BA in Public Relations
The Public Relations degree, developed from the Commission on Public Relations Education recommendations, is designed to prepare students to assume professional entry level roles in the practice of public relations; to help students understand the integration of public relations and marketing; prepare students to compose, develop, and analyze print and broadcast messages; to help students to develop demonstrable competencies in writing, analyzing, problem-solving, and critical thinking; to provide opportunities for testing public relations theory and practice, not only in the classroom, but in the field as well; and to develop relationships with local public relations professionals as well as with community organizations.
The PR degree at Sacramento State emphasizes research, writing and editing focused on the theories and methods for managing the media image of a business, organization, or individual. The program builds understanding of the communication process with stakeholders, constituencies, audiences, and the general public to prepare individuals to function as public relations assistants, technicians, and managers. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to enter a variety of public relations careers in media relations; promotion and advertising; marketing; message/image design; image management and crisis communication; special event management; community relations; public affairs/government relations; and internal communications.
Students gain extra-curricular experiences via a robust internship program involving dozens of public and private companies and organizations across California and the nation, as well as via involvement in a large, active and award-winning Public Relations Student Society of American (PRSSA) chapter.
Prior to acceptance as a Communication Studies major, students must complete a pre-major consisting of all required lower division courses plus the upper division survey course (COMS 100A) and upper division research methodology course (COMS 100C). Students must successfully complete each pre-major course with a grade of "C-" or better. Students with a Sacramento State grade point average of 2.3 or better may request early admission to the major.
- Majors must complete each core course and each option core course with a grade of "C-" or better.
- Not more than 6 units of debate, internship and/or individual study (see the following) can be applied to the major requirements.
- Majors are urged to take COMS 2, Argumentation (or transfer equivalent) to fulfill their critical thinking requirement.
- Communication Studies courses may only be repeated once for a grade change. Students who fail to achieve at least a "C-" in two attempts in a core course will be disqualified in majoring in Communication Studies.
- One project or paper from each capstone course will be reviewed by selected faculty for the purpose of departmental assessment.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Lower Division Core Courses (13 Units) | ||
| COMS 2 | Argumentation | 3 |
| COMS 8 | Interpersonal Communication Skills | 3 |
| COMS 55 | Media Communication and Society | 3 |
| JOUR 20 & JOUR 30 | Style For Media Writers News Writing | 4 |
| Required Upper Division Core Courses (9 Units) | ||
| COMS 100A | Survey of Communication Studies | 3 |
| COMS 100B | Rhetoric and Social Influence | 3 |
| COMS 100C | Introduction to Scientific Methods in Communication Research | 3 |
| Major Courses (21 Units) | ||
| COMS 106 | Digital Media Creation - An Introduction | 3 |
| COMS 118 | Survey of Public Relations | 3 |
| COMS 123 | Writing for Public Relations | 3 |
| COMS 158 | Public Relations Planning and Management | 3 |
| COMS 170 | Data Analysis in Communication Research | 3 |
| or COMS 171 | Survey Methods in Communication Research | |
| COMS 187 | Issue Management and Case Studies in Public Relations | 3 |
| MKTG 101 | Principles Of Marketing | 3 |
| Electives (5 Units) | ||
| Any upper division (100 or above) Communication Studies courses totaling at least five units. | 5 | |
General Education Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Basic Subjects (6 Units) | ||
| A1 - Oral Communication | 3 | |
| A2 - Written Communication | 3 | |
| A3 - Critical Thinking 2 | 0 | |
| Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (13 Units) | ||
| B1 - Physical Science | 3 | |
| B2 - Life Forms | 3 | |
| B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) | 1 | |
| B4 - Math Concepts | 3 | |
| B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units) | ||
| C1 - Arts | 3 | |
| C2 - Humanities | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area D: The Individual and Society (9 Units) | ||
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units) | ||
| Area E Course | 3 | |
| Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units) | ||
| Area F Course | 3 | |
| Total Units | 46 | |
| 1 | To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page. Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email. |
| 2 | Department recommends COMS 2 to meet Area A3. |
Graduation Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (6 Units) | ||
| American Institutions: U.S. History | 3 | |
| American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive (WI) 2 | 0 | |
| Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (12 Units) | ||
| English Composition II | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 3 | 6 | |
| 1 | To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page. Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email. |
| 2 | Required in Major; also satisfies Graduation Requirement |
| 3 | If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html |