Public Relations, Bachelor of Arts (763P, 763)
Program Coordinator
Kenneth D. Payne, ken.payne@wku.edu, (270) 745-3968
Accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) and certified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the Public Relations major emphasizes applied research, data and analytics, strategic campaign planning, targeted written communications, digital storytelling, and ethical practice. Public relations is a planned process to influence attitudes and behavior using strategic communications. We prepare students for a career in public relations/strategic communications with skills in critical thinking, writing, digital analytics, research, program planning and management, creative problem solving, and relationship building with key publics. Those publics include media, consumers, employees, government, opinion leaders, communities, and many more.
Virtually all segments of the public and private sectors throughout the world draw employees from public relations graduates. Our graduates work as communications tacticians, strategic planners, digital storytellers, and management counselors. They may specialize in employee relations, community relations, social media communications, crisis communications, public affairs, media relations, or several other disciplines within the professional arena.
Specific objectives of the Public Relations major:
- To promote a broad understanding and appreciation of the expanding and important role of public relations in modern society;
- To increase knowledge and develop skills required for positions in the public relations field;
- To instill high standards of ethical conduct;
- To build a foundation for lifelong learning and advanced education in public relations.
Program Requirements (39 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
Admission Requirements
Students wishing to enter the major in public relations initially are admitted as majors seeking admission (reference 763P). Prospective majors may take no more than 15 hours in the major before admission. Students must meet the following requirements before they can be admitted:
- Completion of a minimum of 24 hours of coursework applicable to a baccalaureate degree;
- A minimum overall grade point average of 2.5;
- Completion of JOUR 202 with a grade of "C" or better.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| The following 21 hours of Public Relations Core courses are required: | ||
| PR 255 | Fundamentals of Public Relations | 3 |
| PR 321 | Communications Analytics in Public Relations and Advertising | 3 |
| PR 350 | Legal and Ethical Foundations of Strategic Communication | 3 |
| PR 356 | Digital Tactics in Public Relations | 3 |
| PR 358 | Public Relations Writing and Production | 3 |
| PR 454 | Public Relations Strategy and Planning | 3 |
| PR 456 | Public Relations Management | 3 |
| or PR 489 | PR Internship or Practicum | |
| The following 12 hours outside the Public Relations Core are required: | ||
| SOM 101 | Understanding Media Content, Ethics and Technology | 3 |
| JOUR 202 | Introduction to News Writing | 3 |
| COMM 200 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| AD 300 | Research in Advertising and Public Relations | 3 |
| or COMM 300 | Introduction to Communication Research Methods | |
| or PS 302 | Research Design in Political Science | |
| or SOCL 302 | Social Research Methods | |
| In addition, three hours of Restricted Electives must be chosen from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Photography | ||
| Introduction to Popular Culture Studies | ||
| Digital Media | ||
| Basic Marketing Concepts | ||
| Advertising in a Digital World | ||
| Digital Video Production and Distribution | ||
| Basic Broadcast News | ||
| Survey of Electronic Media Writing | ||
| Sport Communication | ||
| Multiplatform News Presentation | ||
| Feature Writing | ||
| Integrated Marketing Communications | ||
| User Interface Design | ||
| Social Media Marketing | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Crisis Communication | ||
| Seminar in Political Communication | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Communication in the Digital Age | ||
| In addition, three hours of Diversity Electives must be chosen from the following: | 3 | |
| International Public Relations | ||
| Media Diversity | ||
| Interracial Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Gender Communication | ||
| Communication in Multinational Organizations | ||
| Cultural Diversity in the U S | ||
| Cultural Connections and Diversity | ||
| Social Institutions: Race, Class, and Gender | ||
| Diversity in American Society | ||
| Total Hours | 39 | |
- 1
A minor, certificate, or second major is required.
Finish in Four Plan - Public Relations (763)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENG 100 | 3 | JOUR 202 | 3 |
| SOM 101 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| MATH 109, MATH 116, or MATH 183 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/lab | 3 | World Language, if needed OR 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PR 255 | 3 | PR 350 | 3 |
| COMM 200 | 3 | BCOM 265 or BCOM 325 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| PR Restricted Electives | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | PR 354, SOM 310, COMM 365, COMM 471, FLK 280, SOCL 362, or SOCL 375 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PR 321 | 3 | PR 358 | 3 |
| PR 356 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| COMM 300, AD 300, PS 301, or SOCL 302 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PR 454 | 3 | PR 456 or PR 489 | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||