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Media, Communications and Journalism

Public Relations

For advising information, click here.

Click here for a fun PDF re: "The ABC's of PR" form the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.

The public relations sequence is one of the largest in the Department of Media, Communications and Journalism, and serves as a launching pad for the region’s most savvy PR practitioners. Led by veteran public relations practitioner Prof. Betsy A. Hays, APR, the sequence also includes the leadership and instruction of long-time public relations and advertising guru Jan Edwards.

The following courses are included in the public relations sequence:

- Mass Communication and Society
- Media Writing
- Reporting
- Editing of Publications
- Media Law or Media Ethics
- Introduction to Public Relations
- Public Relations Writing
- Applied Media Research
- Public Relations Cases & Campaigns
- Internship
- MCJ Elective

In addition to taking a series of hands-on, information-packed courses, public relations students are also able to obtain additional leadership and practice skills through the Fresno State Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. More PRSSA information can be found at www.fresnostateprssa.wordpress.com.

The MCJ Department also has a student-run PR firm, TALK, that is open to all majors. www.wetalkpr.wordpress.com.

Service-learning is a key component of the PR option, with three core classes including this proven pedagogy. Read more about service-learning in PR at Fresno State here.

The public relations sequence is strongly supported by Fresno State alumni, local and regional PR practitioners and the Central California Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (www.prsacentralcal.org).

PUBLIC RELATIONS ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Recently the Fresno State public relations option coordinator, Prof. Betsy A. Hays, APR, Fellow PRSA, coordinated with a team of faculty throughout the country as part of the Coleman Foundation's "Cup of Espresso" Project to assist entrepreneurship faculty with information regarding public relations entrepreneurship. Prof. Hays is a Coleman Fellow through the Fresno State Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. See the results of the project here