Why study Public Relations?

UC's PR program is one of only 20 programs in the nation to achieve the Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR) designation from the Public Relations Society of America. The curriculum of UC's PR program is grounded in the reports of the Commission on Public Relations Education.

The curriculum ties closely with our goals for the program. First, we want to provide our students with a thorough foundation in both the various theories of communication as well as the specific theories that relate to the study and practice of public relations. Understanding theory as well as practice enables students to utilize a set of critical thinking and analysis capabilities in the variety of situations they encounter in their college careers and beyond. We want our students to develop the specific skills required of a PR professional, and to understand how to constantly refine those skills.

Next, we want to provide both educational and practical experiences that provide students a variety of opportunities and the skills to choose opportunities wisely. We try to blend classroom and internship experiences with a variety of special project opportunities, a very active Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, and networking with the local PRSA Chapter to give students a broad perspective on the profession of public relations. We don't want them to be limited to being technicians; we want them to become professionals.

Ultimately, our goal is to graduate students who achieve not simply in the classroom, but outside of it as well. We want our students to be successful in whatever path they take. Our goal in the PR program is to enable that to happen.

Admission Requirements

Students must be currently enrolled Communication majors. Students from all other majors may be admitted to the program by the Program Director upon completion of 15 COMM 2042 with the grade of a C or better.

Contact the School of Communication, Film, and Media Studies for assistance.

Students in the UC College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tri-state location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Make sure that you have declared the certificate program online. Next, make sure that the certificate director is aware of when you are finishing the program. If you are pursuing a bachelor's degree, your certificate will be reviewed at the time you submit your separate degree application.

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

Certificate Director
2800 Clifton Ave.
4234A Clifton Court Hall
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0184
(513) 556-4440
SCFMSprograms@ucmail.uc.edu

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Program Code: 15CRT-PR-C2