PUBLIC RELATIONS
http://www.greenlee.iastate.edu/
The Public Relations Major provides students with the concepts, skills and expertise needed to help organizations build mutually beneficial relationships with a variety of publics. The knowledge and tools students develop through the PR curriculum ensure they can enter fields such as corporate communication, government affairs, and public relations. Coursework in this major focuses on writing, research, digital and emerging media, and professional abilities. Students are required to complete a capstone internship experience to practice and refine their skills.
The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication prepares students for communication fields. The school offers four majors:
- Advertising Bachelor of Arts (ADVRT)
- Journalism and Mass Communication Bachelor of Science (JLMC)
- Public Relations Bachelor of Science (PR)
- Sports Media and Communication Bachelor of Arts (SMC)
The school coordinates one interdisciplinary major:
- Digital Storytelling Bachelor of Arts (DSTR)
In addition, the Greenlee School offers a 4+1 program allowing students to complete their B.A. or B.S. and earn an M.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication in fewer semesters.
Founded in 1905, the unit was one of the first Journalism programs to be accredited in 1948 and continues to be one of the longest continuously accredited programs in the country. Accreditation is based on the principle that students need a broad-based, liberal arts education and solid core courses within the discipline. Public Relations students may seek an additional major or minor in Digital Storytelling, but may not pursue a second major or minor in Advertising, Journalism or Sports Media and Communication. All Public Relations students are required to take an additional major or a minor.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who major in Public Relations will:
- demonstrate proficiency of the ACEJMC Professional Values and Competencies;
- demonstrate effective writing skills and the production of media materials that persuade, inform and build strategic relationships;
- use critical thinking to create and implement strategic research, planning and evaluation of communication plans;
- lead communication efforts from a robust ethical foundation with an understanding of the impact of strategic communication in civil society.
The Public Relations Major
To receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations, a student must earn at least 120 credits. A minimum of 72 credits must come from courses other than ADVRT, JLMC, PR or SMC. At least 50 of these credits must come from the liberal arts and sciences. Overall, at least 45 credits must be from the 3000 level or above.
The degree requirements allow for a minimum of 34 credits and a maximum of 48 credits to be taken in ADVRT, JLMC, PR or SMC. These include:
| JLMC 1100 | Orientation to Journalism and Communication | 1 |
| PR 2200 | Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| JLMC 2010 | Reporting and Writing for the Mass Media (C+ or better) | 3 |
| PR 3010 | Research and Strategic Planning for Advertising and Public Relations | 3 |
| PR 3210 | Public Relations Writing (C+ or better) | 3 |
| 3000-level ADVRT, JLMC, PR or SMC Electives | 6 | |
| PR 4240 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| JLMC 4600 | Law of Mass Communication | 3 |
| JLMC 4620 | Media Ethics, Freedom, Responsibility | 3 |
| 4000-level ADVRT, JLMC, PR or SMC Elective | 3 | |
| PR 4990A | Professional Media Internship: Required | 3 |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
Public Relations majors are also required to take:
| STAT 1010 | Principles of Statistics (or another approved statistics course) | 4 |
As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Public Relations students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and university-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.
University Requirement: Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. Cultures and Communities, as well as a three-credit course in International Perspectives. The approved course lists are found at the following web addresses: (U.S. Cultures and Communities) https://www.registrar.iastate.edu/students/div-ip-guide/uscultures-courses and (International Perspectives) https://www.registrar.iastate.edu/students/div-ip-guide/IntlPerspectives-current. Students must also demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 2500.
College of LAS Requirement: Minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 3000 level and above. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement, LAS career proficiency requirement, and any unmet ISU admission requirements.
Greenlee majors and minors cannot take ADVRT, DSTR, JLMC, PR or SMC courses pass/not pass.
Minor or Additional Major: Students are required to fulfill a secondary area of expertise. This requirement can be met by declaring a minor or an additional major outside of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Public Relations students may seek an additional major or minor in Digital Storytelling, but may not pursue a second major or minor in Advertising, Journalism or Sports Media and Communication. All Public Relations students are required to take an additional major or a minor. Students may seek a Designated Area of Concentration (DAC) made up of 21 credits with at least 12 credits from the 3000 level or above. All courses for the DAC must be taken outside of ADVRT, JLMC, PR or SMC.
Juniors can apply to a concurrent degree program and earn a B.S. in Public Relations and an M.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication in fewer semesters. Contact the Director of Graduate Education for more information on the Greenlee School's 4+1 Program.
