Kent State University Catalog 2010 - 2011

Public Relations - B.S.

COLLEGE:	College of Communication and Information
DEPARTMENT:	School of Journalism and Mass Communication 204 Franklin Hall Tel: 330-672-2572 \| Fax: 330-672-4064 E-mail: jmc@kent.edu Web: http://www.jmc.kent.edu

Resources:

DESCRIPTION:	Public Relations major study the strategic management of communication and the relationships between organizations and their key publics. Students develop skills in written, online, verbal and visual communications, as well as research and strategic thinking. The public relations program offers numerous hand-on learning opportunities. The upper division PR skills courses require student s to develop plans, strategies and tactics that would be produced in the public relations field. Often, projects relate to actual client communication challenges. In PR Campaigns, students complete research and create a public relations plan for a real client. Public relations major are also required to complete 300 hours of an internship. Students also have the opportunity to apply for positions at two student-run agencies and get involved in the Kent State Chapter of the Public Relations society of America.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:	Graduates typically secure positions in public relations firms or public relations departments at corporations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. From 2008-2018, public relations is expected to “grow 24 percent, much faster than the average of all occupations,” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A highly competitive and global business environment and shifts in economic conditions have created a greater demand for communications professionals. The growth of social media has created new opportunities for public relations professional. Public relations professional are involved in different areas of practice including research counseling, crisis communications, internal communications, event planning, media relations, public affairs and social media.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:	Students first entering the university, whether from high school or transferring from another institution, are admitted directly into one of the nine JMC majors/concentrations. A Kent State GPA of 2.75 must be maintained to continue taking JMC courses. Current Kent State students wishing to pursue a major in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher to be admitted directly into one of the nine majors/concentrations. Current Kent States students with a GPA lower than 2.75 (but 2.0 or higher) may be admitted as pre-journalism and mass communication majors.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:	Minimum 2.75 GPA cumulative and in major. Minimum 80 credit hours taken outside the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Only general elective courses may be taken as pass/fail, of which maximum 12 credit hours may be taken as pass/fail. Students must meet the requirements stated in this catalog to declare a journalism and mass communication major. American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation standards prohibit non-business majors from taking more than 25 percent of their degree requirements in business courses. Therefore, no more than 30 semester credit hours may be counted toward stated degree requirements.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:	No
STUDY ABROAD/AWAY OPPORTUNITIES:	There are many study abroad/away opportunities, for more information contact the Office of International Affairs.
PROGRAM FEE:	$50/semester
ACCREDITATION:	Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS:	National Association of Black Journalists, Public Relations Student Society of America, National Press Photographers Association, American Advertising Federation Student Chapter, Kappa Tau Alpha. Student Media: Artemis, The Daily Kent Stater, The Burr and Cyburr, UHURU, Luna Negra, Fusion, TV2, Black Squirrel Radio, Kentwired.com
GRADUATE PROGRAMS:	M.A. in Media Management, Public Relations, Reporting and Editing