BA in Public Relations

The public relations major emphasizes hands-on experience in preparation for careers as spokespeople, media relations specialists, bloggers, and more.

51 units

The public relations major is an innovative program that offers in-depth study of the field and emphasizes hands-on experience. Students create their own professional portfolio, gain experience working in APU’s student-run agency, join the local chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, develop global public relations skills through international study-away trips, and become specialists in nonprofit, entertainment, or sports PR.

Career Opportunities

To prepare for career opportunities, students are required to complete a 3-unit communication internship prior to graduation. In addition, students can enroll in PUBR 325 Public Relations Agency and study away in the summer through PUBR 450 Public Relations International Experience. Public relations graduates often work as:

  • Public relations managers
  • Communication directors
  • Creative directors
  • Spokespersons
  • Event planners
  • Marketing analysts
  • Media relations specialists
  • Nonprofit communication professionals
  • Media relations specialists
  • Copy writers
  • Bloggers
  • Graphic designers
  • Producers

Requirements

To graduate, public relations majors must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher in their major coursework.

Lower-Division Core
COMM 111Public Communication 13
PUBR 250Introduction to Public Relations3
COMM 200Introduction to Mass Communication3
PUBR 215Public Relations and Social Media3
JOUR 230Video Production: Introduction3
Upper-Division Core
PUBR 330Writing 3: Public Relations Writing for Campaigns 23
PUBR 340Digital Storytelling3
PUBR 350Reputation Management3
PUBR 400Public Relations Management and Ethics3
JOUR 315Visual Design and Branding3
JOUR 335Journalism Research Methods3
COMM 490Communication Internship 33
PUBR 496Public Relations Capstone3
Electives
Select 12 units from the following (at least 6 units must be from PUBR courses):12
PUBR 325
Public Relations Agency
PUBR 420
Public Relations, Non-profits and Social Causes
PUBR 430
Innovation and Creativity
PUBR 440
Public Relations and Entertainment
PUBR 450
Public Relations International Experience
PUBR 495
Special Topics in Public Relations: Crisis Communication
JOUR 345
Sports Strategic Communication and Public Relations
COMM 230
Small Group Communication
COMM 302
Rhetorical Theory
COMM 335
Leadership Communication
COMM 420
Conflict Management
COMM 430
Organizational Communication
COMM 440
Persuasion and Attitude Change
Total Units51
1

Meets the General Education Oral Communication requirement. 

2

Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.

3

Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Identify major theories and development of the field of public relations.
    2.
  2. Understand how public relations techniques create relationships between organizations and their different publics.
    3.
  3. Apply Christian ethical principles to the practice of public relations.
    4.
  4. Select public relations strategies and techniques to solve communication problems.
    5.
  5. Utilize quantitative and qualitative tools to produce research in the field of public relations.
    6.
  6. Create professional public relations campaigns.
    7.
  7. Build a personal portfolio of public relations artifacts.