About this program
Public Relations - B.S.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations can take students from corporate boardrooms and creative agencies to sports arenas, the halls of Congress, global nonprofits, hospitals, fashion runways, and beyond. Students graduate with a grounding in the practice of responsible advocacy and a firm grasp of the inclusive communication practices.
Kent State boasts the only public relations program in Ohio that is both certified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).
This degree is rooted in professionalism, with a focus on developing writing, critical thinking, digital and visual communication skills, as well as analytics and strategic multimedia storytelling. Students learn to deliver messages through social media, websites, podcasts, videos, press releases and other media tools, events, public policy and more.
Classes routinely involve researching, creating and presenting a public relations plan for real clients. Students will build a strong portfolio through hands-on learning opportunities, including two student agencies, a required professional internship, and public relations campus jobs. Kent State’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and its members consistently win awards at national conferences, placing the chapter in the top tier nationwide.
Admission requirements
Freshman Students on the Kent Campus:
The freshman admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon the following: cumulative grade point average, ACT and/or SAT scores, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. The Admissions Office at the Kent Campus may defer the admission of students who do not meet admissions criteria but who demonstrate areas of promise for successful college study. Deferred applicants may begin their college coursework at one of seven regional campuses of Kent State University.
Freshman Students on the Regional Campuses:
Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
English Language Proficiency Requirements for International Students:
All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score; or by completing the ESL level 112 Intensive Program.
Does this course require proof of English proficiency?
The TOEFL iBT® test is accepted by 11,500 universities and higher education institutions in over 160 countries. Book your test today!
Learn moreProgram content
Semester One
- Media, Power and Culture (DIVD) (KSS)
- Principles of Public Relations
- Destination Kent State: First Year Experience
Kent Core Requirement
Kent Core Requirement
Kent Core Requirement
Semester Two
- Communication Grammar Review
- My Story on the Web
- Writing Across Platforms
Kent Core Requirement
Kent Core Requirement
Kent Core Requirement
Semester Three
- Research and Measurement in Advertising and Public Relations
- Public Relations Case Studies
Kent Core Requirement
Kent Core Requirement
General Electives
Semester Four
- Reporting or Broadcast Reporting
- Public Relations Tactics or Public Relations Publications
College of Communication and Information Core Electives
Kent Core Requirement
Kent Core Requirement
Semester Five
- Digital Analytics in Advertising and Public Relations
- Public Relations Tactics or Public Relations Publications
Journalism and Mass Communication Elective
Kent Core Requirement
General Electives
Semester Six
- Media Relations and Publicity (WIC)
- Digital Public Relations
College of Communication and Information Core Electives
General Electives
Semester Seven
- Law of Advertising and Public Relations or Capstone: Public Relations Campaigns
Journalism and Mass Communication Elective
College of Communication and Information Core Electives
General Electives
Semester Eight
- Ethical Issues in Integrated Communication
- Law of Advertising and Public Relations or Capstone: Public Relations Campaigns
General Electives
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the university's website for more information.
Tuition
Undergraduate
- Tuition fees for Ohio residents: $11,587 USD per year
- Tuition fees for residents of other states and international students: $20,463 USD per year
Qualification
Accreditation
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC); Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) - Certification in Education for Public Relations
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical thinking, grounded in a legal and ethical framework.
- Gather information, analyze it and make informed judgments using methods and tools appropriate to their professions.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply theory and research appropriate to their professions, including quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply basic ethical principles to their professional work.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply laws and regulations applicable to their professional work.
- Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
- Demonstrate understanding of how media and their professions evolved historically, their role in societal development and their global interaction today with institutions and individuals.
- Demonstrate appreciation for diverse cultures and individual differences, and reflect that appreciation in their work.
Message the school
About this institute
Kent State University
At Kent State University, people hail from every corner of the globe to do work that paves the way for a brighter tomorrow. Here, you’ll find world-class faculty serving as researchers and mentors, alumni leaders in business, healthcare, education, and...
Contact info
Kent State University
Want to know more about Public Relations - B.S.? Fill out the following form and we'll pass your details on to a representative from the school, who will respond to your enquiry.
Be the first to write a review!
