Public Relations, BS

The BS Public Relations, offered by the School of Journalism and Mass Communications , prepares students for the broad and exciting field of integrated strategic communication. Students learn how to promote an organization’s brand through news outlets and social media influencers, how to create and implement marketing communication assets, and how to plan and execute public relations campaigns. The program includes courses in research, web analytics, strategic writing, content creation, event planning, social media, digital marketing, among other specialized courses in employee communications and sports public relations. Graduates work in agencies and corporations throughout the Silicon Valley, the United States, and worldwide in a wide variety of specializations from high tech to healthcare to sports and entertainment.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	50
Major Preparation	16
Major Requirements	40-42
University Electives	12-14
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (33 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 6 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Upper Division General Education (9 units)

Of the 9 units required by the university, 0 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)

Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies (AMS 1A /AMS 1B ; 12 units) and Humanities Honors (HUM 1A /HUM 1B /HUM 2A /HUM 2B ; 24 units) sequences satisfy the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (C2+US1)
HIST 15 - Essentials of U.S. History 3 unit(s) (D+US1)

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics 3 unit(s) (C2+US23)

Physical Education (2 units)

All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass both the SJSU Writing Skills Test (WST) and a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course. The Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is satisfied by a course in the major. A grade of C or better (C- not accepted) is required to meet graduation requirements.

Major Preparation (16 units)

BUS2 130 - Introduction to Marketing 3 unit(s)
COMM 144F - Organizational Communication 4 unit(s)
MCOM 63 - New Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 72 - Mass Communication and Society 3 unit(s) (D)
MCOM 100W - Writing Workshop: Mass Communications 3 unit(s) (WID)

Major Requirements (40-42 units)

MCOM 199A / MCOM 199B substitutes for MCOM 111 and PR 199 by invitation.

MCOM 101 - Media Law and Ethics 3 unit(s)
MCOM 104 - Introduction to Mass Communications Research 3 unit(s)
MCOM 111 - Internship 3 unit(s)
JOUR 61 - Writing for Print, Electronic and Online Media 3 unit(s)
PR 99 - Introduction to Public Relations 3 unit(s)
PR 190 - Media and Influencer Relations 3 unit(s)
PR 191 - Strategic Content Creation 3 unit(s)
PR 192 - Case Studies in Strategic Communication 3 unit(s)
PR 199 - Campaign Planning and Management 3 unit(s)

Mass Communications Elective (3 units)

MCOM 70 - Visual Communication for Modern Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 105 - Lifestyles, Diversity and the Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 106 - Global Mass Communication 3 unit(s)

Approved JMC Electives (10-12 units)

Approved electives in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC), including courses in journalism, advertising, public relations or mass communications.

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