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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
Office | Room 249, Bragg Mass Communication Building (COMM)
Mail | MTSU Box 64, Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Degree Information
B.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1978)
Dr. Cary Ann Greenwood
Assistant Professor
cary.greenwood@mtsu.edu
Office | Room 249, 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)
Zeny Panol
Associate Dean
zeny.panol@mtsu.edu
Office | Room 247, Bragg Mass Communication Building (COMM)
Mail | MTSU Box 51, Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Dr. Hanna Park
Assistant Professor
hanna.park@mtsu.edu
Office | Bragg Mass Communication Building (COMM)
Mail | MTSU Box 64, Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Degree Information
Ph.D., University of Florida (2012)
M.A., University of Florida (2009)
M.S., Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (2008)
B.S., Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (2006)
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.An academic map is a suggested four-year schedule of courses based on degree requirements
in the undergraduate catalog. This sample schedule serves as a general guideline to
help build a full schedule each term. Milestones, courses, and special requirements
necessary for timely progress to complete a major are designated to keep you on track
to graduate in four years. Missing milestones could delay your program.
This map based on the 2013-2014 undergraduate catalog is not a substitute for academic
advisement - contact your advisor if you have any questions about scheduling or about
your degree requirements. Also see the current undergraduate catalog (catalog.mtsu.edu)for a complete list of requirements and electives. Note: Requirements are continually under revision, and there is no guarantee they
will not be changed or revoked; contact the department and/or program area for current
information.
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 (see below). NOTE: Learning Support
courses will alter the sequences on this map.
Public Relations-General Academic Map
School of Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro
Suggested Fall/Spring and Summer/Fall/Spring Four-Year Schedule
Refer to the scholarships website for information regarding use of the Lottery Scholarship for the summer term.
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 at www.mtsu.edu/records/grad.php.
Public Relations - Recording Industry Academic Map
School of Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro
Suggested Fall/Spring and Summer/Fall/Spring Four-Year Schedule
Refer to the scholarships website for information regarding use of the Lottery Scholarship for the summer term.
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 at www.mtsu.edu/records/grad.php.
Public Relations
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.
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.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy; VCOM 2010. Effective print-design techniques with emphasis on organizational publications.
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PR 3040. Practical methods of handling problems in public relations with emphasis on fact-finding, planning, promoting, and evaluating.
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.
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
615-494-7748
School of Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 64
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
True Blue Preview
An inside look at MTSU's Public Relations program from those who know it best: our students and faculty.
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