Honors student Jessica Watson has double majors in PR and Political Science
Excellent faculty members, such as Ed Kimbrell, inspire students
MTSU students learn from successful people in the field
John Seigenthaler Public Relations CEO, New York, is an example of campus speakers

Public Relations

Public Relations professionals design and implement strategic communication plans to help organizations build beneficial relationships with their various publics. Graduates have opportunities to work in the world of PR within corporations, agencies, health organizations, government, and entertainment. MTSU's accredited program blends the best of theoretical and hands-on approaches. Proximity to Nashville gives students access to media professionals, internships, and jobs. The program offers a challenging and comprehensive curriculum, excellent faculty, state-of-the-art PR lab, and an active Public Relations Student Society of America chapter. Get started by selecting the Advertising/Public Relations concentration in the School of Journalism.

PR graduate takes over as United Way CEO

Meagan Flippin (‘07) was recently promoted to president and CEO of The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties. She previously served as senior director for marketing, special events, and community impact. Flippin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and received a master’s degree in strategic leadership from MTSU in ′08. She also is immediate past president of Murfreesboro Young Professionals, the immediate past chair of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce’s Diplomat Program, and active in the Junior League of Murfreesboro. "I call upon my public relations education on a daily basis," she said. "Our organization’s foundation is built upon trust, which is often garnered through transparency, professionalism, and consistency."

MTSU alums go west to San Francisco

MTSU alumni Paul Bernardini (’11) and Landin King (’10) both are working at San Francisco-based Eastwick, a technology public relations agency specializing in media relations, social media, measurement and analytics, and more. King's internship led to a PR job for high-end hospitality brands at a boutique Nashville firm, The Andrews Agency, for his first two years after college. His current client load focuses largely on Quest Software units. Bernardini, who grew up in the Bay Area until age 6, lived in the Grand Teton National Park for a year and traveled in Southeast Asia for three months after graduation. "There are a lot of moving parts in PR, and it is by no means a typical 9-to-5 gig," Bernardini said.

Graduates specializing in public relations should find plenty of job opportunities in today's highly competitive business climate and market reach via multiple media platforms. Career possibilities await in agencies that represent clients, in industry from healthcare to entertainment, in organizational settings from education to religion, and in other non-profits and government.

Campaign manager
Communications specialist / executive
Community relations director
Corporate communications director
Creative/art director
Employee/internal communications
Entertainment industry publicist
Government public information officer
Healthcare communications specialist
Marketing consultant
Marketing manager
Marketing materials designer
Media relations specialist
Non-profit communications manager
PR agency account manager
Press secretary
Public affairs director
Public involvement coordinator
Public relations specialist/executive
Social media strategist
Special events manager
Speech writer

Employers of MTSU alumni include

The Andrews Agency
DVL Public Relations and Advertising
Eastwick PR Agency, San Francisco
Fairmont St. Andrews, Scotland
Gaylord Opryland
Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee
Ketchum, Inc.
McNeely Pigott & Fox
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee Medical Center
Nissan North America, Inc. Corporate Communications
Rodofer Moss & Co., PLLC
Schneider Electric
United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties

Sharon Holt Fitzgerald
Lecturer
sharon.fitzgerald@mtsu.edu

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Dr. Cary Ann Greenwood
Assistant Professor
cary.greenwood@mtsu.edu

Phone | 615-494-7748
Office | Room 249, John Bragg Mass Communication Building (COMM)
Mail | MTSU Box 64, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Degree Information
Ph.D., University of Oregon (2011)
M.F.A., Eastern Washington University (1988)
B.A., University of Oklahoma (1974)

Biography
Dr. Cary. A. Greenwood, APR, Fellow PRSA, (Ph.D. University of Oregon), is assistant professor and public relations sequence head at Middle Tennessee State University, where she teaches crisis communication and public relations campaigns. She has more than 30 years’ experience in public relations, including eight years in corporate communications management for a Fortune 500 utility, seven years as public affairs director for a state natural resource agency, and two years in transportation management. She is an experienced public relations strategist, speechwriter, and public speaker, and she brings that background into the classroom. Her research interests are whistleblowing, corporate social responsibility, and evolutionary theory.

She has conducted two quantitative studies of whistleblowing among public relations practitioners. She recently was appointed to the Affiliated Faculty Committee for the Government Accountability Project’s The American Whistleblower Tour based in Washington, D.C. She has presented her research on whistleblowing at the Public Relations Society of America International Conference, the PRSA/GA regional conference, the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication 2009 and 2012, and she will present her whistleblowing research at the International Communication Association Conference in London in June 2013.

