Skip to main content

Public Relations Online Degree Concentration within the BA in Communication Program

"Susan Ryan, who earned her degree from SNHU, wearing a bright yellow shirt sitting at a dining room table and resting her chin in her right hand."

You're viewing a Program Concentration

Total courses 4 (of 40)

Term length 8 weeks

Apply Now
Request Information

Concentration Overview Why focus on public relations?

As part of your communication degree, a concentration adds focus to a particular area of study. So, if you're passionate about building relationships and influencing audiences through communications, a concentration in PR might be right for you. In the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations program from Southern New Hampshire University, you'll learn how to support individuals, organizations and modern movements in their communication efforts to maintain a positive brand identity.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Communication development and delivery
  • Strategic planning
  • Stakeholder collaboration
  • Ethical communication approaches
  • Writing for public relations
  • How to execute a PR plan
Susan Ryan, who earned her degree from SNHU, wearing a bright yellow shirt, sitting on a counch and working on her laptop with a glass of ice tea on a small table beside her.

Courses & Curriculum Career-focused public relations courses

Designed by industry experts, SNHU's Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations program focuses on competencies you need to be a successful communicator in today's workplace. Throughout your concentration coursework, you'll gain essential tools, knowledge and skills in public relations as you learn how to shape messaging and create communications plans for a variety of audiences across a range of professional industries.

Concentration Course Descriptions

Your 4-course public relations concentration explained

Your entire BA in Communication degree consists of 40 courses (120 credits) total — made up of general education courses (42 credits), major courses (33 credits), major elective courses (12 credits) and other elective courses (33 credits). If you choose this concentration in public relations, all 4 of your major elective courses will focus specifically on public relations to meet the 12-credit major electives requirement.

Courses may include:

Course ID: COM 227
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of public relations in the United States. Students study the major figures in this field as well as organizations, their behavior, and the relationships between organizations and their publics.
Course ID: COM 336
This course provides a focused overview of electronic public relations applications and presents guidelines for using electronic technologies for public relations purposes. Students will learn to reach various publics through public service announcements, video news releases and satellite media tours. Students will also learn how to reach media, government, consumers, employees and management effectively by applying electronic media technologies.
Course ID: COM 340
Survey course requiring copywriting in public communication formats, including news releases, features, editorials, brochures, executive summaries, company profiles, newsletters and annual report copy.
Course ID: COM 452
This capstone course offers practice in managing communication campaigns from the public relations perspective and emphasizes the production and presentation of campaign plans. Students will develop and pitch a campaign for a real client.

Visit the course catalog to view the full Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations curriculum.

Apply for free in minutes

Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming term starts: June 29, 2026 | August 31, 2026

Next term starts:
May 4, 2026

Apply Now

Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.4% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2025 survey with 8,718 respondents.

What to expect:

8-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Faculty Profile

Learn from successful PR practitioners

Our faculty members bring with them decades of experience in public relations. By bringing real-world insights to the classroom, our instructors can help position graduates for success in a fast-paced and ever-changing field.

Featured Faculty

Dr. Karen Wilkinson, Associate Dean, Communications
Dr. Karen Wilkinson

Dr. Karen Wilkinson brings with her a wealth of real-world communication, marketing, fundraising, public information and training experience in corporate and government sectors. Wilkinson has worked at SNHU for more than a decade and enjoys finding innovative ways to enlighten her students, engage and collaborate with fellow faculty members, and integrate educational technology into the online learning environment.

Position
Associate Dean, Communications

Joined SNHU
2012

Education

  • EdD in Curriculum and Instruction: Educational Technology from the University of South Carolina
  • LEAD certification from the University of Virginia
  • Certification in Municipal & County Administration for Government Officials from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • MA in English: Technical & Professional Communication from East Carolina University
  • BA in Community Studies from the University of Massachusetts-Boston
5 ways SNHU makes the admission process "easy-peasy" #shorts

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

It's easy, fast and free.

Apply Now

Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

New England Commission of Higher Education Logo

Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online undergraduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 120-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$342
$1,026
$41,040
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$250
$750
$30,000

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$10,260 $15,390 $20,520 $25,650 $30,780
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 30 of your prior learning credits ($342/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $30,780

If 45 of your prior learning credits ($342/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $25,650

If 60 of your prior learning credits ($342/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $20,520

If 75 of your prior learning credits ($342/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $15,390

If 90 of your prior learning credits ($342/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $10,260

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a bachelor's degree. Most bachelor's degrees require 120 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 90 credits, requiring a minimum of 30 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator, and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with my concentration in public relations?

