Program Contact: Katie Place 203-582-7804
The Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations program prepares entry-level practitioners for various careers in agency, corporate, government and nonprofit public relations. As a public relations professional, your job is to build relationships between your clients and the people they need to engage. From managing relationships between consumers and their favorite companies to planning an event for a local nonprofit or strategizing social media campaigns, you will learn to connect to our world through public relations. Among the most important essential learning outcomes stressed in the major are critical thinking and reasoning skills. As a major in public relations, you’ll have the ability to be more than just a communicator. You will be able to offer strategic counsel to your employers and clients. Your major experience includes courses where you carry out activities for real-world clients including conducting research, proposing strategies and objectives, and producing a full campaign plan that includes collateral materials and evaluation methods.
Our proximity to New York and Boston provides you with valuable internship opportunities to gain real-world experience in global organizations.
The BA in Public Relations requires a minimum of 120 credits for degree completion.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
| Required School of Communications core courses 2 | ||
| COM 120 | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| COM 130 | Visual Design | 3 |
| COM 140 | Storytelling | 3 |
| School of Communications Requirements 3 | ||
| Global Issues and Cultures, select two courses | 6 | |
| Seminars for Success | ||
| COM 101 | Communications First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| COM 201 | Media Career Development | 1 |
| Required major courses | ||
| ADPR 101 | Intro to Public Relations | 3 |
| ADPR 201 | Writing for Advertising and Public Relations | 3 |
| ADPR 332 | Communication Research & Analytics | 3 |
| MSS 340 | Communications Law and Policy | 3 |
| ADPR 450 | Crisis Communication Management | 3 |
| ADPR 495 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| COM 490 | Communications Career Internship | 3 |
| ADPR Electives | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Advertising and Integrated Communications | ||
| Web, Mobile & Interactive Design | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Entertainment Advertising & Public Relations | ||
| Public Relations Management | ||
| Public Diplomacy | ||
| Sports Public Relations (sps 311) | ||
| Strategies for Social Media | ||
| Media Planning | ||
| Corporate Public Relations | ||
| Nonprofit Public Relations | ||
| Global Public Relations Management | ||
| Investor Relations and Financial Communication | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Event Planning | ||
| Media Relations | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| The Agency | ||
| Branding Strategies | ||
Other courses with chair's approval | ||
| Open SoC Elective | ||
| Select any School of Communications course | 3 | |
| Free electives | ||
| Select two courses from across the University | 6 | |
| Minor Courses | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Students majoring in Public Relations will complete their Integrative Capstone Requirement within the major with ADPR 495. In place of those credits, the student will select an additional unrestricted course in the University Curriculum.
- 2
Core must be completed by end of sophomore year.
- 3
A minimum of 45 credits of a student's total number of credits (includes major, minor, UC, electives, etc.) must be taken at the 200 level or higher.
Minor Requirement
All students majoring in public relations are required to take a minor (typically 18 credits) that will complement their career and/or personal interests. This minor can be from any program either within or outside the School of Communications. However, a student majoring in public relations may not minor within the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, in the advertising and public relations minor.
Shown below is one of many possible paths through the curriculum. Each student's individual academic plan is crafted in consultation with their academic adviser. Course availability, potential transfer credits, student goals, and course prerequisite completion may influence the course plan for each student.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| ADPR 101 | Intro to Public Relations | 3 |
| COM 120 | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| COM 140 | Storytelling | 3 |
| COM 101 | Communications First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| COM 130 | Visual Design | 3 |
| MA 170 | Probability and Data Analysis | 3 |
| Minor Course #1 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ADPR 201 | Writing for Advertising and Public Relations | 3 |
| COM 201 | Media Career Development | 1 |
| Minor Course #2 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ADPR 332 | Communication Research & Analytics | 3 |
| ADPR Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course #3 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Lab Science | 4 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MSS 340 | Communications Law and Policy | 3 |
| ADPR Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course #4 | 3 | |
| Global Issues and Cultures Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ADPR Elective | 3 | |
| School of Communications Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course #5 | 3 | |
| Global Issues and Cultures Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ADPR 450 | Crisis Communication Management | 3 |
| COM 490 | Communications Career Internship | 3 |
| Minor Course #6 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ADPR 495 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| ADPR Elective | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:
- Information Fluency and Analysis: Plan, conduct, analyze and report primary research findings based on a survey, focus group or other appropriate research means, as well as interpret secondary industry research for a client.
- Critical and Creative Thinking: Propose measurable, attainable objectives for a client based on primary and secondary research findings and produce campaign strategy and tactics designed to help the client achieve its goals.
- Effective Communication: Demonstrate both written and oral proficiency within a variety of traditional and new industry communication vehicles and message delivery formats.
- Social Intelligence: Demonstrate an ability to work effectively and responsibly within groups and manage relationships with clients, team members and publics to achieve individual and common goals.
- Quantitative and Qualitative Literacy: Propose an evaluation of a campaign to measure the campaign’s effectiveness.
Admission Requirements: School of Communications
The requirements for admission into the undergraduate School of Communications programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.
Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.
For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.