Public Relations, B.S.
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| JLMC 1100 | 1 | JLMC 2010 | 3 | ||
| PR 2200 | 3 | STAT 1010 | 4 | ||
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | U.S. Cultures and Communities | 3 | ||
| LIB 1600 | 1 | Arts & Humanities | 3 | ||
| Arts & Humanities | 3 | Natural Science | 3 | ||
| Natural Science | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 16 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| PR 3010 | 3 | PR 3210 | 3 | ||
| ENGL 2500 | 3 | Arts & Humanities | 3 | ||
| Arts & Humanities | 3 | Social Science | 3 | ||
| Natural Science | 2 | Social Science | 3 | ||
| World Language or Elective | 3-4 | World Language or Elective | 4 | ||
| LAS 2030 | 1 | ||||
| 15-16 | 16 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PR/JLMC/ADVRT/SMC 3000-level Choice | 3 | PR 4240 | 3 | PR 4990A | 3 |
| Minor/Additional Major Choice | 3 | PR 4000-level Choice | 3 | ||
| Minor/Additional Major Choice | 3 | International Perspectives | 3 | ||
| 3000-level Elective | 3 | Minor/Additional Major Choice | 3 | ||
| PR 3000-level choice | 3 | Minor/Additional Major 3000-level Choice | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| JLMC 4600 | 3 | JLMC 4620 | 3 | ||
| PR/ADVRT/JLMC/SMC 4000-level Choice | 3 | ADVRT/JLMC/PR/SMC Short Course Intensive | 1 | ||
| ADVRT/JLMC/PR/SMC Short Course Intensive | 1 | Social Science | 3 | ||
| Minor/Additional Major 3000+ Choice | 3 | Elective or Minor/Additional Major Choice | 3 | ||
| 3000-level Elective | 3 | Elective or Minor/Additional Major Choice | 3 | ||
| 13 | 13 | ||||
| Total Credits: 120-121 | |||||
Minor in Public Relations
Students cannot select more than one minor in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Minors in the Greenlee School are not available to Greenlee majors. Public Relations students may choose a minor in DSTR, but may not minor in ADVRT, JLMC or SMC.
For a Minor in Public Relations, students complete 15 credits, including at least 6 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above taken at Iowa State University. The minor must include at least 3 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college or university requirement.
| JLMC 1010 | Mass Media and Society | 3 |
| PR 2200 | Principles of Public Relations | 3 |
| 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Research and Strategic Planning for Advertising and Public Relations | ||
| Publicity Methods | ||
| Crisis Communication | ||
| Social Media Strategy | ||
| Special Topics in Communication | ||
PR 3230X | Strategic Communication in Agriculture and the Environment | |
| Fundamentals of Digital Video Production | ||
| Mass Communication Theory | ||
| Principles of Sports Media and Communication | ||
| Sports and the Media in a 24/7 Digital World | ||
| Media Management | ||
| Communication Technology and Social Change | ||
| World Communication Systems | ||
| Diversity and the Media | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
The Public Relations Undergraduate Minor is an LAS Minor. In addition to university policies governing minors, LAS minors require at least 6 credits in courses numbered 3000 and above, with a grade of C or higher.
Greenlee majors and minors cannot take ADVRT, DSTR, JLMC, PR or SMC courses pass/not pass.
Concurrent Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
The Greenlee School offers a 4+1 program allowing students to complete their B.A. or B.S. and earn an M.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication in fewer semesters.
The Greenlee School offers three concurrent degree programs:
B.A. Advertising/M.S. Journalism and Mass Communication
B.S. Journalism/M.S. Journalism and Mass Communication
B.S. Public Relations/M.S. Journalism and Mass Communication
Enrollment in the Greenlee School’s concurrent degree programs enables students to complete coursework for the undergraduate and graduate programs on a five-year accelerated timeline – rather than the typical six-year timeline for the two degrees. See Journalism and Mass Communication Concurrent Undergraduate and Graduate Programs for more information on combining the B.S. in Public Relations and the M.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication.
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Master of Science
The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication offers work for a Master of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Concurrent Programs
The Greenlee School's concurrent degree programs enable interested students the opportunity to complete coursework for the undergraduate and graduate programs on a five-year accelerated timeline – rather than the typical six-year timeline for the two degrees.
Graduate Minor
The Greenlee School graduate program offers minor work for students majoring in other departments.
See Journalism and Mass Communication Graduate Programs for more information on the M.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication.