B.A. in Public Relations

Do you like to take on leadership roles? Enjoy planning and promoting events? Have talents that include writing, speaking, and organizing? Find that you are versatile with diverse interests and want to combine them in unique ways?

The answers to these questions might lead you to major or minor in public relations at Otterbein. Beginning in your freshman year, through integrated coursework combining public relations, journalism, and other academic interest areas, you will learn valuable public relations strategies, tactics and problem-solving methods, develop strong writing skills, and plan and execute campaigns for real clients.

In Public Relations classes you might:

  • Write a press release and hold a news conference
  • Plan and execute a grand-opening event
  • Launch a campaign using social media
  • Write speeches
  • Design annual reports
  • Create an employee newsletter

Degree Course Topics Include:

  • Communication Practicum
  • Public Relations Techniques
  • Public Relations Campaign Research, Planning and Strategies

Student Learning Outcomes & University Learning Goals (KMERI)

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Knowledgeable

Goals for Core Communication Courses

1. Describe the communication discipline and its central questions.
1a. Articulate the importance of communication expertise in civic engagement.
1b. Evaluate contemporary topics within the field.
2. Employ communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.
2a. Explain and synthesize communication theories, perspectives, principles and concepts.
2b. Apply communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts.

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Multi-literate

Goals for Core Communication Courses

4. Create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.
4a. Research, compose and present a speech to a specific audience.
4b. Critically reflect on one’s own messages.

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Engaged

Public Relations Major Goals

5. Critically analyze messages.
5a. Describe and apply different theoretical frameworks to a variety of messages.

Goals for Core Communication Courses

7. Influence public discourse.

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Responsible

Goals for Core Communication Courses

6. Apply ethical communication principles and practices.
6a. Identify the ethical responsibilities of the audience and the speaker.

University Learning Goals (KMERI): Inquisitive

Goals for Core Communication Courses

3. Engage in communication inquiry.
3a. Identify and describe questions and approaches for communication scholarship.
3b. Evaluate and critique communication scholarship from a variety of perspectives.
3c. Critique communication theories, perspectives, principles and concepts.

*NOTE: KMERI refers to Otterbein's learning goals. It stands for Knowledgeable, Multi-literate, Engaged, Responsible, and Inquisitive. To learn more about KMERI, visit our University Learning Goals page.

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