Return to Communication | Courses Index
[1] Courses in Public Relations (PRLS)
NOTE: Successful completion of any indicated prerequisites or consent of instructor is required before enrollment in the course will be permitted.
2305 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS Required foundation course for public relations majors and minors that provides an introduction to concepts, theories, and skills needed by public relations professionals. Covers the historical and social contexts, as well as current policy, legal, and ethical issues in the field.
3V21 PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERNSHIP (Variable credit: 1-4 credit hours.) Elective course for public relations majors that ranges from one to four credit hours. Requires working a minimum of 40 to 160 hours, depending on the number of credit hours, under the supervision of an external public relations professional and faculty coordinator. Emphasizes gaining practical experience and developing a portfolio of work produced at the internship site. Prerequisites: Junior standing; GPA requirements; PRLS 2305, 3305, 3310, and JOUR 2300; and either JOUR 3305 or WRTG 3305; and consent of Internship Committee and department chair.
3101 PUBLIC RELATIONS APPLICATIONS: PUNCTUATION AND AP STYLE Required foundations course for public relations majors that provides an overview of basic grammar, punctuation, spelling and Associated Press (AP) style skills needed by public relations professionals.
3103 PUBLIC RELATIONS APPLICATIONS: PROFESSIONAL SKILLS Required foundations course for public relations majors that provides an opportunity for students to develop their professionalism. Students will create a résumé and cover letter as well as hone their employment interviewing skills and business etiquette. Prerequisite: PRLS 2305.
3105 PUBLIC RELATIONS APPLICATIONS: PHOTOGRAPHY Required foundations course for public relations majors that provides an overview of basic photography skills needed by public relations professionals.
3107 PUBLIC RELATIONS APPLICATIONS: PORTFOLIO Required foundations course for public relations majors. Students collect, arrange, and refine a professional portfolio of public relations work suitable for applications to internships, graduate programs, and jobs in the field. Prerequisites: PRLS 3305 and 3310.
3305 PUBLIC RELATIONS TECHNIQUES Required course for public relations majors and minors that emphasizes applying tactics and tools used in traditional and online media relations. Focuses on news conferences, media lists, media pitches, blogs, infographics, and basic social media. Prerequisites: PRLS 2305.
3310 WRITING FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS Required course for public relations majors that emphasizes clear, concise strategic writing. Focuses on gathering information to write public relations materials that include fact sheets, news releases, feature articles, brochures, and email newsletters using Associated Press style. Prerequisites: JOUR 2300 and PRLS 2305. [UD UCA Core: C]
3315 APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS Required foundation course for public relations majors that provides an overview of both quantitative and qualitative primary research methods. Emphasis will be placed on developing primary research skills including determining research objectives, designing research plans, collecting and analyzing data, and identifying recommendations for planning based on research findings. Prerequisite: PRLS 2305.
4V80 DIRECTED STUDY IN PUBLIC RELATIONS (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Elective course for public relations majors and minors. Provides opportunities for advanced study of specific topics in public relations in a one-on-one or small group context. Students who have completed basic and intermediate courses may apply to work with a specific faculty member to study topics that are not regularly offered in the curriculum. Prerequisites: PRLS 2305 and 3305, or consent of department chair.
4305 PUBLIC RELATIONS CASES AND CAMPAIGNSRequired service-learning capstone course for public relations majors. Students work in teams in a competitive-agency model to develop comprehensive campaign proposals for a nonprofit client. Students also analyze case studies applying the four stages of the public relations process: research, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Prerequisites: PRLS 2305, 3305, and 3310. [UD UCA Core: Z]
4308 SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT Required course for public relations majors and minors. Explores the intersection between the practices of public relations and management within the organizational context. Topics include strategic versus tactical public relations, measurement and evaluation, corporate social responsibility, issues management, and digital media. Focuses on the role of public relations counsel to senior management and the relationship of public relations to related organizational functions. Prerequisite: PRLS 2305. [UD UCA Core: I]
4310 NONPROFIT PUBLIC RELATIONS Elective course for public relations majors and minors. Presents a comprehensive overview of founding and managing nonprofit organizations as a basis for establishing an internal identity and external image. Students develop a public relations plan to promote a specific nonprofit and enhance its reputation based on its overall strategic direction. Prerequisite: PRLS 2305.
4312 MULTICULTURAL PUBLIC RELATIONS Required course for public relations majors and minors. Introduces students to a wide range of multicultural communication campaigns. Students learn how to use research, planning, implementation, and evaluation strategies to effectively reach diverse audiences. Additionally, students are encouraged to recognize multicultural public relations as an ongoing negotiation of culture, meaning, and identity among people of various backgrounds. Prerequisite: PRLS 2305. [UD UCA Core: D]
4314 PUBLIC AFFAIRS Elective course exploring the relationship between public relations, press, and politics. Examines public relations activities of politicians and government bodies, as well as public relations strategies of lobbyists, activists, and others attempting to influence public affairs through current events, classic case studies, and theory. Prerequisite: PRLS 2305.
4316 SPECIAL TOPICS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS Elective course for public relations majors and minors. Provides opportunities to study specific topics in public relations. Students who have completed basic and intermediate courses may study specific topics that are not regularly offered in the curriculum. May be repeated for credit with a change of topic. Prerequisite: PRLS 2305 or consent of instructor.