Public Relations major

Public Relations: courses, careers, and where to study

Public Relations trains students to shape an organization's reputation through media relations, messaging, and crisis communication, suiting strong writers who like persuasion and strategy.

A Public Relations major, usually a bachelor's degree, covers media relations, strategic messaging, crisis and reputation management, campaign planning, and PR writing across press releases, pitches, and social channels. Coursework typically includes communication theory, PR research and measurement, media law and ethics, and a portfolio-building capstone, with most programs requiring an internship at an agency, nonprofit, corporate communications team, or government office.

Graduates write and place stories with journalists, manage social and digital channels, plan events and announcements, draft executive communications, and coordinate responses during a crisis. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, public relations specialists earned a median wage of $69,780 in 2024, and the occupation is projected to grow 4.8% from 2024 to 2034. Entry-level specialist roles generally require a bachelor's degree, while senior management positions, such as public relations and fundraising manager, often expect substantial experience and sometimes a graduate degree.

The major pairs naturally with a Marketing, Journalism, or Political Science double major or minor, and overlaps heavily with broader Communications programs.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Public Relations maps to CIP 09.0902, Public Relations/Image Management, within the COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS family. The official definition:

A program that focuses on the theories and methods for managing the media image of a business, organization, or individual and the communication process with stakeholders, constituencies, audiences, and the general public; and that prepares individuals to function as public relations assistants, technicians, and managers. Includes instruction in public relations theory; related principles of advertising, marketing, and journalism; message/image design; image management; special event management; media relations; community relations; public affairs; and internal communications.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • Media relations and pitching to journalists
  • PR writing: press releases, pitches, fact sheets, op-eds
  • Strategic message development and campaign planning
  • Crisis communication and reputation management
  • Communication research and measuring campaign results
  • Media law, ethics, and disclosure rules
  • Social and digital media management for organizations
  • Internship and portfolio capstone

Typical careers

  • Public relations specialists
  • Media Relations Coordinator
  • Communications Specialist
  • Social Media Manager
  • Public relations and fundraising managers
  • Corporate Communications Associate

Typical salary range: BLS, 2024: public relations specialists median $69,780Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Public Relations. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Public Relations major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Public Relations program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Public Relations department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Most Public Relations programs are covered by their institution's regional accreditation; specialized programmatic accreditation is less common in this field. Confirm any field-specific accreditation or licensure that matters for your goals.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Public Relationscareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Public Relations program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Public Relations programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

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How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.