Dr. Greenwood has presented her research on evolutionary theory at the International Communication Association and the Society for Consumer Psychology, and she has published on evolutionary theory in the Journal of Public Relations Research and New Frontiers in branding: Attitudes, attachments, and relationships.

Her research in corporate social responsibility led to her being named Arthur W. Page Legacy Scholar 2012-2013 in conjunction with Dr. Joon Soo Lim. Their paper, The effects of the stakeholder engagement strategy in CSR communication on CSR goal achievement, was accepted for presentation at the International Communication Association Conference in London in June 2013.

Curriculum Vitae

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Zeny Panol
Associate Dean
zeny.panol@mtsu.edu

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Dr. Hanna Park
Assistant Professor
hanna.park@mtsu.edu

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MTSU's School of Journalism offers work leading to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in Mass Communication. Concentrations are available in

Advertising-Public Relations
Journalism (newspaper/magazine)
Media Studies
Visual Communication

Undergraduate or graduate students outside the College of Mass Communication may choose to minor in Mass Communication with an emphasis in any of the School of Journalism’s concentrations.

A Master of Science (M.S.) degree is available in Mass Communication, and a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Recording Arts and Technologies.

Public Relations General Public Relations Recording Industry

The sample schedule below is based on the current undergraduate catalog. It is not a substitute for academic advisement. Contact your advisor if you have any questions about scheduling or about your degree requirements or consult the undergraduate catalog (catalog.mtsu.edu) for a complete list of requirements and electives.

You may choose to attend a summer term to reduce your load during fall or spring terms but still stay on track to graduate in four years. (Refer to the scholarships website for information regarding use of the Lottery Scholarship for the summer term.)

NOTE: Learning Support courses will alter the sequences on this map. Missing milestones could delay your program.

Public Relations-General Academic Map

School of Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro

Suggested Fall/Spring and Summer/Fall/Spring Four-Year Schedule

Click here for printer friendly academic map.

FRESHMAN FALL			FRESHMAN SPRING
Course	Hours	Milestones/Notes	Course	Hours	Milestones/Notes
ENGL 1010 (Comm)	3	Must earn B or higher for JOUR 2710*	ENGL 1020 (Comm)	3	Must earn B or higher for JOUR 2710*
MATH (Math)	3		HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030	3
JOUR/EMC/RIM 1020	3		Hum/FA (Rubric 2)	3
Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 1)	3		Nat Sci (Rubric 1)	4
Hum/FA (Rubric 1)	3		COMM 2200 (Comm)	3
SUBTOTAL	15		SUBTOTAL	16

SOPHOMORE FALL			SOPHOMORE SPRING
ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, or HUM 2610 (Hum/FA)	3		PR 3040	3	Conceptual requirement
JOUR 2710	3	Prereq: B or higher in ENGL 1010 and 1020	Minor course	3
HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030	3		Minor course	3
Nat Sci (Rubric 2)	4		Minor course (Business)	3
CSCI 1150, INFS 2200 or INFS 3100	3		Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 2)	3
SUBTOTAL	16		SUBTOTAL	15
*2.50 GPA required for admission to School of Journalism			*2.50 GPA required for admission to School of Journalism

JUNIOR FALL		JUNIOR SPRING
JOUR 3650	3	JOUR conceptual requirement	3
Minor course	3	Minor course	3
PR 3360	3	VCOM 2010	3
JOUR 3530, JOUR 3450, or JOUR 3520	3	Minor course	3
Minor course (Business)	3	Minor course (Business)	3
SUBTOTAL	15	SUBTOTAL	15

SENIOR FALL		SENIOR SPRING
JOUR conceptual requirement	3	PR 4740	3
Minor course	3	JOUR 3580, JOUR 4000, or JOUR elective (upper-division)	1–3
Minor course (Business)	3	Minor course (Business)	3
PR 3380 or VCOM 2950	3	Minor or elective course	3
PR 3400, VCOM 3910, or JOUR 3090/3091	3–4	Elective	3
SUBTOTAL	15–16	SUBTOTAL	13–15
Note: Public Relations students must have two minors; one must be in the Jones College of Business.

