Undergraduate Majors
- Learning to a Greater Degree Contract
- Majors
- Academic Colleges & Departments
- Academic Advising
- Transfer Information
- Catalogs
- Online and Distance Learning
- The Graduate School
- Honors College
- International Center
- Registrar and Student Records
- Undergraduate Degree Programs
- Undergraduate Research
- Writing Center
Public Relations
Bachelor of Science Degree
 
|
What do the following industries have in common: entertainment, sports, large and small companies, non-profit organizations, healthcare, higher education, government organizations, aviation, financial institutions, creative agencies? The answer: They all employee UCM public relations graduates.
According to a Fortune magazine survey, the field of public relations is one of the top-10 fastest growing industries nationwide (see the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov/oco/ocos086. htm). Similarly, Money Magazine's "50 Best Jobs in America" article states that public relations professionals earn an average annual salary of nearly $85,000, with an earning potential of nearly $250,000 a year. Additionally, there are more than 9,000 annual job openings, with a projected 23 percent 10-year growth rate increase. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics data supports this and estimates that there are 275,000 practicing public relations professionals nationwide, while the Global Alliance estimates there are 3 million people worldwide practicing it.
Public relations is, without question, the most comprehensive; sought after; and, on average, the highest paid; field of strategic communication. What does this mean for you as a UCM public relations graduate? It means you will possess the most comprehensive set of communication skills (strategic planning, written and oral communication, counseling management, media relations, image and issues management, research, etc.) that will help you foster organizational success and sustainability. You will be among some of the most sought after communication professionals in the industry. On average, your starting salary will be higher than most of your communication colleagues.
UCM Public Relations Program
University of Central Missouri's bachelor of science in public relations readies students for the professional world of image development, strategic planning, issues management, professional and promotional communication, media relations, and development, just to name few. UCM's public relations program is known among industry leaders for equipping its graduates with the skills needed to succeed in today's competitive public relations world. UCM graduates have attained executive-level positions with major organizations such as Dell computers, American Airlines, and professional sports teams. Others work in the non-profit and government sectors for such organizations as the American Red Cross, Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, for higher education institutions, and the state legislature. More have taken positions with agencies such as Bernstein-Rein, Kuhn & Wittenborn, Weber-Shandwick, and Fleishman-Hillard. Graduates find employment all over the world. The strategic development of the public relations program is guided by the Public Relations Society of America's "Report of the Commission on Public Relations Education." Each graduate is equipped with beyond-the-classroom experience through service-learning and at least one supervised internship. The program is designed to develop public relations professionals who take a public- focused approach to results-driven strategic communication.
Professional Development and Student Involvement
Public relations students are encouraged to take part in co-curricular activities that relate to their major. Involvement in the Robert Kendall Chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America, the second-oldest campus chapter in the nation, is highly valuable.
Students are also encouraged to take part in the student-led public relations firm, Innovative PR. The firm employs one Account Coordinator and five PR Specialists each semester. Other communication organizations open to students include the International Association of Business Communicators, Lambda Pi Eta, Pi Kappa Delta and the Society of Professional Journalists. Many also take part in SIFE, DECA or AMA.
The department promotes undergraduate and graduate learning experiences at Glamorgan University, Pontypridd Wales; Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland; and Monterrey TEC (ITESM-CEM), Mexico, as well as multi-national experiences provided by the Maastricht Center for Transatlantic Studies in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Campus Media
Additional experience for public relations majors can be gained at the Department of Communication and Sociology's student newspaper, the Muleskinner, which is a weekly laboratory publication. Paid editorial and advertising positions are available, as well as practical experience for course credit. Students can also get involved in the online community newspaper, the digitalBurg, or the student broadcast station CTV.
The university's 100,000-watt stateof- the-art public broadcasting stations also provide unique opportunities for students to gain real-life, hands-on experience in radio and television both on air and behind the scenes. In addition to a full complement of National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting System programming, the stations feature a variety of locally produced programs that are enjoyed by a potential audience of a million people.
To Learn More
Department of Communication
660-543-4840
Admissions
660-543-4290
