Public Relations Writing3
COMM:404Public Relations Cases3
COMM:409Public Relations Strategic Campaigns3
Total Hours12

Public Relations Electives

9 credits from the list below and 3 credits from any COMM course not included in the list:12
COMM:309
Public Relations Publications
COMM:487
Advanced Topics in Media Writing (New Media Writing)
COMM:406
Public Relations Theory
COMM:429
Advanced Strategic Social Media
COMM:450
Special Topics in Communication (Crisis Communication or Event Planning)
The following courses DO NOT satisfy this requirement:
COMM:105
Introduction to Public Speaking
COMM:106
Effective Oral Communication
Total Hours12
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

Completion of a Minor or Second Major (not in Communication) or earned Associate Degree 18
Total Hours18
 
 

Recommended Sequence 

Plan of Study Grid
1st Year
Fall SemesterHours
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
 Hours15-17
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
 Hours15-16
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
 Hours16
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
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
Spring Semester
COMM:404 Public Relations Cases 3
Public Relations Elective 7 3
Arts/Humanities Requirement 3
Minor Requirement 8 3
Minor Requirement 8 3
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
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
 Hours15
 Total Hours121-124
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.