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    Nov 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2021-2022 
    
American University Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Public Relations & Strategic Communication (BA)


Offered by the School of Communication .

Admission to the Program


Formal admission to the major requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale). Students should declare their major by the end of the sophomore year and no earlier than the end of the freshman year.

Students who are unable to achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 and declare a major in communication are not allowed to take courses in the school after they have completed 60 hours of undergraduate credit.

University Requirements


AU Core Requirements


For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements


  • 42 credit hours with grades of C or better, including at least 21 credit hours at or above 300-level
    • Subject to the approval of an advisor, a maximum of 12 credit hours in communication transferred from another university may be substituted for required communication courses
    • With approval of the student’s advisor, up to 6 credit hours taken abroad may be applied toward the communication major requirements
    • COMM-301 Public Relations (3)  with grade of B or better
  • Related requirements taken outside the School of Communication with grades of C or better
    Note: These courses are not included in the major GPA.
  • Minimum of 72 credit hours outside the field of communication are required for the major
    • Transfer students majoring in public relations & strategic communication are required to graduate with a total of 72 credit hours outside the field of communication
  • Minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA

Course Requirements


Electives (9 credit hours)


Complete 9 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill PRSC Topics and Skills, with no more than 6 credit hours combined of COMM-291 Communication Field Experience (1) , COMM-391 Communication Careers Internship (2) , and COMM-491 Senior Professional Internship (3) :

Related Requirements


Complete the following with grades of C or better:

Note: These course are not included in the major GPA.

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees


American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program  and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees  for more information.