Public Relations
The Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations in the School of Communication and Media at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½app Illinois
University provides students with practical, hands-on experience alongside the knowledge, theory and
skills to manage relationships across consumer, corporate, economic, government and media
organizations. Students engage in real-world projects where they learn to research, plan, execute, and
evaluate strategic communication campaigns between organizations and their various audiences as well
as learning how to monitor the organization's environment, assess organizational risks and
opportunities, and provide counsel to management on developing policies and programs.
Why study Public Relations?
In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked public relations as the best creative and media job option,
and the U.S. Department of Labor has projected an 8 percent growth rate in the PR industry between
2021 and 2031, making it one of the fastest growing occupations nationwide.
PR professionals create mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its publics. It’s an
exciting and dynamic field that requires a wide range of communication and production skills in order
to:Â
- Develop effective relationships with journalists and influencers in order to facilitate favorable
coverage.
- Guide management through crisis situations.
- Monitor and protect the brand’s reputation and relationships with important publics.
- Create digital and hard-copy content for multiple audiences.
- Manage social media platforms.
- Design, manage and promote advertising campaigns and special events.
As a Public Relations BA graduate, you will be prepared to apply your expertise in entry-level positions in
agency, corporate, government and nonprofit spaces. Using data analytics, promotions, relationship
building and creative strategic messaging, you will be able to communicate effectively to ethically
influence attitudes and behaviors, fostering positive change among key target audiences.
Possible career paths include:
- Account Executive
- Corporate Communications Specialist
- Director of Communications
- Director of External Communications
- Director of Public Affairs
- Event Coordinator/Manager
- Internal Communications Specialist
- Media Director
- Media Relations Specialist
- Public Affairs Manager
- Public Relations Director
- Public Relations Specialist
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