Public Relations and Strategic Communication, B.A.
The BA/BS/Minor will give students the opportunity to earn a full major/minor in the field of public relations and strategic communication. This degree prepares students with the necessary skills to communicate (a) visually, (b) orally, and through the (c) written word in traditional and digital mediums, as demanded by the ever-changing nature of strategic communication and public relations.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
| General Education Requirements | 36 Credits | |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| or ENGH 1005 | Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC | |
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistics QL (undefined) | ||
| Introduction to Statistics with Algebra QL (undefined) | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| American Civilization AS (3) | ||
| US History to 1877 AS and US History since 1877 AS (6) | ||
| US Economic History AS (3) | ||
| American Heritage AS (3) | ||
| American National Government AS (3) | ||
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics and Values IH | 3 |
| HLTH 1100 | Personal Health and Wellness TE | 2 |
| or EXSC 1097 | Fitness for Life TE | |
| Distribution Courses: | ||
| Biology | 3 | |
| Physical Science | 3 | |
| Additional Biology or Physical Science | 3 | |
| Humanities (Any Foreign Language 202G/2020 course) | 4 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Behavioral/Social Science | 3 | |
| Discipline Core Requirements | 18 Credits | |
| COMM 2300 | Introduction to Public Relations and Strategic Communication | 3 |
| COMM 3530 | Public Relations and Strategic Communication Writing | 3 |
| COMM 3020 | Communication Research Methods WE | 3 |
| COMM 3050 | Theories of Communication WE | 3 |
| COMM 3520 | Public Relations and Strategic Communication Case Studies | 3 |
| COMM 4850 | Public Relations and Strategic Communication Campaigns | 3 |
| Discipline Elective Requirements | 18 Credits | |
| Complete 18 credits within the Communication Major, 9 must be at the 3000-4000 level | 18 | |
| Public Speaking HH (3) | ||
| Introduction to Communication SS GI (3) | ||
| Writing for the Mass Media (3) | ||
| Introduction to Mass Communication HH (3) | ||
| Reporting for the Mass Media (3) | ||
| Communication Field Experience (1-3) | ||
| Introduction to Gender and Communication GI (3) | ||
| The News Editing Process (3) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication SS (3) | ||
| Introduction to Health Communication (3) | ||
| Small Group Communication and Decision Making (3) | ||
COMM 2170 | ||
| Race Class and Gender in U S Cinema GI HH (3) | ||
| Principles of Advertising (3) | ||
| Argumentation (3) | ||
| Organizational Communication (3) | ||
| Visual Strategies for Communication Majors (3) | ||
| Magazine Writing (3) | ||
| Independent Study (1-3) | ||
| Introduction to Qualitative Communication Research (3) | ||
| Media Literacy SS (3) | ||
| Media Ethics (3) | ||
| Propaganda and Persuasion (3) | ||
| Non Fiction Cinema History (3) | ||
| Communicating in Environments (3) | ||
| Fundamentals of New and Social Media (3) | ||
| The Culture of Nature and Technology (3) | ||
| Social Media Content Creation Strategy (3) | ||
| Global Cinema History GI (3) | ||
| Social Media Analytics (3) | ||
| Ethnographic Methods for Communication Research GI (3) | ||
| Intercultural Communication Encounters GI (3) | ||
| Photojournalism (3) | ||
| International Business Communication GI (3) | ||
| Fundamentals of Mediation and Negotiation (3) | ||
| Communication and Conflict (3) | ||
| Media Representation (3) | ||
| Special Topics in Communication (3) | ||
| Visual Communication Theory (3) | ||
| Sports Public Relations (3) | ||
| Public Relations Event and Media Coordination (3) | ||
| Crisis Communication (3) | ||
| Fashion Public Relations and Strategic Communication (3) | ||
| Health Communication and Culture (3) | ||
| International Communication GI (3) | ||
| Investigative Reporting (3) | ||
| Advertising Media Planning (3) | ||
| Creative Strategy in Communication Campaigns (3) | ||
| Free Expression in a Democratic Society (3) | ||
| Mormons Media and Culture (3) | ||
| Case Studies in Journalism (3) | ||
| Communication Education (3) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication Theory and Research (3) | ||
| Advanced Health Communication (3) | ||
| Group Communication (3) | ||
| Applied Survey Research (3) | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Organizational Communication (3) | ||
| Communication and Social Behavior (3) | ||
| Family Communication (3) | ||
| Communication and Leadership (3) | ||
| Communication Executive Lecture Series (1) | ||
| Media and Politics (3) | ||
| Wolverine Student Public Relations and Strategic Communication Firm (3) | ||
| Journalism Workshop (3) | ||
| Internship (3,6) | ||
| Competitive Case Studies (3) | ||
| Communication Capstone (3) | ||
| Independent Study (1-3) | ||
| Elective Requirements | 48 Credits | |
| Complete 12 credits from one foreign language to include the 1010, 1020, and 2010 levels. | 12 | |
| Students may complete any courses - a total of 40 upper-division credits will be required for graduation (see academic advisor), completion of one G/I course is required. | 36 | |
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 120 or more semester credits.
- Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above (departments may require a higher GPA).
- Residency hours: minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours.
- Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements.
- Completion of 16 credit hours of course work from one language to include the 1010, 1020, 2010, and 202G/2020 levels or transferred equivalents.
- Completion of COMM courses with a C- or higher.
- Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
- Successful completion of at least two Writing Enriched courses.
Graduation Plan
This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| HLTH 1100 or EXSC 1097 | Personal Health and Wellness TE or Fitness for Life TE | 2 |
| Fine Arts Distribution | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Social/ Behavioral Science Distribution | 3 | |
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| STAT 1040 | Introduction to Statistics QL | 3 |
| Biology GE | 3 | |
| Language 1 | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| COMM 2300 | Introduction to Public Relations and Strategic Communication | 3 |
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics and Values IH | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Language 2 | 4 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| COMM Elective | 3 | |
| Physical Science GE | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| American Institutions GE | 3 | |
| Language 3 | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
| COMM 3020 | Communication Research Methods WE | 3 |
| COMM Elective | 3 | |
| COMM Elective | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 202G | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| COMM 3050 | Theories of Communication WE | 3 |
| COMM 3530 | Public Relations and Strategic Communication Writing | 3 |
| COMM Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 7 | ||
| COMM 3520 | Public Relations and Strategic Communication Case Studies | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| COMM Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| COMM 4850 | Public Relations and Strategic Communication Campaigns | 3 |
| COMM Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students with Foundational Knowledge will have a 1) theoretical, and up-to-date understanding, of current research findings centered on the concepts, constructs, and principles discussed in the fields of strategic communication and public relations. Researcher findings are often collected through diverse methodologies; therefore, students will (2) demonstrate an understanding of the methodologies and instruments used by both researchers and practitioners. These findings are written by a myriad of authors and disseminated through diverse channels, thus students will (3) become familiar with, and judiciously examine, both authoritative and non-credible sources of information in order to become a more information-literate individual. Finally, as Foundational Knowledge is always changing, students will 4) recognize the impermanent nature of knowledge claims in order to initiate and adapt to new approaches of communication.
- In order to obtain Professional Skills, students will be able to (1) demonstrate competency in oral, written, visual, and nonverbal communication both individually and (2) in a team setting using the acquired skills gained from strategic communication and public relations courses. From these skills, students will be able to (3) create multimedia content designed to achieve specific objectives for organizations, while simultaneously targeting a diverse set of audiences in addition to (4) planning, managing, and executing strategic communication campaigns.
- The Application of Foundational Knowledge and Professional Skills Learning Outcome incorporates several different points. First, students, by the time of graduation, should be able to use the critical thinking skills obtained from coursework and classroom instruction to analyze and evaluate strategic communication and public relations messages from a theoretical and applied perspective. Further, students should (2) be able to employ basic research skills to gather data, synthesize the findings into a cogent message, and evaluate their importance in relation to campaign objectives. In addition, students, by applying the foundational knowledge and professional skills gained, (3) will be able to adapt their messages, based on previous case studies and research findings, over the course of a strategic communication and public relations campaign.
- Students with an understanding in Diversity and Cultural Perspectives will have the ability to (1) apply ethical principled learned via class work by (2) demonstrating their competency in critically analyzing ethical problems from multiple and diverse perspectives both individually and in a team-setting. Further, students should have the (3) ability to understand, examine, and acknowledge the situatedness of cultural experiences, conflicting opinions, and viewpoints on issues and ethical dilemmas when interacting with stakeholders. Finally, by graduation, students will be able to (4) reflect upon the interconnectedness of local, national, and global issues.