BA in Advertising and Public Relations
Susquehanna University
Key Information
Campus location
Selinsgrove, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 54,440 / per year **
Application deadline
Request info *
Earliest start date
Request info
* November 1 — Early Action 1. November 15 — Early Decision. December 1 — Early Action 2. February 1 — Regular Decision admission application deadline; late applications welcome as space permits. March 1 — International Students
** tuition 2022-23
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Become tomorrow’s creative leader
Advertising and public relations are vital functions in dynamic companies. Different than marketers, advertising and public relations professionals take a creative look at strategic communications, blending research and art to craft all messages for a company.
You will learn to take your natural creativity and analytical thinking and combine them to create comprehensive and connected brands and communications strategies. Plus, you can choose a minor, like international studies or leadership, to give you a broad perspective of what it takes to be a creative leader.
Discover the keys of strategic communication
Learn what makes an effective visual ad, a good tweet, and a compelling story. At Susquehanna, you will
- Study foundational theories of strategic communication,
- Practice the essential skills of a communication professional — oral, visual, written, and research — and
- Explore ethics that connect professional communicators.
Guided discussions and projects on concepts from rhetoric to digital advertising will further help develop your skills as a strategic communicator.
Wield the power of communication
While a student, you’ll put your creative communications skills to work. Develop communications plans for on-campus activities, design ads in the student newspaper, and find off-campus internships to begin your professional portfolio. You can also join student professional organizations to connect with current advertising and public relations professionals and enrich your academic knowledge with real-world wisdom.
Susquehanna is renowned for connecting students with fantastic study-abroad programs to help them learn and evolve. By expanding your worldwide perspective, you’ll have a leading edge on other job seekers when you enter the workforce.
Campus Opportunities
University-sponsored organizations that give you space to express your creativity and prepare yourself for a professional career.
- Public Relations Student Society of America
- Association of Women in Sports Media
- The Quill—student newspaper
- The Lanthorn—Susquehanna’s yearbook
- Lambda Pi Eta—official honor society of the National Communication Association (NCA)
- Marketing Club
- TRAX—student-run entertainment venue
Gallery
Curriculum
Requirements For Advertising & Public Relations Track
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Communications
Susquehanna offers five degrees in Communications: Advertising and Public Relations; Broadcasting; Communication Studies; Journalism and Digital Content; and Sports Media. Majors complete university Central Curriculum requirements, plus 48 to 50 semester hours of courses in a selected degree plan. These include introductory courses, practica for learning skills, and specific emphasis requirements. A grade of C- or better is required for any course to apply to the major or minor. Courses may count toward only one degree or minor.
The department also expects communications majors and minors to participate each semester in related co-curricular activities. Options include WQSU-FM radio; The Quill student newspaper; The Lanthorn student yearbook; studio and remote video production with Lens Flare; the Paul Dannelley Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA); the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM), and other activities supervised by department faculty.
Advertising and Public Relations Track
Students fulfill the university Central Curriculum requirements, participate fully in various media activities, and successfully complete the following courses:
24 Department Requirements
- 4 COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media
- 2 COMM-102 Methods of Adobe Creative Suite
- 2 COMM-190 Introduction to Communications/Media Theory
- 4 COMM-192 Public Speaking
- 4 COMM-201 Ethics and Leadership
- 4 COMM-202 Digital Media Analytics
- 4 COMM-481 Media Law
14 Advertising and Public Relations Requirements
- 4 COMM-211 Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations
- 4 COMM-311 Research Methods in Advertising and Public Relations
- 4 COMM-411 Public Relations Management
- or COMM-418 Advertising Campaigns
- 1 COMM-501 Practicum
- 1 COMM-501 Practicum
- or COMM-504 Internship
12 Choose three from:
- 4 COMM-215 Professional Selling
- 4 COMM-314 Public Relations Writing and Campaigns
- 4 COMM-317 Advertising Creative Strategies
- 4 COMM-321 Crisis Management
- 4 COMM-322 Strategic Event Management
- 4 ARTG-251 Computer Applications in Graphic Design
- 4 MKTG-280 Marketing
Honors
The departmental honors program encourages and recognizes outstanding performance in communications. To graduate with department honors, candidates must do the following:
- Complete major requirements under the guidance of a Communications Department faculty adviser, who agrees to serve as a sponsor at the student’s request,
- Petition the honors coordinator with a written honors proposal no later than the second to last week of the end of the junior year. The submission must be approved as honors quality by departmental faculty,
- Maintain a 3.70 cumulative GPA in department courses,
- Produce an acceptable written or production thesis based on one year of senior research/production work (COMM-503 Honors Study) beyond the required major track semester hours,
- Submit the thesis at least two weeks before graduation, and
- Successfully complete an oral defense of the honors thesis.
