Public Relations Major (39 to 43 hours)

Admission to the public relations major is competitive, based on overall grade point average, grades in communication classes and a sample press release. To be considered you must have completed COM 1000, COM 2000, and COM 2800 with a grade of “C” or better, have an overall GPA of at least 2.50 and have completed at least 30 hours at Western (for transfer students, at least 15 hours at Western). Application deadlines are September 15, January 15 and May 15 annually.

Pre-Communication Requirements (9 hours)

COM 1000 - Communication and Community Engagement Credits: 3 hours
COM 2000 - Human Communication Theory Credits: 3 hours
COM 2800 - Introduction to Organizational Communication Credits: 3 hours

Public Relations core requirements (12 hours)

COM 2010 - Communication Inquiry Credits: 3 hours
COM 2500 - Introduction to Public Relations Credits: 3 hours
COM 4500 - Public Relations Program Development Credits: 3 hours
(This course satisfies General Education Proficiency 2: Baccalaureate-Level Writing requirement.)
JRN 1000 - Foundations of Journalism Credits: 3 hours

Public Relations Electives (minimum of 12 hours)

Select at least four of the following courses:

COM 1040 - Public Speaking Credits: 3 hours
COM 2560 - Digital Media: Planning and Operations Credits: 3 hours
COM 3050 - Special Topics in Communication Credits: 3 hours
COM 3320 - Group Problem Solving Credits: 3 hours
COM 3350 - Leadership Communication Credits: 3 hours
(This course satisfies General Education Proficiency 2: Baccalaureate-Level Writing requirement.)
COM 3480 - Public Relations Writing Credits: 3 hours
COM 3540 - Web Design and Digital Communication Credits: 3 hours
COM 3550 - Digital Video Production: Nonfiction Credits: 3 hours
COM 3590 - Digital News Production Credits: 3 hours
COM 4300 - Persuasion and Social Influence Credits: 3 hours
COM 4400 - Public Relations Case Studies Credits: 3 hours
COM 4430 - Media and Social Change Credits: 3 hours
COM 4440 - Mass Communication, News, and Public Affairs Credits: 3 hours
COM 4770 - Communication Ethics Credits: 3 hours
COM 4800 - Applied Topics in Organizational Communication Credits: 3 hours
(Students may take up to six (6) hours of COM 4800 provided topics are different.)
COM 4990 - Internship Credits: 1 to 6 hours
Credits: 3 hours
COM 5550 - Multimedia Production Credits: 3 hours
GPS 1500 - Introduction to Graphic and Printing Science Credits: 4 hours
GPS 2510 - Multimedia Publication and Design Credits: 3 hours
JRN 2200 - Multimedia Journalism Credits: 3 hours
JRN 3100 - News Reporting Using New Media Credits: 3 hours
JRN 3200 - News Writing and Reporting Credits: 3 hours

Communication Electives (6 hours minimum)

A minimum of six (6) hours of electives in Communication, three (3) of which will be selected from upper-level (3000 or higher) courses in the School of Communication, and three (3) from any level.

Additional Program Information

All course prerequisites must be met to enroll in upper-level courses. A course and its prerequisite cannot be taken at the same time.
Grade requirement: A minimum grade of “C” is required in all courses to be applied toward the major. The School prohibits students from taking a class more than twice for credit.
Baccalaureate-level writing requirement must be met by taking COM 3350 or COM 4500.
Students may take up to six (6) hours of COM 3050/COM 4800 provided the topics are different.
Up to six (6) hours of COM 3890/4990 may be used as electives in major.
Courses outside the school may be used with written prior approval of the School of Communication faculty advisor.