public relations

Program Overview

The public relations major prepares students to research, plan, execute and evaluate communications between an organization and its publics, monitor the organization's environment, and counsel management on policies and programs.

Program Size

Approximately 100 students are enrolled in the major. Average class size is 18 students.

Faculty

Faculty members are both experienced professionals and leading academicians. The public relations program is led by Ronda Menke, associate professor of public relations. Menke has experience in corporate, non-profit and political public relations. She also is a consultant to corporate, nonprofit and governmental organization and is the Iowa coordinator for national media coverage of elections. Both professors are active volunteers helping local nonprofit organizations with public relations opportunities.

Koji Fuse joined the public relations sequence at Drake University in 2003. Proficient in statistical analysis software packages, his research and teaching cover various communication topics: mass communication theory, critical/cultural theory, research methods, public relations, public opinion, persuasion, managerial/organizational communication, business communication and cross-cultural communication.

REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES FOR A MAJOR

All students working for a bachelor's degree at Drake must complete the Drake Curriculum (Areas of Inquiry). A minimum of 124 total credit hours are required to graduate, including 31 to 37 credit hours in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication(SJMC). All SJMC majors must successfully complete JMC 30 Communications in Society, JMC 40 Pre-Professional Workshop, JMC 54 News and Reporting Principles, JMC 59 Introduction to Visual Communications, JMC 66 Race, Ethnicity and Media (JMC 66 Required of students entering Drake after Summer 2003), and JMC 104 Communications Law and Ethics. A minimum of 65 credit hours must be taken in Arts and Sciences course work and must include Economics 1, Political Science 1 and Sociology 1. 40 credit hours must be in upper division courses numbered 100 or above.

Area of Concentration:In addition the JMC graduate must have completed a 21 credit-hour block of non JMC courses approved by the adviser and dean. This concentration, taken in a single department or as a unified area of concentration crossing departmental lines, usually is one particularly appropriate to the student's major or otherwise of special interest. At least 12 credit hours in the concentration must be taken in courses numbered 100 and above. Courses taken to satisfy other graduation requirements also may count toward this requirement.

Required Courses for PUBLIC RELATIONS MAJOR

JMC 123 Public Relations Copywriting
JMC 131 Public Relations Collateral Materials
JMC 135 Public Relations Principles
JMC 136 Public Relations Research
JMC 143 Publicity
JMC 146 Public Relations Campaign Strategy

ECON 2
PSY 1
MKTG 101
MGMT 110

Download a PDF version of the Public Relations checksheet

Download a PDF version of Other Requirements for All JMC Majors

Organizations

The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) promotes student - professional contacts and professional development. The chapter is affiliated with the Central Iowa professional chapter of PRSA.

Drake PRSSA Chapter

Bow Wow Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations is a student-run agency that develops advertising and public relations campaigns for nonprofit organizations.

Scholarships

The Public Relations Society of America cash award is presented to the student selected as showing greatest promise for a successful career in public relations. The Beth Walters Peterson Award is an annual prize given to a student for outstanding accomplishment in copywriting.

The Lottie and Robert Brown Fellowship is awarded annually to a student entering the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and may be renewed for each additional year of study. The Katherine Farber Futch Scholarship, based on the same achievement criteria and financial need, is also awarded annually. Both may be renewed for each additional year of study with the maintenance of appropriate academic standards. The Kenneth Robinson Scholarship was established to recognize an outstanding sophomore in the school.