Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Public Relations, B.A.


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The Public Relations major provides students with the necessary skills to gain entry-level positions, while preparing them for a career in the highly competitive practice of public relations.  As most entry-level positions require strong writing skills, our program requires majors to take writing classes designed for work in public relations. Students practice those writing skills in preparing papers and projects required in upper-level major classes.  Public relations practitioners must also think analytically and plan strategically. These skills are taught and used in the senior-level public relations classes. Students are encouraged to take internships to develop work experience in the field and to develop professional portfolios to show potential employers. Our graduates find positions in the corporate sector, public relations firms and the not-for-profit sector across the country.

Requirements for Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Public Relations must complete a minimum of 120 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, satisfy the College’s residency requirements, and complete the General Education Requirements of the College. A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for First Year Seminar and all courses taken as part of Foundations. Courses used to complete General Education Requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

The General Education Requirements of the college require students to successfully complete First Year Seminar, Foundations, Disciplinary Perspectives, and a Constellation. Students who enter the college with 30 credit hours completed will not take a First Year Seminar course and therefore must take an additional 3 credits for graduation. Transfer students that are awarded 60 or more credits upon acceptance to York College will not be required to complete a Constellation.

In addition, students majoring in Public Relations must earn a grade of 2.0 or higher in all courses taken in the major.

General Education Requirement


First Year Seminar


Foundations Requirements


Disciplinary Perspectives Requirement


Constellation Requirement


The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements.  Transfer students that are awarded 60 or more credits upon acceptance to York College will not be required to complete a Constellation except for Education majors.

Support Courses


In addition, students are required to select five support courses from the following offerings:

Area Elective


Students must complete a three credit Communication (CM) course.

Humanities/Social Science Electives


Students must complete twelve credits in the humanities or social and behavioral sciences at the 200 level or above. One of these courses must be a literature (LIT) course.

Elective Courses (21 credits)


Students must choose 21 credits of elective courses.

Suggested Course Sequence


Freshman Year


Fall Semester (15 credits)


Spring Semester (15 credits)


  • 3 credit hours
  • Foundations - American Citizenship course 3 credit hours
  • Foundations - Global Citizenship course 3 credit hours
  • Disciplinary Perspectives - Humanities course 3 credit hours
  • Disciplinary Perspectives - Arts course 3 credit hours

Sophomore Year


Fall Semester (15 credits)


Spring Semester (15 credits)


Junior Year


Fall Semester (15 credits)


  • 3 credit hours
  • Constellation course 3 credit hours
  • Major Elective course 3 credit hours
  • Humanities, Social or Behavioral Science course 3 credit hours
  • Elective course 3 credit hours

Spring Semester (15 credits)


  • 3 credit hours
  • Constellation course 3 credit hours
  • Major Elective course 3 credit hours
  • Humanities, Social or Behavioral Sciences course 3 credit hours
  • Elective course 3 credit hours

Senior Year


Fall Semester (15 credits)


Spring Semester (15 credits)


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