Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies: Public Relations Option

About

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.

Curriculum & Requirements Academic Planning Form (PDF)

STAR Exercise Curriculum Map

Curriculum & Requirements

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.

Note:

  • CMST 200 cannot be taken for credit towards the Communication Studies Majors;
  • two years of a single high school foreign language or one year of a single college-level foreign language is required.

Grade Requirements: a minimum cumulative GPA ≥2.0 by graduation.

A. Required Communication Foundation Credits
CMST 201PUBLIC SPEAKING5
CMST 208MASS MEDIA AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY5
CMST 309COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION5
CMST 330INTEGRATED METHODS FOR COMMUNICATION RESEARCH5
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.
Note: the following classes cannot count in this section: CMST 480, CMST 481 or CMST 495, CMST 499.
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 461INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS THEORY5
CMST 462ADVANCED PUBLIC RELATIONS THEORY5
JRNM 209MEDIA WRITING5
or JRNM 332 NEWS WRITING
or CMST 319 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING
JRNM 453PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING5
or CMST 465 MEDIA RELATIONS
D. Public Relations Specialty–choose 4-6 credits of the following4-6
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 following4-5
* These classes are face-to-face only.
DRAWING FOR COMMUNICATION (*)
DIGITAL FOUNDATIONS
USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN 1
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (requires advisor consultation*)
ZINE AND 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 490SENIOR CAPSTONE5
Total Credits68-71

Catalog Listing

General Education

University Competencies and Proficiencies

English 
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance 
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB


General Education Requirements (GER)

  • Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours 
    • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

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


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.

  1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
  2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully earn a BA in Communications in Public Relations at EWU should be able to do the following:

  • craft compelling written messages;
  • deliver an effective public speech;
  • demonstrate the ability to design or conduct sound communication research;
  • develop a campaign plan that effectively applies public relations strategies;
  • use communication theories to critically analyze the characteristics of mediated messages.

Sample Courses

JRNM 209. MEDIA WRITING. 5 Credits.

Notes: students must complete this course with a grade ≥B to enroll in JRNM 332.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
This course provides an introduction to the writing skills needed in journalism and public relations for print and digital platforms.

Catalog Listing

CMST 241. EVENT PLANNING AND LOGISTICS. 3 Credits.

Students learn about the varying aspects of professional event planners, what it takes to be a successful event planner, as well as the processes used to design, plan and execute a variety of different events. This class provides instruction on the basic structure of event planning, design, marketing, execution and evaluation, as well as basic business and employment skills necessary to be successful in the event industry.

Catalog Listing

DESN 360. ZINE AND PUBLICATION DESIGN. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: ENGL 201.
This course facilitates development of personal style and voice, as students design, edit, and create their own “zines” (reproducible hand-made booklets). Students practice graphic layout, typography, and professional book assembly. Analog production methods and desktop publishing software will be used. Student-made zines will be sold at “Spokane Zine Fest” and other in-person and digital outlets.

Catalog Listing

CMST 482. GENDER, COMMUNICATION AND POLITICS. 5 Credits.

Cross-listed: GWSS 482.
Notes: may be stacked with CMST 582.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
This seminar examines communication, sexuality, and gender dynamics at work in several domains of the American political system, including the mass public, electoral politics, the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, parties and social movements and the policy-making process. We also examine global trends for political participation. We analyze differences in conceptualizing politics and engaging in public discourse.

Catalog Listing