Our Advertising & Public Relations Major

Become tomorrow’s creative leader

Advertising and public relations are vital functions in dynamic companies. Different than marketers, advertising and public relations professionals take a creative look at strategic communications, blending research and art to craft all messages for a company. You will learn to take your natural creativity and analytical thinking and combine them to create comprehensive and connected brands and communications strategies. Plus, you can choose a minor, like international studies or leadership, to give you a broad perspective of what it takes to be a creative leader.

Discover the keys of strategic communication

Learn what makes an effective visual ad, a good tweet and a compelling story. At Susquehanna, you will study foundational theories of strategic communication, practice the essential skills of a communication professional —oral, visual, written and research — and explore ethics that connect professional communicators. Guided discussions and projects on concepts from rhetoric to digital advertising will further help develop your skills as a strategic communicator.

Wield the power of communication

While a student, you’ll put your creative communications skills to work. Develop communications plans for on-campus activities, design ads in the student newspaper and find off-campus internships to begin your professional portfolio. You can also join student professional organizations to connect with current advertising and public relations professionals and enrich your academic knowledge with real-world wisdom.

Susquehanna is renowned for connecting students with fantastic study-abroad programs to help them learn and evolve. By expanding your worldwide perspective, you’ll have a leading edge on other job seekers when you enter the workforce.

Communication graduates have recently found jobs with the following companies:

Recent graduates have continued their studies at:

University-sponsored organizations that give you space to express your creativity and prepare yourself for a professional career.

Public Relations Student Society of America
Association of Women in Sports Media
The Quill—student newspaper
The Lanthorn—Susquehanna’s yearbook
Lambda Pi Eta—official honor society of the National Communication Association (NCA)
Marketing Club
TRAX—student-run entertainment venue

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Susquehanna offers a major in communications with three possible emphases: digital multimedia (with tracks in broadcasting, journalism, or sports media), strategic communications (with tracks in advertising and marketing communications, or public relations) and communication arts (with tracks in personal and organizational communication or communication studies). Majors complete university Central Curriculum requirements, plus 46 to 58 semester hours of courses in a selected emphasis and track. These include introductory courses, practica for learning skills and specific emphases requirements. A grade of C- or better is required for any course to apply to the major or minor. Courses may count toward only one emphasis or minor.

The department also expects communications majors and minors to participate each semester in related cocurricular activities. Options include WQSU-FM radio; The Quill student newspaper; The Lanthorn student yearbook; Sterling Communications, the student-run public relations firm; the Paul Dannelley chapter of PRSSA, and other activities supervised by department faculty.

Double-counting restriction: Students in the communications department may with department head permission, complete more than one major and/or minor in the department. In such cases, students will need to meet with the department head to discuss substitute courses.

Semester Hours	View Full Course Catalog >>
Advertising and Marketing Communications Track. Students fulfill the university Central Curriculum requirements, participate fully in departmental activities appropriate to their interests, and successfully complete the following courses: 24 Department Requirements
2 COMM-100 Grammar for Communicators
4 COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media
4 COMM-190 Communication/Media Theory
4 COMM-192 Public Speaking
4 COMM-201 Ethics and Leadership
4 COMM-481 Media Law
1 COMM-501 Practicum
1 COMM-501 Practicum
14 Advertising Requirements
4 COMM-217 Principles of Advertising
4 COMM-317 Print and Web Advertising
2 COMM-371 Broadcast Advertising: Writing and Practices
4 COMM-418 Integrated Marketing Communications
9-12 Art Requirements
4 ARTS-111 Foundations of Art I
4 ARTG-251 Computer Applications in Graphic Design
And 1 course from among the following:
4 ARTG-252 Visual Communication
4 ARTG-354 Interactive Graphic Design I
4 ARTS-243 Digital Photography
1-4 COMM-504 Internship
8 Business Requirements
4 MKTG-280 Marketing
4 Choose from: LBMM-216 Introduction to Luxury Brand Marketing and Management or MKTG-382 Consumer Behavior
Public Relations Track. Students fulfill the university Central Curriculum requirements, participate fully in departmental activities appropriate to their interests and successfully complete the following courses: 24 Department Requirements
2 COMM-100 Grammar for Communicators
4 COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media
4 COMM-190 Communication/Media Theory
4 COMM-192 Public Speaking
4 COMM-201 Ethics and Leadership
4 COMM-481 Media Law
1 COMM-501 Practicum
1 COMM-501 Practicum
22-24 Public Relations Requirements
4 COMM-131 Introduction to Journalism
4 COMM-211 Public Relations
4 COMM-314 Public Relations Writing and Campaigns
4 COMM-411 Public Relations Management
4 COMM-418 Integrated Marketing Communications

2-4 One of the following: COMM-231 Newswriting and Reporting, COMM-296 Dynamic Presentational Speaking, COMM-321 Crisis Management, COMM-323 Computer Design Skills, COMM-504 Internship, ARTS-243 Digital Photography, or MGMT-280 Marketing

Courses selected require a grade of C- or higher and may not count toward more than one minor.

Minor in Advertising. Students are expected to participate in department activities appropriate to their interests and successfully complete 22-24 semester hours: COMM-100 Grammar for Communicators (for non-communications majors), COMM-217 Principles of Advertising, COMM-317 Print and Web Advertising, COMM-418 Integrated Marketing Communications, COMM-323 Computer Design Skills, COMM-371 Broadcast Advertising, two semesters of COMM-501 Practica, and one of the following electives: COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media, ARTS-243 Digital Photography, ARTG-251 Computer Applications in Graphic Design, MKTG-382 Consumer Behavior or LBMM-216 Introduction to Luxury Brand Marketing and Management.

Minor in Public Relations. Students are expected to participate in PRSSA, Sterling Communications or various media activities appropriate to their interests and complete 22-24 semester hours: COMM-100 Grammar for Communicators, COMM-131 Introduction to Journalism, COMM-211 Public Relations, COMM-314 Public Relations Writing and Campaigns, COMM-411 Public Relations Management, and COMM-501 (two practica) and one of the following courses: COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media, COMM-192 Public Speaking, COMM-323 Computer Design Skills, COMM-201 Ethics and Leadership, and COMM-418 Integrated Marketing Communications.