TOTAL HOURS IN PROGRAM: 120

FRESHMAN SUMMER
Course	Hours	Milestones/Notes	Course	Hours	Milestones/Notes
ENGL 1010 (Comm)	3	Must earn B or higher for JOUR 2710*	Hum/FA (Rubric 1)	3
SUBTOTAL	3		SUBTOTAL	3

FRESHMAN FALL			FRESHMAN SPRING
ENGL 1020 (Comm)	3	Must earn B or higher for JOUR 2710*	Hum/FA (Rubric 2)	3
MATH (Math)	3		Nat Sci (Rubric 1)	4
JOUR/EMC/RIM 1020	3		HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030	3
COMM 2200 (Comm)	3		Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 2)	3
Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 1)	3		CSCI 1150, INFS 2200 or INFS 3100	3
SUBTOTAL	15		SUBTOTAL	16

SOPHOMORE SUMMER
HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030	3			JOUR 2710	3	Prereq: B or better in ENGL 1010 and 1020
SUBTOTAL	3			SUBTOTAL	3

SOPHOMORE FALL			SOPHOMORE SPRING
Nat Sci (Rubric 2)	4		Minor course (Business)	3
Minor course	3		Minor course	3
ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, or HUM 2610 (Hum/FA)	3		JOUR 3650	3
PR 3040	3	Conceptual requirement	PR 3360	3
Minor course	3		JOUR 3450, JOUR 3520, or JOUR 3530	3
			VCOM 2010	3
SUBTOTAL	16		SUBTOTAL	18
*2.50 GPA required for admission to School of Journalism			*2.50 GPA required for admission to School of Journalism

JUNIOR SUMMER
Minor course	3			Minor course (Business)	3
SUBTOTAL	3			SUBTOTAL	3

JUNIOR FALL			JUNIOR SPRING
PR 3380 or VCOM 2950	3		Minor course (Business)	3
JOUR conceptual requirement	3	See advisor	JOUR conceptual requirement	3	See advisor
Minor course	3		Minor course (Business)	3
Minor course (Business)	3		PR 3400, VCOM 3910, or JOUR 3090/3091	3–4
Minor course	3		PR 4740	3
SUBTOTAL	15		SUBTOTAL	15–16

SENIOR SUMMER
Minor or elective course	3	JOUR 3580, JOUR 4000, or JOUR elective (upper-division)	1–3
Elective	3
SUBTOTAL	6	SUBTOTAL	1–3
Note: Public Relations students must have two minors; one must be in the Jones College of Business.

TOTAL HOURS IN PROGRAM: 120

Graduation information may be accessed here.

Public Relations - Recording Industry Academic Map

School of Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro

Suggested Fall/Spring and Summer/Fall/Spring Four-Year Schedule

Click here for printer friendly academic map.

FRESHMAN FALL			FRESHMAN SPRING
Course	Hours	Milestones/Notes	Course	Hours	Milestones/Notes
ENGL 1010 (Comm)	3	Must earn B or higher for JOUR 2710*	ENGL 1020 (Comm)	3	Must earn B or higher for JOUR 2710*
MATH (Math)	3		HIST 2010, HIST 2020, HIST 2030	3
JOUR/EMC/RIM 1020	3	Must earn C or higher*	Hum/FA (Rubric 2)	3
Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 1)	3		Nat Sci (Rubric 1)	4
Hum/FA (Rubric 1)	3		COMM 2200 (Comm)	3
SUBTOTAL	15		SUBTOTAL	16

SOPHOMORE FALL			SOPHOMORE SPRING
ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, or HUM 2610 (Hum/FA)	3		PR 3040	3	Conceptual Requirement
JOUR 2710	3	Prereq: B or higher in ENGL 1010 and 1020	Minor course	3
HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030	3		Minor course	3
Nat Sci (Rubric 2)	4		Minor course (Business)	3
CSCI 1150, INFS 2200, or INFS 3100	3		Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 2)	3
SUBTOTAL	16		SUBTOTAL	15
*2.50 GPA required for admission to School of Journalism			*2.50 GPA required for admission to School of Journalism

JUNIOR FALL		JUNIOR SPRING
JOUR 3650	3	JOUR conceptual requirement	3	See advisor
Minor course	3	Minor course	3
PR 3360	3	VCOM 2010	3
RIM 3770	3	Minor course	3
Minor course (Business)	3	Minor course (Business)	3
SUBTOTAL	15	SUBTOTAL	15

SENIOR FALL			SENIOR SPRING
RIM 3600	3	Conceptual requirement	PR 4740	3
Minor course	3		JOUR 3580, JOUR 4000, or RIM 4000	1–3	Practicum/Internship
Minor course (Business)	3		Minor course (Business)	3
PR 3380 or VCOM 2950	3		Minor course or elective	3	If necessary
PR 3400; VCOM 3910; RIM 3720, 3890, 4320, 4620; or JOUR 3450, 3530	3		Elective	3
SUBTOTAL	15		SUBTOTAL	13–15
Note: Public Relations students must have two minors; one must be in the Jones College of Business.

