Public Relations majors study the strategic management of communication and the relationships between organizations and their key publics. Students develop skills in written, digital, verbal and visual communications, as well as research, measurement and strategic thinking. The public relations program offers numerous hands-on learning opportunities. The upper division PR skills courses require students 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 majors also are required to complete 150 hours of an internship.
Public relations students have the opportunity to apply for positions at two student-staffed agencies, Flash Communications and IdeaBase. Flash Communications is a student PR agency located in Kent State's University Communications and Marketing (UCM) department and managed by a full-time PR faculty member. Typically, seven public relations majors, including a student Assistant Coordinator, work at Flash each semester, covering and staffing events and writing for university print, online and social media outlets. IdeaBase is an integrated marketing and communications firm located in downtown Kent. Students have the opportunity to gain public relations experience through a range of campus jobs.
Students also have the opportunity to be involved with the award-winning Kent State Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). In October 2014, the chapter received the Outstanding Chapter Award at PRSSA's national conference. KSU's chapter is one of only 12 "star" chapters in PRSSA and has received seven national awards in ten years.
There are many short- and long-term study abroad/away opportunities. For more information contact the Office of Global Education or CCI's Coordinator of International Study Programs.
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