Public Relations and Advertising (B.A.)
Admission Requirements
Incoming freshmen and transfer students can declare the major.
See communication.buffalostate.edu for application forms and additional information, including a list of equivalent core courses at community colleges. Transfer students from two-year schools may apply only core courses toward this major for a maximum of 12 credits. Students generally require four semesters of study after completing communication core courses.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education 23 Requirements | ||
| 33 credit hours | 33 | |
| Public Relations & Advertising Major Requirements (42 credit hours) | ||
| Communication Core (12 credit hours) | ||
| COM 100 | MEDIA LITERACY | 3 |
| COM 210 | INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING | 3 |
| COM 215 | INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| or COM 212 | INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL STORYTELLING | |
| SPC 205 | INTRODUCTION TO ORAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| Major Requirements (21 credit hours) | ||
| COM 301 | PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ADVERTISING | 3 |
| SPC 307 | GROUP COMMUNICATON | 3 |
| COM 308 | PUBLIC RELATIONS WRITING | 3 |
| COM 322 | COMMUNICATION GRAPHICS | 3 |
| COM 336 | WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRODUCTION | 3 |
| COM 401 | APPLIED COMMUNICATION RESEARCH | 3 |
| COM 418 | CAMPAIGNS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ADVERTISING | 3 |
| Senior Seminar (3 credit hours) | ||
| COM 450 | COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY | 3 |
| Communication Electives (6 credit hours) | ||
| Select any two 300 or 400 level COM or SPC electives by advisement | 6 | |
| All College Electives | ||
| 45 credit hours | 45 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Students will:
- understand and apply First Amendment principles and the law appropriate to professional practice relevant to the major
- demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communication relevant to the major
- demonstrate an understanding of gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity, equity, and inclusion in domestic and global societies and their significance in the major
- understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information relevant to the major
- demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity
- think critically, creatively and independently
- conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communication professions in which they work
- write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communication professions, audiences and purposes they serve
- critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy, fairness, clarity, creativity, effective storytelling and/or professional style as appropriate to the major
- apply basic numerical and statistical concepts appropriate to the major
- apply tools and technologies appropriate to the major
- demonstrate competence in professional speaking and presentational skills appropriate to the major