TOTAL HOURS IN PROGRAM: 120

FRESHMAN SUMMER
Course	Hours	Milestones/Notes	Course	Hours	Milestones/Notes
ENGL 1010 (Comm)	3	Must earn B or higher for JOUR 2710*	Hum/FA (Rubric 1)	3
SUBTOTAL	3		SUBTOTAL	3

FRESHMAN FALL			FRESHMAN SPRING
ENGL 1020 (Comm)	3	Must earn B or higher for JOUR 2710*	Hum/FA (Rubric 2)	3
MATH (Math)	3		Nat Sci (Rubric 1)	4
JOUR/EMC/RIM 1020	3		HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030	3
COMM 2200 (Comm)	3		Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 2)	3
Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 1)	3		CSCI 1150, INFS 2200, or INFS 3100	3
SUBTOTAL	15		SUBTOTAL	16

SOPHOMORE SUMMER
HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030	3			JOUR 2710	3	Prereq: B or higher in ENGL 1010 and 1020
SUBTOTAL	3			SUBTOTAL	3

SOPHOMORE FALL		SOPHOMORE SPRING
Nat Sci (Rubric 2)	4	Minor course (Business)	3
Minor course	3	Minor course	3
ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, or HUM 2610 (Hum/FA)	3	JOUR 3650	3
PR 3040	3	PR 3360	3
Minor course	3	RIM 3770	3
SUBTOTAL	16	SUBTOTAL	15
*2.50 GPA required for admission to School of Journalism		*2.50 GPA required for admission to School of Journalism

JUNIOR SUMMER
PR 3380 or VCOM 2950	3			Minor course (Business)	3
SUBTOTAL	3			SUBTOTAL	3

JUNIOR FALL		JUNIOR SPRING
VCOM 2010	3	Minor course (Business)	3
RIM 3600	3	JOUR conceptual requirement	3	See advisor
Minor course	3	Minor course	3
Minor course (Business)	3	PR 3400; VCOM 3910; RIM 3720, 3890, 4320, 4620; or JOUR 3450, 3530	3
Minor course	3	PR 4740	3
SUBTOTAL	15	SUBTOTAL	15

SENIOR SUMMER
Minor course (Business)	3		JOUR 3580, JOUR 4000, or RIM 4000	1–3	Practicum/Internship
Minor course or elective	3	If necessary	Elective	3
SUBTOTAL	6		SUBTOTAL	4–6
Note: Public Relations students must have two minors; one must be in the Jones College of Business.

TOTAL HOURS IN PROGRAM: 120

Graduation information may be accessed here.

Public Relations

PR 3040 - Public Relations Principles
3 credit hours
Practice of public relations, including its fundamental concepts and theories, historical development, and current issues.NOTE: Course number changing to 2040 effective Spring 2014.

PR 3360 - Public Relations Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy. Techniques of creating and writing, including the planning and development of corporate, public service, and other persuasive messages.

PR 3380 - Public Relations Publications
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy; VCOM 2010. Effective print-design techniques with emphasis on organizational publications.

PR 3400 - Case Studies in Public Relations
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PR 3040. Practical methods of handling problems in public relations with emphasis on fact-finding, planning, promoting, and evaluating.

PR 3520 - Special Topics in Professional Issues
3 credit hours
(Same as JOUR/ADV/VCOM 3520.) Prerequisites: JOUR 3090 and admission to candidacy. Special topics in journalism, advertising, public relations, and visual communication focusing on practical applications. Topics change each semester and have included investigative, environmental, sports, and political reporting; visual editing; international public relations; and advertising account management. May be repeated up to 6 credits.

PR 4740 - Public Relations Campaigns
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy; PR 3360 and PR 3380 or VCOM 2950; senior standing. Researching and planning public relations campaigns. An opportunity for senior-level students to synthesize and apply knowledge and skills from previous courses.

Contact and Student Information

Contact Advising Web Mail

Cary Greenwood
cary.greenwood@mtsu.edu

Phone | 615-494-7748

Olivia Young (Advising Manager)
Olivia.Young@mtsu.edu
615-898-5945 | COMM 230C

Nancy Stubblefield (A-C)
Nancy.Stubblefield@mtsu.edu
615-494-7710 | COMM 230E

Lucille Wilcox (D-F)
Lucille.Wilcox@mtsu.edu
615-898-5499 | COMM 230I

Christina Haygood (G-J)
Nancy.Stubblefield@mtsu.edu
615-494-7710 | COMM 230

Trever Thomas (K-M)
Trever.Thomas@mtsu.edu
615-494-7995 | COMM 230

Tiffany Milfort (N-P)
Tiffany.Milfort@mtsu.edu
615-494-7994 | COMM 230

Andrew Stephens (Q-S)
Andrew.Stephens@mtsu.edu

School of Journalism

School of Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 64
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

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