When you earn your Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations, you open yourself up to a range of possibilities — like brand management, crisis communications, external communications, fundraising, media planning and public affairs. While PR careers can vary, one thing is always true — public relations is fast paced, and you must be prepared for change.

Occupations

Managing a brand's image is a multi-disciplinary effort. When you complete your communication degree with a concentration in public relations, you'll learn skills that you can apply in a number of areas:

Write journalism-style stories that don't explicitly read like marketing for an organization, but in fact are.

Take the lead on protecting your organization's image as you respond to the public.

From conventions to galas, you can make your event really work for your organization.

Keep employees informed of all of the news, changes and events within a company.

Work with the media to give them positive stories about your organization.

Help control the image of your company – often through online search results.

Create and deliver content that helps your organization engage with its audience.

Write the clear and effective words delivered by leaders, politicians and event hosts.

6%
An icon of a flow chart arrow pointing upwards

Increase nationally in public relations specialist positions through 2032, projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1

$66,750
An icon of a piggy bank with a dollar symbol

Median annual pay nationally for public relations specialists as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1 Statistic not based on wage data for SNHU graduates.

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not on SNHU graduate outcomes, and do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Sammantha Hoyt '21
Sammantha Hoyt '21

Each class has taught me something unique. Personal Brand Communications was my favorite course because it encouraged me to dive into my personal brand and lay the foundation for my branding, allowing me to identify my own goals and aspirations.

Sammantha Hoyt '21

Frequently Asked Questions

A PR concentration is a specialization with a communication degree program that focuses on developing your skills in thinking, writing, research and strategic planning so you can become a savvy – and responsible – communicator.

With a career in public relations, you’ll work to educate the public about an organization, its mission and its products or services. You can also help manage the organization’s reputation, mitigating negative publicity and acting as a liaison to the media.

At SNHU, public relations is a concentration of the BA in Communication degree. Within the entire program, many courses offer a strong foundation of written and verbal communication skills and explore a variety of topics, including:

  • Brand storytelling
  • Communications law and ethics
  • Communications technology
  • Public relations strategies
  • Public speaking
  • Social media strategy
  • Visual communication

"It’s a passion of mine to build and foster relationships," said Sammantha Hoyt '21, as to why she added the PR concentration onto her communication degree. "I have extensive experience doing so throughout my career and have developed the skills necessary to successfully provide a positive outcome to a diverse audience in various situations."

Before graduating, you can put this learning into practice with a capstone project, developing and pitching a PR campaign for a real client.

A successful public relations professional needs strong communication skills, as well as technical skills to help deliver messages through a variety of channels. Knowing how to tell an engaging story for multiple audiences is also key.

With an online public relations concentration from SNHU, you can develop these important PR skills that are in high demand across many industries. You can learn how to:

  • Develop quality oral, written and visual communications for a variety of audiences
  • Use communications technology to deliver a message and gauge its effectiveness
  • Evaluate, choose and utilize strategies and technology to effectively communicate
  • Use leadership skills to work within an organization to execute communication strategies
  • Apply professional, ethical and socially sensitive communication practices

"I wanted to study communications because it is a chance to learn new skills or re-learn crucial skills that are a part of everyone’s lives – communication," said Victoria Comis '21. "Not just communication between two people, but between groups of people and organizations, among others. It is a skill that many companies look for in their prospective employees."

Learn more about skills you need in the PR field.

It depends. Public relations jobs focus on showing brands in their best light – and keeping them there. But just like job descriptions can vary widely within the PR field, so can your day-to-day work.

With a job as a public relations manager, you could lead a team of PR and communications workers to manage your organization’s public image. You could research and monitor social, economic and political trends and look for ways to leverage those trends to enhance the reputation of your organization.

As a public relations specialist, you could focus your work in one area of PR and work with a larger team of communications professionals. You might work as a media manager, for example, and be a liaison between an organization and the press. In this role, you might have responsibilities like writing press releases, organizing press conferences and even speaking publicly on behalf of the organization.

You could also help an organization navigate the constantly evolving realm of social media and online reputation management, assisting an organization’s social media and customer service teams to monitor and manage public perception.

Dreaming of starting your own business? As a freelance PR consultant, you could develop communications strategies for multiple clients across a broad range of industries. You could also specialize in an area like crisis communications to help brands navigate threats to their brand image.

Learn more about what a public relations specialist does.

At colleges and universities, a concentration is a focused area of study within a larger degree program. A concentration generally replaces elective coursework in the major or discipline, allowing students to focus their studies on an area of interest.

Related Articles

Sources & Citations

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

  • https://www.bls.gov/OOH/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm (viewed April 19, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/OOH/management/public-relations-managers.htm (viewed April 19, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/OOH/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm (viewed April 19, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.