Bachelor of Arts in Communication – Public Relations
University of Akron Online
Key Information
Campus location
Akron, USA
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
USD 11,880 / per year
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
What will I learn?
The Bachelor of Arts in Communication – Public Relations (PR) degree program will teach you to help organizations build and maintain beneficial relationships with their audiences. You will learn the history, theory, and techniques of PR, developing important skills in writing and design, research and planning, critical thinking, ethical decision making, and public speaking.
Why Akron?
Our program combines theory and real-world application, is taught by faculty with industry and research experience, and is closely tied to our Professional Social Media Certificate. Courses in the certificate can fill the elective requirements for the PR program, giving you special training in an increasingly crucial aspect of the profession.
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
Requirements
Summary
- General Education Requirements: 34
- College of Arts & Sciences Requirements: 12-24
- Communication Core: 15
- Public Relations Core: 12
- Public Relations Electives: 12
- Minor Requirement: 18
- Additional Credits for Graduation: 17-5
- Total Hours: 120
General Education Courses
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major.
Academic Foundations
- Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic
- Speaking
- Writing
The breadth of Knowledge
- Arts/Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
Diversity
- Domestic Diversity
- Global Diversity
Integrated and Applied Learning
Select one class from one of the following subcategories:
- Complex Issues Facing Society
- Capstone
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings.
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements
Degree requirements in Arts & Sciences include either 1) the demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the second year of a foreign language, or 2) the completion of a certificate program outside of the Communication department
Foreign Language
- Beginning I
- Beginning II
- Intermediate I
- Intermediate II
- Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only)
-or-
Certificate program
Students must also complete a minimum of 34 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either:
- Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major;
- or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops
Communication Core
- Introduction to Communication
- Multiplatform Production
- Argumentation
- Communication Research
Select one of the following:
- Communication Internship
- or Honors Project in Communication
- or Capstone in Communication
Public Relation Core
- Introduction to Public Relations
- Public Relations Writing
- Public Relations Cases
- Public Relations Strategic Campaigns
Public Relations Electives
12 credits from the list below or any 7600 courses not included above:
- Principles of Social Media
- Public Relations Publications
- Public Relations Theory
- Advanced Strategic Social Media
The following courses do not satisfy this requirement:
- Introduction to Public Speaking
- Effective Oral Communication
Minor Requirement
Completion of a Minor or Second Major (not in Communication) or earned Associate Degree.
Learning beyond the classroom
You’ll have the opportunity to work with real clients — writing news releases and promotional pieces, managing social media, and planning events and PR campaigns — to build a robust portfolio of work and experience for job applications and interviews.
Program flexibility
Our faculty have designed their courses to accommodate the schedules of working adults, parents, and others who cannot attend class on campus or during normal work hours. For example, our program features asynchronous learning, allowing you to log in and learn at a time that’s convenient for you.
As a bachelor’s degree, this program will typically take a full-time student eight semesters, or four years, to complete. You can take optional summer classes to finish the program sooner.
Part-time students require more than eight semesters to complete the program.
Career Opportunities
What can I do with this degree?
PR professionals help organizations of all kinds communicate with internal and external stakeholders. They craft news releases, newsletters, annual reports, and social media messages for clients and businesses.
You will learn skills that are applicable to various fields and industries. Thus, while many PR professionals work at PR agencies, others enjoy careers in marketing, journalism, politics, financial relations, crisis management, reputation consulting and so much more.
This program can also prepare you for a master’s degree in communication, business administration, and other disciplines. The diverse curriculum — with its focus on writing, critical thinking, problem-solving, and public speaking — is also good preparation for law school.
Career outlook
PR is an ever-growing and ever-changing profession. New technologies such as social media continue to expand the ability of organizations to connect with their public — creating new and exciting career opportunities for PR professionals.
English Language Requirements
Certify your English proficiency with the Duolingo English Test! The DET is a convenient, fast, and affordable online English test accepted by over 4,000 universities (like this one) around the world.