Public Relations BA

A public relations professional focuses on establishing and maintaining an understanding between an organization and its audiences in order to create cooperation, acceptance and calls to action.

Overview

Our public relations program incorporates public opinion research, persuasive writing, graphics, working with the media and ethical responsibility, while examining public relations strategies and techniques through case study.

Our faculty members provide practitioner and theorist perspectives, while the program teaches students how to create and implement strategic public relations programs and offer everyday counsel to management. We emphasize writing, critical thinking and interpersonal skills while strongly recommending internships.

You can join our active chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, which coordinates networking events, speakers and hands-on projects to help Oswego students gain connections and experience. Take advantage of a wide selection of on-campus and community involvement and internship opportunities.

Outcomes

  • Apply critical research methods for solving public relations problems
  • Demonstrate an ability to plan, strategize and implement public relations writing skills in a variety of public relations materials and channels including print, broadcasting, digital and social media
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the process of public relations program development and implementation
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and role of public relations, the history and development of the field, ethics and legal consideration, theories and principles underlying PR practices and the societal forces affecting the profession and its practice

Career Opportunities

  • Account management
  • Media
  • Public affairs
  • Business and industry
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Politics
  • Social media
  • Cause of product marketing
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My public relations major has helped me ignite my passion and shape my future aspirations because it has allowed me to explore career opportunities that I didn’t know were available.

I have had such incredibly inspirational and supportive professors over the last three years. I honestly do not think I would be as happy as I am today if I had not met some of them.

I've participated in both an independent study and an internship at SUNY Oswego. Both of these experiences have allowed me to take the knowledge I gained in the classroom and apply it to real life problems.

My department’s atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. Communication is always open, active, and accessible, which has been key to my success, along with my ability to learn and receive assistance when needed as a student.

Program Resources

The Oswego Guarantee

  • No increase in room & board 
  • Timely course offerings
  • High touch connections to alumni 
  • Small student to faculty ratio
Full Details

Internships

Learn what it's like to work in a professional setting while still in school.

Where Our Students Have Interned

  • Burson-Marsteller
  • CBS News
  • Late Night with Conan O'Brien
  • New York Yankees

Co-Ops

Apply for this full-time, paid integrated learning experience that allows you to gain hands on experience in a professional environment.

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Next Steps to Apply

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