Public Relations & Strategic Communication (BA)

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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

120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better
Completion of college writing requirement
Completion of university mathematics requirement

General Education Requirements

A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas
At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component
No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline

Major Requirements

48 credit hours with grades of C or better within the School of Communication including core, professional, internship, independent study, and independent reading courses.
- With approval of the student’s advisor, up to 6 credit hours taken abroad may be applied toward the communication major requirements.
- A grade of B or better in COMM-301 Public Relations .
Related course requirements taken outside the School of Communication with grades of C or better.
A minimum of 72 credit hours outside the field of communication, including at least 56 credit hours in the liberal arts and sciences, are required for the major.
- 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. Transfer students majoring in public relations & strategic communication are required to graduate with a total of 72 credit hours outside the field of communication.
Students must maintain a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA.

Related Course Requirements

Students must complete the following with grades of C or better:

United States History (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Economics or Marketing Course (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

A minor or second major outside the School of Communication

Communication Course Requirements (48 credit hours)

Core Courses (9 credit hours)

Professional Courses (12 credit hours)

COMM-301 Public Relations (3) (with grade of B or better)
COMM-337 Public Relations Writing (3)
COMM-346 Public Relations Case Studies (3)
COMM-380 Public Communication Research (3)

Senior Capstone (3 credit hours)

COMM-437 Public Relations Portfolio (3)

Advanced Skills and Strategies (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours, with no more than 6 credit hours combined from COMM-391 and COMM-491 , from the following:

Advanced Topics and Specialties (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following:

Communication Electives (6 credit hours)

Complete 6 additional credit hours from Advanced Skills and Strategies and Advanced Topics and Specialties course lists above, or from other approved courses. Student may take no more than 6 credit hours combined of COMM-391 and COMM-491 toward degree requirements.

University Honors Program

To graduate with University Honors in the major through the University Honors Program, students must meet the requirements detailed on the Honors website and have been enrolled as either a first-year student between Fall 1989 and Spring 2014, or as a transfer or self-nominated student through Spring 2015. The University Honors Program should not be confused with the AU Honors Program, which begins in Fall 2014 and has separate requirements, also detailed on the Honors website.

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 Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.