Directing the social media strategy for a small business, helping a nonprofit organization connect with new volunteers and donors, or managing the response during a corporate crisis are just a few ways public relations experts promote mutually beneficial relationships between clients and their communities.
Build, enhance and protect the reputations of high-profile clients
As a public relations professional, you are the eyes, ears and voice of individuals and organizations. You conduct in-depth research to understand the needs of various publics, create strategic messaging for print, mobile and digital outlets and coordinate programs that effectively communicate a client’s message and goals. We’ll teach you the skills you need for a career as a social media manager, public affairs officer, community relations officer or media relations specialist.
Our MS in Public Relations goes beyond crafting messages to generate buzz, placing an emphasis on preparing leaders to drive strategy at every level of brand management. You’ll learn to plan and manage PR campaigns as well as mitigate potential crisis situations. Electives enable you to specialize in such sub-fields as international public relations, investor relations and health care public relations, depending on your career goals. Our program additionally offers the flexibility of both full- and part-time study, while the fast track option allows you to complete the program in one year.
Our curriculum covers the most critical elements of an effective communication strategy, as outlined by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). You’ll explore crisis management, branding, reputation management and ethics on a global level before choosing from an array of specialized electives to customize your focus, including a social media track. The capstone experience allows you to further delve into a topic that aligns with your career goals through an independent research project of your own design.
Our faculty are always available to share their decades of industry expertise, while our collaborative classrooms make it possible to share your own ideas with other experienced PR professionals. These interactions will provide you with a diverse perspective and deliver actionable insights that you can immediately apply in your career.
