The Public Relations option exposes you to foundational courses in Public Speaking, Mass Media, and Research Methods. You’ll then take courses in Public Relations Theory, Media Writing, and Public Relations Writing.
Offered both online and in-person, this degree prepares you to go into fields such as web publishing, journalism, and public relations.
Communication in Public Relations Option Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students seeking a degree in Communication in Public Relations Option must complete the Foundation and Core Area requirements for the BA in Communications Studies, plus the Public Relations Option requirements.
Notes:
Grade Requirements: a minimum cumulative GPA ≥2.0 by graduation.
| A. Required Communication Foundation Credits | ||
| CMST 201 | PUBLIC SPEAKING | 5 |
| CMST 208 | MASS MEDIA AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY | 5 |
| CMST 309 | COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION | 5 |
| CMST 330 | INTEGRATED METHODS FOR COMMUNICATION RESEARCH | 5 |
| or CSBS 320 | STATISTICS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | |
| B. Required Upper Division Core Credits—choose three 400-level classes | 15 | |
Note: any course used in Section B cannot count in Section D. | ||
| MESSAGE DESIGN | ||
| LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL INTERACTION | ||
| NEGOTIATION SKILLS AND STRATEGIES | ||
| COMMUNICATION AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS | ||
| GENDER AND MEDIA | ||
| TOPICS IN SEMIOTICS | ||
| SEX, SEXUALITY AND COMMUNICATION | ||
| HEALTH COMMUNICATION | ||
| COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| COMMUNICATION LAW AND ETHICS | ||
| MEDIA SYSTEMS AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY | ||
| LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY | ||
| SPORTS AND LEADERSHIP | ||
| TOPICS IN LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION | ||
| RHETORICAL THEORY AND CRITICISM | ||
| PERSUASION | ||
| CULTURAL STUDIES | ||
| TOPICS IN IMAGE, MESSAGES AND MEANING | ||
| ENTERTAINMENT PUBLIC RELATIONS | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS | ||
| MEDIA RELATIONS | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS IN BUSINESS AND FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP | ||
| ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY | ||
| GENDER, COMMUNICATION AND POLITICS | ||
| EXPERIMENTAL COURSE | ||
| WORKSHOP, SHORT COURSE, CONFERENCE, SEMINAR | ||
| SEMINAR | ||
| C. Public Relations Option Requirements | ||
| CMST 461 | INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS THEORY | 5 |
| CMST 462 | ADVANCED PUBLIC RELATIONS THEORY | 5 |
| JRNM 209 | MEDIA WRITING | 5 |
| or JRNM 332 | NEWS WRITING | |
| or CMST 319 | INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | |
| JRNM 453 | PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | 5 |
| or CMST 465 | MEDIA RELATIONS | |
| D. Public Relations Specialty–choose 4-6 credits of the following | 4-6 | |
Note: any course used in Section D cannot count in Section B or C. | ||
| TOPICS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS | ||
| EVENT PLANNING AND LOGISTICS | ||
| CONFERENCE MANAGEMENT | ||
| FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA | ||
| SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND PLANNING | ||
| TOPICS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS | ||
| ENTERTAINMENT PUBLIC RELATIONS | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS | ||
| MEDIA RELATIONS | ||
| PUBLIC RELATIONS IN BUSINESS AND FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP | ||
| SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING | ||
| E. Design/Technology–choose one of the following | 4-5 | |
* These classes are face-to-face only. | ||
| DRAWING FOR COMMUNICATION (*) | ||
| DIGITAL FOUNDATIONS | ||
| USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 1 | ||
| DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (requires advisor consultation*) | ||
| PUBLICATION DESIGN (*) | ||
| WEB DESIGN 1 | ||
| DIGITAL VIDEO (requires advisor consultation*) | ||
| F. The STAR Component (STudy/Act/Reflect)–please see STAR Component Coordinator, Dr. Shields for any additional information. | ||
Note: A minimum of 10 credits of CMST Coursework at EWU must be taken before beginning the STAR component. Written and oral reports on the STAR experience must be completed successfully. | ||
This requirement can be satisfied by: • A CMST or required JRNM class that has a built-in engagement component; • An internship; • Employment or volunteer activities. | ||
| Senior Capstone Requirement | ||
| CMST 490 | SENIOR CAPSTONE | 5 |
| Total Credits | 68-71 | |
University Competencies and Proficiencies
English
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance Exams
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB
General Education Requirements (GER)
Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)
Humanities and Arts
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
University Graduation Requirements (UGR)
Diversity Course List
Foreign Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List
All admitted students must officially Declare a Major by the time they reach 90 credits (junior standing).
Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).
Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.
Degree Works calculates based on these two catalog years.
Students who successfully earn a BA in Communications in Public Relations at EWU should be able to do the following: