BS in Public Relations
The undergraduate curriculum in Public Relations will prepare students for professional careers in myriad fields related to corporate, nonprofit, public affairs, and media-based communication, by incorporating theory, research, and practice to provide a deeper understanding of media relations, intercultural affairs, digital expression, ethics and crisis communication, and campaign strategy.
The program offers instruction on an array of methodological and professional tactics for building complex messages and efforts on both an interpersonal and public scale. Students graduating from the program will have the knowledge and tools to compete with the most elite communicators, armed with talents on how to influence public opinion, develop relationships in the public and private sectors, design effective campaigns, and use innovation to solve complex and critical problems.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations, students will be able to:
Develop skills and competencies based upon both the science and the art of public relations.
Develop an understanding of the business of public relations and the commercial knowledge necessary to function effectively as a public relations practitioner.
Comprehend that the public relations process involves a number of stages including research, strategic planning, action, and evaluation.
Develop an effective sense of communication effectiveness in terms of both written and oral communication.
Develop an appreciation for and an understanding of communication theory and research.
Develop an understanding of media relations for both traditional print/broadcast media, as well as for emerging social/digital media.
Develop an appreciation for and an understanding of how public relations study at Boston University can be implemented into practical application via internship and PRLab experiences.
Curriculum
All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University's general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Public Relations will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy all BU Hub requirements in Communication as well as most of the requirements in the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.
Requirements specific to the College of Communication Bachelor of Science in Public Relations are separated into three levels. The first level is college-wide requirements-units comprising COM CO 101 and a 0-unit Professional Experience-that provide the foundation for a future in any communication field. Beyond that are departmental requirements, 16 units which encompass important aspects of all three departmental majors: Advertising, Media Science, and Public Relations. Then, there are the Public Relations major requirements, 28 units incorporating study in agency work, public affairs and nonprofit settings, crisis management, and media strategy available in classroom-based, field-based, and abroad-based environments.
COM Requirements
(1 course and a Professional Experience; 4 units)
COM CO 101 The Human Storyteller (minimum grade of C required to continue in COM) (coreq: first-year writing seminar or equivalent)
COM CO 575 COM Professional Experience (0 units)
Departmental Requirements
(4 total courses; 16 units)
COM CM 180 Understanding Media (can be taken by first-year students)
21 January 2025
College of Communication
640 Commonwealth Avenue,
BOSTON,
Massachusetts,
02215, United States
Apply as a first-year student if you are currently in your last year of high school, have completed high school, are a GED recipient, or have completed a high school equivalency exam. If you are currently in high school and are part of a dual enrollment program, you should also apply as a first-year student.
English Proficiency Testing Results:
Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT): Students who are most competitive for admission will have a composite score of at least 90-100 and minimum scores of 20 in each section.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A total/overall score of 7 or higher
Duolingo English Test (DET): Students who are most competitive for admission will have a total score of at least 125-135.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.