Public Relations Major

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree Requirements
124 semester hours

The following degree requirements are from the current Franklin University Academic Bulletin. If you began your coursework before the current academic year, please contact your SSA for your degree requirements. Always confirm your degree requirements with your SSA.

Fundamental General Education Core (24 hours)
All courses must be at the 100 or 200 level

• Minimum of three semester hours of English Composition (if the course does not have a research paper component, COMM 130 Research Paper, two semester credits, is also required)
  Choose COMM 120 College Writing.
• Minimum of three semester hours of Mathematics (at least one mathematics or statistics course beyond the level of intermediate algebra)
  Choose from MATH 160 College Algebra, MATH 180 Applied Calculus, MATH 210 Finite Mathematics, MATH 220 Business Calculus, or MATH 215 Statistical Concepts.
• Minimum of six semester hours of Sciences (two science courses, with one having a laboratory component)
  Choose from the Science discipline.
• Minimum of six semester hours of Social and Behavioral Sciences (which must be in at least two different disciplines)
  Choose from the Anthropology, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology disciplines.
• Minimum of six semester hours of Arts and Humanities
  Choose from the Humanities discipline.

Additional General Education Requirements (26 hours)

• COMP 106 - Introduction to Spreadsheets (1)
• COMP 107 - Introduction to Web Authoring (1)
• HUMN 210 - Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking Skills (2)
• HUMN 305 - Global Issues (4)
• MATH 215* - Statistical Concepts (4)
• PF 321 - Learning Strategies (2)
• PSYC 110** - General Psychology (4)
• SOCL 110** - Introduction to Sociology (4)
• SPCH 100 - Speech Communication (4)       

*Select another General Education Elective if MATH 215 is used in the Fundamental General Education Core.
**Select another Social Science elective if either PSYC 110 or SOCL 110 is used in the Fundamental General Education Core.

Professional Core (24 hours)

• BSAD 312 - Management Theory and Practices (4)
• COMM 150 - Interpersonal Communication (4)
• COMM 315 - Communication Ethics (4)
• COMM 320 - Business & Professional Communication (4)
• MKTG 300 - Marketing (4)
• PSYC 204 - Principles of Motivation (4)

University Electives (22 hours)

Any courses offered by the University except developmental education courses.

Major Area (28 hours)

• PBRL 325 - Public Relations (4)
  
• PBRL 350 - Media Research and Writing (4)
  
• PBRL 425 - Crisis and Media Communication (4)
  
• PBRL 445 - Public Relations and Promotional Strategy (4)
  
• PBRL 450 - Rhetoric and Social Influence (4)
  
• PBRL 495 - Public Relations Capstone (4)
• Major Area Electives (4)*
  Select 4 hours from the following:
  • MIS 320 - Technical Communication (4)
  • MKTG 350 - Persuasive Strategies: Influencing Business and Consumer Decisions (4)
  • MKTG 430 - Relationship Marketing (4)
  • ORGC 321 - Organizational Communication (4)
  • ORGC 335 - Communication in Groups and Teams (4)
  • ORGC 460 - Strategic Communication (4)
  • PBRL 410 - Public Relations Internship (1-4)
  • PBRL 480 - Special Topics In Public Relations (4)
  • PBRL 499 - Independent Studies In Public Relations (1-4)

Major Requirements
Students seeking a bachelor's degree must earn at least 40 credit hours in residence at Franklin University. For other residence requirements, see "General Degree and Residency Requirements".
A minimum 2.25 GPA is required in the major and each major course must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher to count toward degree requirements.

If needed, English, reading, computer literacy and mathematics placement tests determine which, if any, developmental education courses are required. Students placing into these courses must pass them prior to enrolling in any other course at the 200 level or above. Developmental education courses carry institutional credit only and do not count toward degree requirements for graduation.
Business Principles (BSAD 110) is a Professional Core prerequisite. Transfer students with the equivalent of four business courses are not required to take Business Principles.

All students are required to pass College Writing (COMM 120), Learning Strategies (PF 321) and Speech Communication (SPCH 100) prior to enrolling in any course at the 200 level or above. PF 321 must be taken prior to the first BLF course, or it may be taken concurrently with the first 15-week BLF course. General Education courses must be selected from science, math, social and behavioral science, humanities, economics, communication or professional foundations. Students also must meet the University algebra competency requirement.

The Public Relations program also offers a Subsequent Bachelor of Science degree, Minor, and Joint Programs of Study: B.S. Public Relations/M.S. in Marketing & Communication.