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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| STC 103 | Statistical Reasoning for Strategic Communication | 3 |
| STC 116 | Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 201 | Public Relations Strategy Development | 3 |
| COM 250 | Freedom of Expression and Communication Ethics | 3 |
| or COM 102 | Introduction to Communications Literacy | |
| Advanced Writing and Communication Skills Requirement | ||
| Writing Skills Course: | ||
| STC 130 | Writing for Strategic Communication | 3 |
| Presentation Skills Course: | ||
| COS 211 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| or COS 333 | Business Communication | |
| Digital Skills Course: | ||
| STC 102 | Graphic Design for Strategic Communication | 3 |
| Major Requirement | ||
| STC 232 | Writing for Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 311 | Public Relations Research | 3 |
| STC 346 | Public Relations Message Development and Execution | 3 |
| STC 436 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| 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 301 | Marketing Foundations | 3 |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | 3 |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
STC 103 (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts & Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| STEM Cognate | 9 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Minor, Second Major and Electives | 51 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
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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 343, and 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
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
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.
