The nature and role of public relations, activities of public relations professionals, major influences which affect organizational behavior and the ethics of public relations professionals. Examination and practice of skills and techniques used in the practice of public relations. Students begin developing a professional portfolio.

An introduction to journalistic writing for various media platforms, with an emphasis on print and web. Basic news and feature writing are done as students consider structure, organization, fact-gathering and other components of the journalistic story.

This course focuses on developing the essential capabilities needed to stage and execute a wide variety of events relevant to the public relations profession. The course is designed to help students gain experience in researching, planning, staging, scripting and executing an array of events used by public relations professionals. These include press conferences, speeches, ceremonies, media tours, professional conferences, events sponsorship and coordination with partner organizations. Discussion of public relations tactics is integrated into the course. Students should develop a strong understanding of the public relations process.

This course is structured to provide students with a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of two distinctive PR aspects of nonprofit organizations: fundraising (development) and volunteer relations. Students will consider development planning frameworks and a variety of conceptual tools before moving on to consider donor behavior and each major form of fundraising in turn. The course will include an examination of the critical managerial and sectoral issues affecting the fundraising function, such as campaign integration and public trust and confidence. The course will then conclude with a discussion of best practices in volunteer recruitment, training, management, motivation, recognition, and relationship development.

This course focuses on developing the essential capabilities needed to serve as a communications consultant or employee on a political campaign or for a public affairs or public policy organization (special interest group). The course is designed to help students gain experience in researching, planning, staging, scripting and executing an array of communications used by public office seekers. Discussion of both political campaign principles and tactics is integrated into the course. Students should develop a strong understanding of the importance of communications in the political process.

This course focuses on the analysis of public relations case studies and features intensive individual service-learning through the development and production of public relations campaign plan books for real-world clients. Students should develop a strong understanding of the strategic communication planning process, including research, SWOT analysis, objective development, strategy and tactic development, budgeting, calendaring and evaluation.