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Course Syllabus

COMM 2300 Introduction to Public Relations

  • Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
  • Department: Communications
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2023
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2028
  • End Semester: Summer 2029
  • Optimum Class Size: 24
  • Maximum Class Size: 30

Course Description

This course introduces various perspectives on public relations, as manifested in the theories, methods, principles, and practices which predominate in the field. Special emphasis is placed on preparing and organizing various types of oral presentations appropriate to the field.

Justification

Increasingly, communication professionals are required to have knowledge of public relations practices. Many higher education institutions in Utah and throughout the US offer Public Relations programs and often require an introductory course for specific majors.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

  1. Students will know how to research, evaluate, interpret, and give oral presentations on current public relations theories, practices and trends. Students will know how to deal with communication apprehension effectively. Students will be assessed through participation, individual and group projects, exams and oral presentations. Students will know how to research, evaluate, interpret, and give oral presentations on current public relations theories, practices and trends. Students will know how to deal with communication apprehension effectively. Students will be assessed through participation, individual and group projects, exams and oral presentations.
  2.  Students will believe that a strong sense of ethics of any communication professional is essential in and outside the workplace. Special emphasis will be placed on the ethical considerations of the public relations practitioner when interacting with various publics. Students will be assessed through participation, individual and group projects, exams and oral presentations.
  3.  Students will be familiar with the various types of electronic and traditional media that public relations professionals use in order to interact with their publics. Students will be assessed through participation, individual and group projects, exams and oral presentations.
  4.  Students will develop an awareness of the kinds of communication activities that are commonly used by public relations professionals. Students will be assessed through participation, individual and group projects, exams and oral presentations.
  5.  Students will be assessed through participation, individual and group projects, exams and oral presentations.
  6.  Students will be exposed to a variety of team building projects, and will complete a group project that emphases team building.
  7.  Students will know the general theories, principles, ethics and practices of public relations professionals and organizations. Students will be assessed through participation, individual and group projects, exams and oral presentations.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will know the general theories, principles, ethics and practices of public relations professionals and organizations.
  2. Students will develop an awareness of the kinds of communication activities that are commonly used by public relations professionals.
  3. Students will learn that a strong sense of ethics of any communication professional is essential in and outside the workplace. Special emphasis will be placed on the ethical considerations of the public relations practitioner when interacting with various publics.
  4. Students will know how to research, evaluate, interpret, and give oral presentations on current public relations theories, practices and trends. Students will know how to deal with communication apprehension effectively.
  5. Students will be familiar with the various types of electronic and traditional media that public relations professionals use in order to interact with their publics.

Course Content

The following topics will be covered in class:Public Relation's role, origins, theories, and current trends; Evolving concepts of public relations; Current research for public relations; Characteristics of competent communication; Ethics and laws impacting public relations; Strategies and techniques for public relations campaigns; Careers; Case studies; Communication channels and the role of the media; Development of various media; Writing for public relations.