What Can You Do With A Public Relations Degree? – Forbes Advisor

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Public relations refers back to the behind-the-scenes administration of a corporation’s or particular person’s public picture and popularity. Public relations professionals would possibly write press releases, domesticate press contacts for protection or handle social media accounts for his or her purchasers.
Graduates with public relations levels can pursue varied profession paths throughout a number of fields. Read on to be taught extra about what you are able to do with a public relations diploma.

What Is Public Relations?
The subject of public relations works to strengthen relationships between organizations (or people) and the general public, utilizing strategic communications to take action. In at this time’s digital panorama, public relations professionals should construct relationships with stakeholders and the general public throughout varied platforms on behalf of their purchasers.
Public relations encompasses a broad vary of actions, together with drafting company press releases, curating social media content material and writing speeches for his or her purchasers. People who main in public relations may also pursue careers in journalism, advertising, promoting and occasion administration.
Types of Public Relations Degrees
Bachelor’s in Public Relations
Like bachelor’s levels in most fields, a typical bachelor’s in public relations requires about 4 years of full-time examine. The curriculum normally consists of round 120 credit, with roughly 60 credit devoted to normal schooling programs and 60 credit targeted on public relations main coursework.
Public relations diploma coursework covers varied topics, together with foundations of graphic communication, introduction to public affairs communication, disaster communication and public relations administration. The greatest colleges join with native PR companies to offer college students with beneficial internship and employment alternatives.
Bachelor’s in Communications
Students involved in pursuing a public relations profession can discover communications levels providing concentrations in public relations. Many schools throughout the nations supply bachelor’s levels in communications. The typical program size for these applications is 4 years and requires round 120 credit for commencement.
Communications majors sometimes full main programs in public talking, intercultural communication, social media advertising technique and strategic storytelling. Students can also take public relations-specific programs, together with writing for public relations, digital public relations and marketing campaign planning.
Bachelor’s in Journalism
Like comparable communications and public relations applications, a bachelor’s diploma in journalism normally requires round 120 credit and takes full-time college students roughly 4 years, or eight semesters, to finish. It is widespread for graduates with journalism levels to transition into public relations.
Major course necessities in a journalism program could embrace reporting and writing throughout platforms, multiplatform story manufacturing, data gathering and demanding writing.
Start your program search with our rating of the most effective journalism colleges.
Master’s in Public Relations
A sturdy grasp’s program in public relations balances concept with follow, offering ample alternative for college kids to use their classroom data within the subject. Students enrolled in graduate-level PR applications acquire expertise by on-campus labs or internships with associate organizations.
Many grasp’s in public relations applications sometimes require 30 to 48 credit and may be accomplished in a single to 2 years. However, necessities for graduate applications can fluctuate extensively by college. Courses in these applications could embrace writing for media professionals, strategic media relations and administration, communication analysis and an internship.
6 Public Relations Careers to Consider
We sourced the beneath wage information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Advertising or Promotions Manager
Median Annual Salary: $127,830Required Education: Bachelor’s degreeJob Description: Advertising and promotions managers oversee advert campaigns for his or her corporations that promote their firm’s services. They typically work commonplace workplace hours however could also be required to journey to satisfy purchasers or representatives.
Between 2021 and 2031, the BLS tasks a ten% job development for promoting and promotions managers, which doubles the typical projected development price for all careers (5%) throughout that interval.
Fundraising Manager
Median Annual Salary: $107,390Required Education: Bachelor’s diploma, generally a grasp’s degreeJob Description: Fundraising managers develop and implement methods for his or her organizations. They typically work for nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations. Typical work days for these professionals could contain donor conferences, grant sourcing and writing and supervising workers.
Between 2021 and 2031, the BLS tasks 10% job development for fundraising managers.
Marketing Manager
Median Annual Salary: $140,040Required Education: Bachelor’s degreeJob Description: Marketing managers oversee the advertising departments of various organizations. They deal with varied job duties which can embrace figuring out new markets and territories for merchandise, adjusting pricing based mostly on demand and collaborating with gross sales and public relations departments.
Between 2021 and 2031, the BLS tasks 10% job development for advertising managers. To be taught extra, take a look at our information on the best way to develop into a advertising supervisor.
Public Relations Manager
Median Annual Salary: $129,430Required Education: Bachelor’s diploma, generally a grasp’s degreeJob Description: Public relations managers handle their group’s public picture. Their job duties could embrace writing press releases, briefing group members for media appointments and press conferences and strategizing on efficient communication approaches for various audiences.
Between 2021 and 2031, the BLS tasks 8% job development for public relations managers.
Public Relations Specialist
Median Annual Salary: $67,440Required Education: Bachelor’s degreeJob Description: Public relations specialists are sometimes entry-level workers at PR companies. Their every day duties could embrace writing and collaborating on press releases, monitoring social media accounts and drafting speeches.
Between 2021 and 2031, the BLS tasks 8% job development for public relations specialists.
Writer or Author
Median Annual Salary: $73,150Required Education: Bachelor’s degreeJob Description: Writers and authors create written content material for varied functions. For instance, authors could write novels and books, whereas technical writers create educational manuals. Their job duties embrace writing preliminary drafts, receiving editor suggestions after which creating the ultimate content material product.
Between 2021 and 2031, the BLS tasks 4% job development for writers and authors.
Skills for Public Relations Professionals
Interpersonal Skills
Public relations professionals should perceive human nature and the general public at massive. They should anticipate how folks would possibly reply to a given message from their consumer or group. Their potential to construct sturdy relationships with media members is essential to make sure protection.
Organization
Public relations includes many transferring components. Successful public relations professionals have sturdy organizational abilities. From writing speeches and making a social media content material calendar to creating general methods and model picture, these professionals should keep well-organized to attain their objectives.
Problem-Solving
Crisis communication is a significant side of public relations. Under tough circumstances, public relations professionals should know the best way to remedy issues and decide the most effective plan of action for his or her purchasers.
Speaking
Public relations professionals could also be requested to function spokespeople for his or her organizations. They have to be able to answering difficult questions whereas adhering to agreed-upon speaking factors.
Writing
Drafting speeches and writing press releases are widespread duties for public relations professionals. Therefore, they need to possess sturdy written communication abilities to enhance their public talking talents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Public Relations Careers

What ought to I do with my PR diploma?

After incomes a bachelor’s diploma in public relations, you may pursue entry-level PR positions, similar to public relations specialist roles. Public relations specialists could assist write speeches or develop marketing campaign methods for purchasers. With time and extra expertise, you may progress right into a managerial position in advertising, promoting, promotions, fundraising or public relations.

Is public relations an excellent profession?

Yes, public relations is an effective profession alternative. According to the BLS, entry-level PR professionals earn a median annual wage of $67,440 as of May 2022. The BLS additionally tasks a faster-than-average job development price of 8% for public relations specialists between 2021 and 2031.

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