Overview
Public relations graduates learn how to lead productive and compassionate lives with the creativity and integrity demanded by the industry.
Public Relations is about learning to manage relationships between organizations and the publics that can affect an organization’s success. Students will learn to research, plan, implement and evaluate communication campaigns. Activities focus on how to build relationships between an organization and its publics, monitor the organization's environment and counsel management on policies and programs.
Why Manchester?
The Public Relations program is grounded in teaching you the skills to be productive and compassionate professionals in organizations. Through your coursework you will gain not only a foundation in communication theory but also how to use your public relations skills in practice. We facilitate this through project-based learning courses such as Advanced Public Relations and Communication, Training and Development. With a minor in Public Relations you will gain training in media writing, campaign planning and evaluation, and corporate communication consulting. Public Relations is an ideal minor to complement a major in Communication Studies, Digital Media, Marketing or Political Science, as well as many others.
Courses in Public Relations
260 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS
An introduction to the ethical management of relationships between organizations and the publics that can affect their success. Students learn the public relations process of research, planning, communication and evaluation.
314 LANGUAGE AND THOUGHT
Examination of some of the connections between the structure of language and the structure of thinking. Types of misevaluation are analyzed in terms of the language habits from which they spring. Effort is made to help students be more aware of the interpersonal and organizational problems created by unexamined attitudes toward language. C-3RC.
335 ADVANCED PUBLIC RELATIONS
Students refine skills learned in the introductory course by designing their own PR campaigns and by working in teams on crisis response simulations. Particular emphasis is placed on developing appropriate and individual approaches to community relations. Prerequisite: COMM 260.
338 COMMUNICATION, TRAINING, AND DEVELOPMENT
An in-depth exploration of the art and methods of training and development as applied to communication problems in organizational settings. Provides students the opportunity to develop and/or refine training and facilitation skills and to link communication theory and research to organizational practice. Students come away equipped to apply insights in organizational settings.
341 COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS
An examination of approaches to the study of communication channels in complex organizations. Units cover organizational theories, communication climate, message flow, communication audit and communication with the public.