College of Communication and Information
School of Media and Journalism
www.kent.edu/mdj

Examples of Possible Careers*

Additional Careers

• Social media and digital content specialist
• Public affairs specialist
• Event planner and publicist

Contact Information

• School Director: Emily Metzgar | mdj@kent.edu | 330-672-2572
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Fully Offered

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

_*Note

^{Source of occupation titles and labor data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Description

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 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.

Public Relation students may apply early to the M.A. degree in Media and Journalism and double count 9 credit hours of graduate credit toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Accreditation

Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) provisionally accredited; Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) - Certification in Education for Public Relations

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campus to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. Check with a regional campus admissions office to determine application requirements, as they may differ among campuses.

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. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Current Kent State Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major to Public Relations must have a minimum 2.000 overall GPA to be admitted.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical thinking, grounded in a legal and ethical framework.
2. Gather and analyze information, and make informed judgments using methods and tools appropriate to their professions.
3. Demonstrate the ability to apply theory and research appropriate to their professions, including quantitative and qualitative methods.
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply basic ethical principles to their professional work.
5. Demonstrate the ability to apply laws and regulations applicable to their professional work.
6. Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
7. Demonstrate understanding of how media and their professions evolved historically, their role in societal development and their global interaction today with institutions and individuals.
8. Demonstrate appreciation for diverse cultures and individual differences, and reflect that appreciation in their work.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement. If course is not being used to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement, a minimum C- grade must be earned.

²

A maximum of 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be applied toward the degree program. For students interested in developing a global perspective, foreign language courses or any of the following general elective courses are recommended: ANTH 18210, ANTH 48245, PACS 32030, PACS 32040, COMM 35852, GEOG 22040, MCLS 20091, MUS 22121, PH 10002, POL 10500.

Progression Requirements

Students must maintain a 2.700 major GPA and a 2.000 overall GPA in order to continue taking MDJ courses. Failure to do so will result in not being permitted to enroll in MDJ courses. In addition, no grade lower than a C- in a MDJ course will be counted toward graduation or as a prerequisite for a subsequent class.

Graduation Requirements

• A minimum C- grade may be required in some courses.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.