Public Relations (B.A.)

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Public Relations program can:

  1. Recognize, differentiate between, and apply key public relations and relevant communication models, principles, and theories.
  2. Identify and explain the strategic RACE process of public relations (Research, Action planning, Communication/implementation, Evaluation).
  3. Effectively analyze, compare, and evaluate models of public relations practice used in an organization and make effective recommendations for improvement.
  4. Identify ethical principles from the PRSA code of ethics and articulate their own plan for ethical public relations practice that coheres with Christian faith.
  5. Develop a range of public relations competencies (e.g. writing, event planning, fund raising, social media, crisis communication)
  6. Identify, interpret, evaluate, and apply best practices in public relations, media relations, and crisis communication (combining traditional and new media) for maintaining mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and publics both routinely and in times of crisis.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

COMM 105Fundamentals of Oral Communication

3

COMM 107Introduction to Communication Seminar

1

COMM 205Principles of Public Relations

3

COMM 341Communication Theory

3

COMM 351Public Relations Writing

3

COMM 353Crisis Communication and Media Relations

3

COMM 359Rhetorical Theory

3

COMM 493Communication Senior Seminar

3

MRKT 130Marketing Principles

3

COMM 353: Fulfills writing in the major requirement.

Three credits from the following media courses:

COMM 211Media in Everyday Life

3

COMM 218Mass Media and Society

3

COMM 282Topics in Media Studies

3

COMM 382History and Theory of Digital Media

3

Three credits from the following interpersonal communication courses:

COMM 241Small Group Communication

3

COMM 313Relational Communication

3

COMM 342Intercultural Communication

3

COMM 354Interpersonal Conflict

3

Three credits from the following major writing courses:

BUSA 305Writing for Business

3

COMM 112Newswriting

3

COMM 247Writing for Mass Media

3

COMM 254Screenwriting I

3

COMM 305Magazine Writing

3

One of the following options, must be taken for letter grade (1-3):

COMM 391Communication Practicum

1-3

INTE 391Internship

1-3

INTE 394Internship

4-12

INTE 394: Students may take INTE 394 for 4-12 credits. Three of those credits would count towards the major, additional credits count as free electives.

Nine credits from the following (with a minimum of 6 credits from COMM courses):

COMM 203Basic Video&Editing Techniques

3

COMM 207Communication Design

3

COMM 301Persuasion: Theory and Practice

3

COMM 310Fundraising

3

COMM 333Business and Organizational Communication

3

COMM 357Event Planning

3

COMM 426Senior Public Relations Campaign Project

3

MRKT 337Integrated Marketing Communications

3

MRKT 362Social Media Marketing

3

MRKT 364Digital Marketing

3

QuEST Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement 0
QuEST requirements Credits
First Year Seminar 3
Oral Communication (COMM 105) met/major
Created and Called for Community (W) 3
Mathematical Sciences 3-4
Laboratory Science 3-4
Science, Technology & the World 3
Two of the following (6 credits total):
   Social Science
   European History
   United States History
6
Literature 3
Philosophy and Religion 3
Arts 3
First Semester of Language 3
Second Semester of Language 3
Third Semester of Language or Cross Cultural 3
Non-Western Studies 2-3
Bible 3
Christian Beliefs 3
Wellness course 1
Ethics, World Views or Pluralism 3
QuEST requirements 54-57
Major requirements 44-46
Free electives 25-20
Total credits 123