Bachelor of Science, Communication: Public Relations

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Bachelor of Science, Communication: Public Relations (Four-Year Plan)

Program Description

The Communication: Public Relations program emphasizes the principles and best practices of communication and public relations. The communication core focuses on effective communication, storytelling, and analysis of the mass media. The public relations concentration includes practical skills in topics such as public relations campaigns, writing for public relations and advertising, social media management, digital design, and digital marketing and analytics. Students critically analyze mass-mediated content; they also produce public relations-focused content such as various types of press releases, public relations campaigns, and other forms of corporate communication.

Potential Career Options

Potential career options for those pursuing this degree include public relations specialist, director of social media, communication manager, director of strategic communication, director of public relations, corporate communication coordinator, digital marketing specialist, and other public relations-related careers.

Total Program: 120 Credit Hours

Foundational Core - 34 Credit Hours

SEU Foundations - 3 Credit Hours

CORE 1111 - COMMUNITY AND COLLEGE SUCCESS Credits: 1
CORE 1112 - DIVINE DESIGN AND MISSIONAL VOCATION Credits: 2

Worldview Formation - 9 Credit Hours

BIBL 1113 - THE STORY OF SCRIPTURE Credits: 3
THEO 1213 - LIVED THEOLOGY Credits: 3
CORE 3113 - WORLDVIEW AND COMPLEX PROBLEMS SEMINAR Credits: 3

Habits of Inquiry - 22 Credit Hours

Major Core - 45 Credit Hours

Communication, Arts, & Design Core - 9 Credit Hours

COMM 2233 - INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION Credits: 3
COMM 2733 - COMMUNICATION ETHICS Credits: 3
COMM 3533 - MASS COMMUNICATION THEORY Credits: 3

Communication Core - 15 Credit Hours

COMM 1433 - FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH Credits: 3
COMM 2153 - WRITING FOR THE MASS MEDIA Credits: 3
COMM 4143 - STORYTELLING & PERSUASION Credits: 3
COMM 4533 - MASS COMMUNICATION LAW Credits: 3
COMM 2083 - INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION Credits: 3

Public Relations Core - 18 Credit Hours

COMM 2323 - INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS Credits: 3
COMM 3193 - ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION Credits: 3
COMM 3323 - SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY & CONTENT Credits: 3
COMM 3363 - WRITING FOR PUBL RELATIONS & ADVERT Credits: 3
ARTV 2033 - FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL DESIGN Credits: 3
BUSI 3203 - PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT Credits: 3

Public Relations Elective - Select One:

* Choose 1 elective from Business, Public Relations, Marketing, or Multimedia Journalism

Divine Design (Major Specific Experiential Learning) - 5 Credit Hours

COMM 3041 - PUBLIC RELATIONS PRACTICUM Credits: Variable
COMM 4001 - COMMUNICATION SEMINAR Credits: 1
COMM 4823 - COMMUNICATION INTERNSHIP Credits: 3

Divine Design - 36 Credit Hours

To meet the Divine Design requirement, students may earn credit hours in general elective courses, declared minors/certificates, or enjoy other experiential learning opportunities such as study abroad, internships, or practicums. Other practicum options include PRAC 1001 (1 credit hour), PRAC 1002 (2 credit hours), PRAC 1003 (3 credit hours), PRAC 1004 (4 credit hours), up to 24 credit hours. General Electives are any college-level course that does not satisfy the above program requirements. Students must complete the above program requirements with the remaining credit hours earned in the Divine Design to meet the total program hours.