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.
- 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 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.
- 3 credit hours in United States history (HIST-xxx).
- 3 credit hours in economics (ECON-xxx) or MKTG-250 .
- Minor or second major outside the School of Communication.
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

Related Requirements

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 (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Outside Minor or Second Major

Minor or second major outside of the School of Communication

Communication Requirements (48 credit hours)

Core (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:

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.

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.