What Does the Public Relations Emphasis Offer?
Career Options
MSCD's Journalism graduates with a Public Relations emphasis may work in such areas as corporate public relations, non-profit PR, agency PR, publications for companies, special events coordination, and other areas where interaction with the public is a part of the job.
The MSCD Public Relations emphasis was created using courses from a variety of disciplines to make our public relations graduates well versed in all areas of media.
Colorado Scholars awards are available for those in the Public Relations emphasis. The scholarship is based on the student's grade point average (GPA). See the Journalism Scholarships page for more information.
Requirements
Proficiency in standard written English is a prerequisite for all Journalism courses. Students are required to complete ENG 1010 before taking any Journalism courses beyond JRN 1010.
The prerequisite for the MKT 3000 Principles of Marketing course required for this emphasis is normally ECO 2020, but has been waived by the Marketing Department for majors in this emphasis. See the department chair in Central Classroom 305 to have the prerequisite waived.
All majors and minors in the Public Relations emphasis are required to take JRN 3980, Cooperative Education: Public Relations, which is an internship. MSCD students have interned in a variety of locations in metro Denver, throughout the state, and even in other states.
To make Journalism graduates more marketable in our multicultural society, Journalism majors have a 2-year foreign language requirement beginning with the Fall 2002 semester. Students who declared their majors before then do not have to meet this requirement, but it is highly suggested. Students who are proficient in another language may test out of the requirement through the Department of Modern Languages.
A minor is required for all Public Relations majors. Students majoring in News/ Editorial, Photojournalism, or Public Relations may not minor in Journalism, Photojournalism, or Public Relations.
Students should select an advisor early in their course of study. The Journalism Program will provide students with a list of suggested General Studies courses to help them gain a broad base of knowledge necessary for working in news and information media. Contact the MSCD Journalism office for more information.
Listed below are requirements for the Public Relations Emphasis. See the Course Descriptions page for details about each course.
Journalism Major, Public Relations Emphasis
Required Courses (Semester Hours):
JRN1010 Introduction to Journalism and Mass Media (3)
JRN1110 Media Writing (3)
JRN1200 Beginning Editing (3)
JRN2210 Beginning Layout and Design (3)
JRN2700 Fundamentals of Public Relations (3)
JRN3700 Public Relations Writing (3)
JRN3983 Cooperative Education-Public Relations (3)
(JRN3983 may be taken more than once with permission of a journalism adviser)
JRN4500 Ethical and Legal Issues in Journalism (3)
JRN4700 Public Relations Strategic Planning (3)
MKT3000 Principles of Marketing (3)
SPE3440 TV Production (3)
SPE3100 Business and Professional Speaking (3)
SPE4100 Techniques of Persuasion (3)
Subtotal: 39 Semester Hours
Elective Courses: Select One of the Following:
COM 2420 Basic Industrial Video Tape Production (3)
COM 2430 Introduction to Technical Media (3)
COM 2460 Presentation Graphics (3)
COM 3440 Corporate Scriptwriting for Film and TV (3)
JRN 1600 Survey of Photojournalism (3)
JRN 2600 Introduction to Photojournalism (3)
JRN 3400 Feature Article Writing for Newspapers (3)
JRN 4210 Advanced Layout and Design (3)
JRN 4400 Feature Article Writing for Magazines (3)
MKT 3110 Advertising Management (3)
MKT 3120 Promotional Strategy (3)
SPE 1700 Communication Theory (3)
SPE 2400 Introduction to Radio and TV Broadcasting (3)
SPE 3130 Conference Leadership (3)
SPE 3430 Radio and TV Announcing (3)
SPE 3450 Broadcast Journalism: Radio (3)
SPE 3480 Workshop in Radio Production (3)
SPE 3740 Psychology of Communication (3)
SPE 4450 Broadcast Journalism: Television (3)
SPE 4480 Seminar Practicum in Broadcast (3)
SPE 4490 Effects of Radio-TV on Contemporary Life (3)
Subtotal: 3 Semester Hours
Total Semester Hours Required for Public Relations Major: 42 Semester Hours
Public Relations Minor
Required Courses (Semester Hours):
JRN1010 Introduction to Journalism and Mass Media (3)
JRN1110 Media Writing (3)
JRN1200 Beginning Editing (3)
JRN2700 Fundamentals of Public Relations (3)
JRN3700 Public Relations Writing (3)
JRN3983 Cooperative Education (3)
JRN4500 Ethical and Legal Issues in Journalism (3)
JRN4700 Public Relations Strategic Planning (3)
Total Semester Hours Required for Public Relations Minor: 24 Semester Hours
Digital Media Minor
Visit the Digital Media Minor page to see requirements for this exciting new minor, which offers courses selected from the departments of Art, Communication Arts & Sciences, and Technical Communications. Four concentrations in this minor are offered: Still Media, Motion Media, Interactive Media, and Content Design.
The Still Media concentration emphasizes studies in photography, photojousrnalism, and computer imaging. Motion Media concentration minors focus their studies on television and corporate video production. Students who choose Interactive Media concentrate on computer graphics, interactive applications, and web-based media production. Content Design concentration minors study design of the message from the visual and written perspective.