Impact the Future of Strategic Communication with a Public Relations Major

Embedded with a Christian worldview and nested in the Greater Los Angeles area, one of the world’s top media markets, APU’s Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations will prepare you to become an outstanding public relations professional and difference maker in the field.

The public relations major provides an exciting combination of theory and practice in three stages. The lower-level core PR courses help you understand the professional practice of public relations and its relationship with communication, journalism, and marketing. The upper-level core courses offer a framework of advanced applied practice of public relations, covering areas such as social media, multimedia publishing, public relations writing, management, and ethics in communication. Lastly, elective options give you the opportunity to explore areas of interest, such as nonprofit and social causes, sports public relations, event planning, and public relations for the entertainment industry.

Practical Experience for a Competitive Field

The public relations courses are designed to include a strong practical component, called “Lab,” taught by active professionals with years of experience in the field who aim to provide hands-on instruction to help you master skills needed in the competitive world of public relations. In addition, you will have the opportunity to create a professional portfolio through the student-run public relations agency and join the APU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

The PR major’s curriculum and out-of-class experiences in the Greater Los Angeles area, as well as international study abroad options, prepare you for meaningful impact in an industry that, according to the Public Relations Society of America, will see a nearly 60% increase in hiring in the field in the next several years. The high demand for well-prepared professionals in a field re-defining itself combined with APU’s strong foundation in Christ-centered communication education positions this program to cultivate graduates who will not only find jobs upon graduation, but lead the field in the decades to come.

APU’s Department of Communication Studies emphasizes the application of Christian truths and values to the study of communication theories and processes, consideration of ethical issues, and the mastery of current scholarship in each field. The department’s experienced, compassionate faculty-mentors are devoted to helping you discern your calling and pursue it in whatever form that takes, whether seeking jobs in the public relations industry, pursuing graduate study, or pursuing roles in various organizations and industries that capitalize on their communication skills.

Is This Major Right for You?

You’re a public relations major if you:

• Are a good networker and social media savvy.
• Are creative.
• Have a strategic vision.
• Are interested in event planning.
• Have a passion for communication.
• Are interested in analyzing consumer trends.
• Have an interest in brands and consumers.
• Are interested in corporate social responsibility

Learn more about how the PR major prepares students for careers in public relations. You may also wish to consider APU’s communication management major or journalism major.