Aug 27, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Public Relations B.A.

(54 credits)

The degree in Public Relations requires a combination of 18 credit hours of common core courses, 12 credit hours of applied core courses, 3 credit hours of directed foundational studies, and 21 credit hours of field of study electives. Students who major or minor in Public Relations must earn a C- or higher in each course required in these respective programs. COMM 202 is recommended for all majors who have not already completed the Foundational Studies Communication requirement. ENG 313 New Media Writing is a required course in the Foundational Studies Junior Composition requirement.

Note: A student completing a major in Public Relations may not also complete a minor in Public Relations.

Common core (18 credits)

Students will complete 18 credit hours of the common core in Communication.

COMM 204 - Media and Society 3 Credits
COMM 209 - Introduction to Research in Communication 3 Credits
COMM 211 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credits
COMM 281 - Visual Communication 3 Credits
COMM 312 - Persuasion Theories 3 Credits
COMM 495 - Senior Capstone 3 Credits COMM 495 fulfills the HIP Foundational Studies requirement.

Applied Core (12 credits)

Students will complete 12 credit hours in the Applied Public Relations Core. 9 credit hours are required and 3 credit hours are selected from a list of Public Relations courses.

COMM 368 - Public Relations 3 Credits
COMM 390 - PR Writing 3 Credits
COMM 466 - Contemporary Issues in Public Relations 3 Credits
Choose 3 credits from the following course list.
COMM 455 - Organizational Communication 3 Credits
Or
COMM 470 - Public Campaigns 3 Credits
Or
COMM 472 - Social Media Management 3 Credits

Directed Foundational Studies (3 credits)

ENG 313 - New Media Writing 3 Credits

Field of Study Electives (21 credits)

Students, in collaboration with their Departmental Advisor, will choose 21 credit hours of electives that align best with their field of study. Students may take up to 9 credit hours of coursework outside of the Department. Note: A student may not count a course taken as part of their applied core as part of their field of study elective requirements.

COMM 214 - Topics in Communication 3 Credits
Choose 21 credits from the following course list.
COMM 220 - Print-Based Media Production 3 Credits
COMM 270 - Photojournalism 3 Credits
COMM 290 - Introduction to Media Writing 3 Credits
COMM 308 - Journalism History 3 Credits
COMM 309 - Reporting 3 Credits
COMM 326 - Introduction to Health Communication 3 Credits
COMM 328 - Health Communication Theory 3 Credits
COMM 333 - Applied Health Communication 3 Credits
COMM 435 - Digital Storytelling 3 Credits
COMM 361 - Small-Group Communication 3 Credits
COMM 373 - Internet as Cultural Communication 3 Credits
COMM 381 - Political Communication 3 Credits
COMM 388 - Sport Communication 3 Credits
COMM 414 - Special Topics 3 Credits
COMM 422 - Community Journalism 3 Credits
COMM 428 - Media and Identity 3 Credits
COMM 433 - Media Criticism 3 Credits
COMM 455 - Organizational Communication 3 Credits
COMM 459 - Communication Law and Ethics 3 Credits
COMM 464 - Individual Project in Communication 3 Credits
COMM 470 - Public Campaigns 3 Credits
COMM 472 - Social Media Management 3 Credits
COMM 482 - Public Culture 3 Credits
COMM 483 - Gender Communication 3 Credits
COMM 492 - Professional Internship in Communication 3-6 Credits

Degree Map Public Relations Program

Students must earn a C- or higher in each course required in this program.

Fall 1st Year

COMM 204 - Media and Society 3 Credits
ENG 101 - Freshman Writing I 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Communication | 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: GPCD | 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Quantitative Literacy | 3 Credits

15 Credits

Spring 1st Year

COMM 209 - Introduction to Research in Communication 3 Credits
COMM 211 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credits
ENG 105 - Freshman Writing II 3 Credits
Elective: | 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Social & Behavioral Science | 3 Credits

15 Credits

Fall 2nd Year

COMM 281 - Visual Communication 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: FPA | 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Lab Science | 4 Credits
Major Elective (Field of Study) | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

16 Credits

Spring 2nd Year

COMM 312 - Persuasion Theories 3 Credits
COMM 368 - Public Relations 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: ESR | 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: History | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

15 Credits

Fall 3rd Year

COMM 390 - PR Writing 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Literary Studies | 3 Credits
Major Elective (Field of Study) | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

15 Credits

Spring 3rd Year

ENG 313 - New Media Writing 3 Credits
COMM 455 - Organizational Communication 3 Credits
OR
COMM 470 - Public Campaigns 3 Credits
OR
COMM 472 - Social Media Management 3 Credits
Major Elective (Field of Study) | 3 Credits
Major Elective (Field of Study) | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

15 Credits

Fall 4th Year

COMM 466 - Contemporary Issues in Public Relations 3 Credits
COMM 495 - Senior Capstone 3 Credits
or
- Elective | 3 Credits
- Foundational Studies: UDIE | 3 Credits
- Major Elective (Field of Study) | 3 Credits
- Elective | 3 Credits
15 Credits

Spring 4th Year

COMM 495 - Senior Capstone 3 Credits
or
- Elective | 3 Credits
- Major Elective (Field of Study) | 3 Credits
- Major Elective (Field of Study) | 3 Credits
- Elective | 3 Credits
- Elective | 2 Credits
14 Credits

3 Year Degree Map

The 3 year degree plan is available for the students meeting the following requirements:

Student is an incoming freshman to the on-campus program
English placement score into ENG 105/107 or GH 101 & GH 102
Math placement directly into Quantitative Literacy category

Fall 1st Year

COMM 281 - Visual Communication 3 Credits
COMM 204 - Media and Society 3 Credits
ENG 105 - Freshman Writing II 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Communication | 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: GPCD | 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Quantitative Literacy | 3 Credits

18 Credits

Spring 1st Year

COMM 209 - Introduction to Research in Communication 3 Credits
COMM 211 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Social & Behavioral Studies | 3 Credits
Major Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

18 Credits

Summer 1st Year

Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

6 Credits

Fall 2nd Year

COMM 368 - Public Relations 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Fine & Performing Arts | 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Lab Science | 4 Credits
Major Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 2 Credits

18 Credits

Spring 2nd Year

COMM 390 - PR Writing 3 Credits
COMM 312 - Persuasion Theories 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: ESR | 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: History | 3 Credits
Major Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

18 Credits

Summer 2nd Year

Foundational Studies: UDIE | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

6 Credits

Fall 3rd Year

COMM 466 - Contemporary Issues in Public Relations 3 Credits
Foundational Studies: Literary Studies | 3 Credits
Major Elective | 3 Credits
Major Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

18 Credits

Spring 3rd Year

COMM 495 - Senior Capstone 3 Credits
ENG 313 - New Media Writing 3 Credits
Major Elective | 3 Credits
Major Elective | 3 Credits
Major Elective | 3 Credits
Elective | 3 Credits

18 Credits