Consumers have become active participants of the digital world, blurring the line between company and customer. Media today is driven by strong brands, social media campaigns and individual influencers that establish and propel relationships with target audiences. This ongoing dialogue is the key to reaching new customers and solidifying relationships with existing ones. This program will develop entrepreneurial thinking and cover topics such as structuring public relations campaigns, media strategy and organizational communication and ethics.
Note: We are applying an innovative on-campus hybrid learning approach which prioritizes classes on campus and combines the best of face-to-face and virtual learning. We are offering several on-campus start dates and the opportunity for students to begin online and come to campus later. Alternatively, students can study 100% online.
Career Options
The Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Public Relations degree provides students with fundamental knowledge in all major business areas as well as specialist skills in communication and public relations. These include social media and consumer behavior. Students who successfully complete this degree may be interested in the following job positions:
Communications Manager
Communication managers are responsible for creating, distributing and monitoring messages about the organization to its stakeholders. They are in charge of creating an organization’s communication’s materials including annual reports and press releases, establishing relationships with stakeholders and ensuring that organizational messages are uniform and create a positive image. A communication manager will also play a key role in crisis management and will monitor messages published by third-parties for reputation management.
To succeed in this profession, a communication manager must have strong writing, editing and proofreading as well as presentation skills. They must also present and communicate with confidence.
Social Media Manager
Social media managers regularly post content on an organization’s social media channels about its activities. As well as sharing content, engaging with followers, promoting and tracking third-party mentions, social media managers monitor results for optimization. They interact directly with the target audience and coordinate with other departments to keep abreast of an organization’s activities and also to provide feedback on actions. A social media manager may work within a communication or marketing department.
To succeed as a social media manager, candidates need to be digitally savvy and have good copywriting and analytical skills. Graphic design and audio-visual knowledge are preferable.
Technical Writer
Translating complex text into a more reader-friendly version is the responsibility of technical writers. They also conduct research and interviews and ensure that writing projects are handed in on time. Technical writers also write business proposals, update a company’s website and review important corporate documents. They often work as freelancers or are contracted by engineering, medical and research organizations, among others.
Campaign Manager
Campaign managers help create and run an organization’s integrated marketing campaigns to ensure that they accomplish organizational goals and generate sales. These professionals usually work with third-party agents to ensure the correct preparation and implementation of a campaign. Their tasks are wide ranging as they coordinate and oversee all aspects of a campaign. Working within a pre-defined budget, they will report on campaign effectiveness in terms of customer reach and sales impact, among others.