Public Relations

Develop effective communications strategy

Public relations professionals are integral to the success of the companies and non-profits they serve.

From creating brand recognition and promoting your clients to crafting responses to real-life emergencies, an effective public relations strategist does a bit of everything for agencies, large corporations or high-level non-profits.

From the start, we ask you to think like a leader. Investigate public relations ethics and the role of mass media in today's society. Write effective copy for publicity releases, websites and brochures.

You'll produce a body of work to show employers you can think through any communications problem. Adding one of our interdisciplinary minors, like leadership or diversity studies, help you show them you have a better understanding of important topics in today’s world.

Case studies to careers

Snag an internship at a public relations firm, or work right on campus in our University Communications office.

Your capstone class is the last push of experience before you go out into the real world. You'll look at real-world case studies and create strategic plans to deal with them. Then take those skills to corporations like Kimberly-Clark, Rockstar or QVC.

Communications graduates have been employed at:

ABC 27 WHTM
Citigroup
Comcast
Fox 29 WTXF-TV
Hollywood Media Corporation
MediaPower
National Geographic Society
QVC
Rockstar San Diego
Sapient Nitro
Six Flags America
Swarovski
Tiffany & Co.

Recent graduates have continued their studies at:

University of Pennsylvania
Boston University
Colorado State University
University of Denver
University of West Florida
Pennsylvania State University
Duke University
Villanova University

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 50 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 station; 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.