Honors work not meeting the required standards will be applied as a university elective course. Departmental honors may be taken separately from or in conjunction with the University Honors Program.
Honor Societies
Students who meet the requisite national and local standards are eligible to join the national honorary society Lamda Pi Eta (communications).
Communications Minors
Courses selected require a grade of C- or higher.
Double-counting restriction
Courses may count toward only one Communications degree or minor.
Requirements for Advertising Minor
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Students are expected to participate in department activities appropriate to their interests and successfully complete a total of 24 semester hours: COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media, COMM-102 Methods of Adobe Creative Suite, COMM-211 Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations, COMM-311 Research Methods in Advertising and Public Relations, COMM-317 Advertising Creative Strategies, two semesters of COMM-501 Practicum, and one of the following electives: COMM-215 Professional Selling, COMM-411 Public Relations Management, or COMM-418 Advertising Campaigns.
Requirements for Public Relations Minor
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Students are expected to participate in department activities appropriate to their interests and successfully complete a total of 24 credit hours: COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media, COMM-102 Methods of Adobe Creative Suite, COMM-211 Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations, COMM-311 Research Methods in Advertising, COMM-314 Public Relations Writing and Campaigns, two semesters of COMM-501 Practicum, and one of the following electives: COMM-321 Crisis Management, COMM-322 Strategic Event Management, or ARTG-251 Computer Applications in Graphic Design.
Course Options
- COMM 101 Essentials of Digital Media, Credits: 4
- COMM 102 Methods of Adobe Creative Suite, Credits: 2
- COMM 131 Introduction to Journalism, Credits: 4
- COMM 141 Sports Reporting, Credits: 2
- COMM 142 Sports Statistics, Credits: 2
- COMM 190 Intro to Communication/Media Theory, Credits: 2
- COMM 191 Interpersonal Communication, Credits: 4
- COMM 192 Public Speaking, Credits: 4
- COMM 194 Intercultural Communication, Credits: 4
- COMM 201 Ethics and Leadership, Credits: 4
- COMM 202 Digital Media Analytics, Credits: 4
- COMM 211 Intro to Advertising & Public Relations, Credits: 4
- COMM 215 Professional Selling, Credits: 4
- COMM 231 News Content and Creation, Credits: 4
- COMM 241 Sports Media Relations & Promotion, Credits: 2
- COMM 242 Sports Announcing, Credits: 2
- COMM 277 Audio Production & Media Performance, Credits: 4
- COMM 282 Fundamentals of Digital Video Production, Credits: 4
- COMM 291 Qualitative Research Methods, Credits: 4
- COMM 311 Research Methods in Advertising, Credits: 4
- COMM 314 Public Relations Writing and Campaigns, Credits: 4
- COMM 315 Advanced Professional Selling, Credits: 4
- COMM 317 Advertising Creative Strategies, Credits: 4
- COMM 321 Crisis Management, Credits: 4
- COMM 322 Strategic Event Management, Credits: 4
- COMM 331 Editing, Credits: 4
- COMM 379 Critical Approaches to Gaming, Credits: 4
- COMM 382 Intermediate Digital Multimedia Product, Credits: 4
- COMM 384 Writing and Planning for Screen, Credits: 4
- COMM 386 Motion Graphics and Animation, Credits: 2
- COMM 391 Team Communication, Credits: 4
- COMM 411 Public Relations Management, Credits: 4
- COMM 418 Advertising Campaigns, Credits: 4
- COMM 435 Feature Writing, Credits: 4
- COMM 481 Media Law, Credits: 4
- COMM 482 Prof Digital Multimedia Production, Credits: 4
- COMM 499 Communication Studies Research, Credits: 4
- COMM 500 Topics in Communications, Credits: 2–4
- COMM 501 Practicum, Credits: 1
- COMM 502 Individual Investigation, Credits: 1–4
- COMM 503 Honors Study, Credits: 4
- COMM 504 Internship, Credits: 1–8
Program Outcome
Learning Goals
- Students will be able to identify, explain and apply theory.
- Students will demonstrate communication skills (oral, visual, written, and research).
- Students will recognize ethical implications and relate them to various contexts.
- Students will develop and practice critical thinking.
Career Opportunities
Communication graduates have recently found jobs with the following companies:
- ABC 27 WHTM
- Citigroup
- Comcast
- Fox 29 WTXF-TV
- Hollywood Media Corporation
- MediaPower
- National Geographic Society
- QVC
- Rockstar San Diego
- Sapient Nitro
- Six Flags America
- Swarovski
- Tiffany & Co.
Recent graduates have continued their studies at:
- University of Pennsylvania
- Boston University
- Colorado State University
- University of Denver
- University of West Florida
- Pennsylvania State University
- Duke University
English Language Requirements
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