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Public Relations - B.S. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Type Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.

I. DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE (1 credit)
Type Course Title Credits
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1
II. MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (45 credits) Courses count in major GPA 1
Type Course Title Credits
KSS/DD JMC 20001 Media, Power and Culture 3
    20006 Multimedia Techniques 3
    20008 Audience Analysis and Research 3
    26001 Multimedia Newswriting 3
    26005 Multimedia Storytelling 3
    26007
26008
Print Beat Reporting (4)
or Broadcast Beat Reporting (4)
4
    28001 Principles of Public Relations 3
    38002 Public Relations Case Studies 3
    40011 Ethical Issues in Integrated Communication 1
    40016 Law of Advertising and Public Relations 3
ELR   40092 Internship (1-6) 1
WIC   48001 Media Relations and Publicity 2 3
    48002 Public Relations Tactics 3
    48003 Public Relations Online Tactics 3
    48006 Public Relations Publications 3
    48091 Seminar: Public Relations Campaigns 3
III. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (78 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  ACCT 23020 Introduction to Financial Accounting 3
KAD COMM 15000 Introduction to Human Communication 3
    21000 Communication Grammar Review 3 1
KSS ECON 22060 Principles of Microeconomics 3
KAD   22061 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
KHU/DD HIST 12070 History of the United States: The Formative Period 3
KHU/DD   12071 History of the United States: The Modern Period 3
  LIS 10010

30010
Information Fluency
or
Information Fluency in the Workspace and Beyond
3
  MIS 24163 Principles of Management 4 3
  MKTG 25010 Principles of Marketing 3
    45045 Advertising and Promotion Management 3
    3/4xxxx Marketing upper-division course 3
KSS POL 10100 American Politics 3
  VCD 14001 Visual Design Literacy 3
  Choose from the following: 3
  ENG 30062 Principles of Technical Writing (3)  
    30063 Business and Professional Writing (3)  
    30064 Argumentative Prose (3)  
    30065 Expository Prose Writing (3)  
    30066 Writing in the Public Sphere (3)  
    3/4xxxx English upper-division course (3)  
  Kent Core Composition 6-8
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5
  Kent Core Fine Arts 3
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include on laboratory) 6-7
  General Electives (13 hours taken outside of the discipline, 7 hours upper division) 5 17
MINIMUM TOTAL  124

1. No grade lower than a C- (1.700) in a JMC course will be counted toward graduation or as a prerequisite for a subsequent class.
2. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.
3. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned.
4. BMRT 11009 is equivalent to MIS 24163.
5. Number of credits required depends on meeting minimum 124 credit hours and minimum 39 upper-division credit hours Any JMC course taken is calculated in the major GPA.
Students must complete minimum 72 credit hours outside the journalism and mass communication discipline per the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The following courses are considered within the discipline and cannot be used toward the 72-hour requirement.

COMM 20000 Foundations of Communication VCD 34006 Motion Design
COMM 21008 Social Media Strategies VCD 37000 Visual Design for Media: Advanced
COMM 25863 Business and Professional Communication VCD 38001 Photographics
COMM 25902 Communication Theory VCD 38003 Photo Technology
COMM 26001 Public Communication in Society VCD 38004 Advanced Photography
COMM 26501 Introduction to Health Communication VCD 38009 Internship Seminar: Photo Illustration
COMM 30000 Communication Research Methods VCD 40025 Professional Portfolio
COMM 35860 Interviewing VCD 40052 Graphic Design - Travel and Field Experience
COMM 41000 Sports Communication VCD 40053 Graphic Design Studio - Glyphix
COMM 42000 Media, War and Propaganda VCD 40092 Internship I - Graphic Design/Illustration
COMM 43000 Communication Technology and Human Interaction VCD 40095 Special Topics: Graphic Design/Illustration
COMM 45006 Media Use and Effects VCD 40096 Individual Investigation in Graphic Design and Illustration
COMM 45007 Freedom of Speech VCD 40192 Internship II - Graphic Design/Illustration
COMM 45092 Internship in Communication Studies VCD 40193 Variable Title Workshop in VCD
COMM 45093 Variable Title Workshop in Communication VCD 40195 Selected Topics: Graphic Design/Illustration
COMM 45095 Special Topics in Communication Studies VCD 42000 Advanced Illustration: Media
COMM 45196 Independent Study: Communication Studies VCD 42002 Editorial Illustration
COMM 45902 Communication and Influence VCD 42003 Advertising Illustration
COMM 46091 Senior Seminar VCD 43000 Studio Production
COMM 46092 Practicum in Applied Communication VCD 43001 Interactive Design: Communities and Culture
COMM 46503 Health Communication and Media VCD 43002 Typographic/Photographic Graphic Design
JMC xxxxx (any course with the subject JMC) VCD 43003 Corporate Identity/Graphic Design
VCD 13000 Introduction to Visual Communication Design VCD 43004 Issues for Graphic Design Businesses
VCD 13001 Introduction to Visual Communication Design Studio VCD 43005 Packaging, Promotion and Retail Environments
VCD 14001 Visual Design Literacy VCD 43006 Environmental Graphic Design
VCD 14002 Communicating with Color VCD 43007 Information Graphics
VCD 20000 Basic Computer-Graphic Design and Illustration VCD 43008 Branded Identity
VCD 20010 Introduction to Design Research VCD 43051 Type High Press
VCD 23000 Intermediate Studio Skills: Graphic Design/Illustration VCD 45000 Graphic Design Perspectives
VCD 28000 Photography VCD 46000 Web Design and Programming I
VCD 28002 Photography II VCD 46001 Web Design and Programming II
VCD 28004 Photographic Perspectives VCD 46003 Advanced Typography
VCD 32000 Illustration I VCD 46053 Web Design and Programming Studio
VCD 32001 Illustration II VCD 48005 Color Photography
VCD 33000 Graphic Design I VCD 48007 Photo Illustration Techniques
VCD 33001 Graphic Design II VCD 48092 Practicum in Photography
VCD 34004 Visual Ethics VCD 49198 Senior Research Paper: Graphic Design/Illustration
VCD 34005 Introduction to 3D Graphic Design VCD 49199 Senior Capstone

Special Major Note:

Students who pass 15 credits of non-remedial academic coursework each fall and spring semester and the 1-credit First Year Experience course will accumulate 121 credits in four years. This major requires 124 credits for graduation. Students can stay on track for graduation by:

  • Declaring their major as freshmen and completing all courses in sequence (bear in mind that switching majors may cause a delay in graduation);
  • Prioritizing required courses above electives;
  • Meeting regularly with their academic advisors to stay on track;
  • Passing each required course the first time attempted and maintaining the minimal GPA for the major;
  • Successfully completing more than 15 credit hours of relevant coursework (field-based work, internship) during academic semesters; and/or
  • Completing relevant coursework (field-based work, internship) during summer sessions.