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

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.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3A, 3B, 4, UD 3, or UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 3 units (see Writing in the Disciplines)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures

Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division General Education: 25 (3 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

American Institutions/ US123 Requirements: 6 (Note: may be satisfied by GE coursework)

Upper Division General Education: 9

Physical Education: 2

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR): 0 (3 units may be satisfied by MCOM 100W)

Lower Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 3

Upper Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 2-4

Major Preparation: 15

Major Requirements: 42

University Electives: 14-16

Total: 120

2. Lower Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (3 units):

3. Upper Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (2-4 units):

Complete a course offered by the College of Humanities & the Arts in a discipline other than your major.

4. Major Preparation (15 units)

ADV 91 - Introduction to Advertising 3 unit(s)
MCOM 63 - New Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 72 - Mass Communication and Society 3 unit(s) (GE Area 4 / Formerly Area D)
MCOM 100W - Writing Workshop: Mass Communications 3 unit(s) (WID)
PR 99 - Introduction to Public Relations 3 unit(s)

5. Major Requirements (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 - Mass Communications Internship 3 unit(s)
JOUR 61 - Writing for Print, Electronic and Online Media 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 197 - Introduction to Corporate Internal 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 (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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