Connect the Public with Brands, Personalities and Social Ideas with a Degree in Communication and a Concentration in Public Relations

If you like building relationships, are good sharing your passions or vision, and you care about the impact an organization, brand or product can have on the lives of others, then a BA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations is the path for you.

Public Relations is about building relationships between consumers and a product or brand. Your job in that process is to create leads, drive traffic, raise brain awareness, connect with an audience -- and that’s just the beginning! Public Relations is vital to all types of organizations: non-profit, for-profit, educational, political, and more.

Real Projects, Real Clients

Our concentration in Public Relations is integrative, incorporating both theoretical and a hands-on approach to this dynamic and evolving field. Our faculty are working professionals who connect students with opportunities to engage with real clients and build a professional-grade portfolio of work.

Professional Preparation

Students can participate in the Vanguard University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, the collegiate version of the professional organization. Membership supplies professional networking and development opportunities and connects students with jobs and internships. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. Founded in 1968 by its parent organization, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), PRSSA includes nearly 7,000 student members and advisers, and is active on nearly 375 colleges and university campuses, including in Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.prssa.org. 

Media Arts Integration

Today’s public relations professional is expected to be familiar with media-driven channels of communication, from social media to graphic design. You will have the opportunity to choose elective courses that will augment your career goals and help you gain specific technical job skills and can take advantage of the workshops and personalized support in digital skills offered through the MediaHub.

Internships

Orange County is one of the largest media markets in the country, and Public Relations students have a wide variety of internship opportunities, from boutique agencies that focus on non-profit work, to municipal government offices, to corporate brand divisions.