Overview

Students majoring in Public Relations will learn how to engage in public relations practices in from both a practical and theoretical perspective. Students will receive rigorous, hands-on training in PR writing, PR design, PR message development, and campaign development. Students will be prepared to enter into the PR field after graduation in positions such as account executive, communication specialist, event planner, or social media specialist, for example. 

Both Public Relations tracks fulfill the People & Society area of knowledge requirement.

Our Public Relations program has ties to the Public Relations Society of America and maintains a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter. 

Curriculum Requirements for Public Relations

Core Courses
STC 103Statistical Reasoning for Strategic Communication3
STC 116Principles of Public Relations3
STC 201Public Relations Strategy Development3
COM 250Freedom of Expression and Communication Ethics3
or COM 102 Introduction to Communications Literacy
Advanced Writing and Communication Skills Requirement
Writing Skills Course:
STC 130Writing for Strategic Communication3
Presentation Skills Course:
COS 211Public Speaking3
or COS 333 Business Communication
Digital Skills Course:
STC 102Graphic Design for Strategic Communication3
Major Requirement
STC 232Writing for Public Relations3
STC 311Public Relations Research3
STC 346Public Relations Message Development and Execution3
STC 436Public Relations Campaigns3
Other Required Courses
Select three electives of the following:9
Advanced Graphic Design for Public Relations
Special Topics in Strategic Communication
Advanced Graphic Design and Photography
Project Management for Strategic Communication
Ethics in Strategic Communication
Travel and Tourism
Social Media Messaging and Strategies
Multicultural and Inclusive Advertising
Public Relations Internship
Women in PR
Crisis Communication and Management
Media Relations
Cases in Public Relations Administration
Sports, Publicity, and Promotions
Public Relations Management
Advanced Research Methods for Public Relations
PR and Politics
Public Relations Practicum
Social Media Analytics
Strategic Communication in Health Care
Corporate Communication and Public Relations
International Public Relations
Special Topics in Public Relations
Special Topics in Strategic Communication
Projects and Directed Research
Introduction to Communications Literacy
Structured Research and Practice at SoC Consultancy
Marketing Requirement
MKT 301Marketing Foundations3
General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II3
or ENG 106 Writing About Literature and Culture
Quantitative Skills:
STC 103 (fulfilled through the major)
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts & Humanities Cognate9
People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
STEM Cognate9
Additional Requirements
Minor, Second Major and Electives51
Total Credit Hours120
*

Students must complete at least one course in which the entirety of the class has an international or intercultural focus. This course can come from within the student's major, minor, or as a general elective course toward the 120 credits needed to graduate. Sample classes include, but are not limited to: STC 350, STC 482, COS 343and MKT 360. Study abroad can also fulfill this requirement, as can a foreign language course that is not the student's native language. 

*

School of Communication students are required to complete a minimum of a minor (inside or outside of the school) in addition to their Communication major to graduate. For an optional 2nd major, please see your advisor.

*

School of Communication students must complete 6 credits of Written Communication Skills unless exempt based on SAT/ACT score or AP/IB exam, 3-6 credits of Mathematics, http://www.miami.edu/cognates/ and the Advanced Writing and Communication Skills Proficiency requirement.

Upper Level Elective Requirement

36 credits at the 300 level or higher are required for graduation. These credits may be earned from your major, minor and/or second major, and electives. 

Suggested Plan of Study for Public Relations

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
FallCredit Hours
STC 116 Principles of Public Relations 3
STC 130 Writing for Strategic Communication 3
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
Arts and Humanities Cognate 3
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
STC 102 Graphic Design for Strategic Communication 3
STC 103 Statistical Reasoning for Strategic Communication 3
WRS 106 or ENG 106 First-Year Writing II
or Writing About Literature and Culture
3
STEM Cognate 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Sophomore Year
Fall
STC 201 Public Relations Strategy Development 3
Select 3 credits in Public Relations electives Bulletin course list 3
Arts and Humanities Cognate 3
STEM Cognate 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
STC 232 Writing for Public Relations 3
COS 211 or 333 Public Speaking
or Business Communication
3
COM 250 or 102 Freedom of Expression and Communication Ethics
or Introduction to Communications Literacy
3
Arts and Humanities Cognate 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Junior Year
Fall
STC 311 Public Relations Research 3
Select 3 credits in Public Relations electives Bulletin course list 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
STC 346 Public Relations Message Development and Execution 3
Select 3 credits in Public Relations electives Bulletin course list 3
MKT 301 Marketing Foundations 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior Year
Fall
STC 436 Public Relations Campaigns 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
Minor or Second Major or Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120

Mission

The Public Relations Program mission is to prepare professional communicators who understand and can demonstrate the use of theory, research, planning and evaluation in effective public relations practice. We are committed to building students’ ability to apply ethical principles to decision-making and to perceive each communication and its intended audience holistically, based on understanding and appreciating cultural and other differences. We seek to nurture students’ analytic and creative skills with the goal of graduating insightful, resourceful citizens of a global society, and to challenge them with multiple opportunities for learning, self-discovery and professional practice.

Goals

We seek to nurture students’ analytic and creative skills with the goal of graduating insightful, resourceful citizens in a global society, and to challenge them with multiple opportunities for learning, self-discovery, and professional practice.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of how research is conducted and findings are effectively applied to strategic communication planning and in the practice of public relations, including the ability to conduct secondary and primary research, compile and analyze data via statistical analyses and SPSS software, and interpret and summarize the results.
  • Students will write and design effective, audience-sensitive messages for public relations purposes in settings inside and outside the classroom that follow standards of professional practice.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to prepare and evaluate strategic communication plans/ proposals at a professional level, which requires effective research, writing, design and oral presentation skills.