Bachelor of Science in Public Relations

Why choose an online Public Relations degree?

Write your own success story. The University of Florida’s Public Relations degree prepares future professionals with strong writing and analytical skills to best succeed in their careers.

With training in persuasive and strategic communications, UF Online PR graduates are ready upon graduation to play important roles both within an organization and between the organization and its external environment. This program offers a focus on fundamental disciplines, such as writing, research, strategy, mass communication law and visual communication that will prepare students to engage with the media and diverse communities.

Responsibilities within public relations include anticipating, analyzing and interpreting public opinion; counseling management; developing programs that improve public understanding; and planning and implementing an organization’s efforts to influence or change public policy.

The public relations curriculum at UF is one of the most in-depth curricula in the country, with a balance between skills and conceptual courses, and ranks among the best in the nation. Under UF’s College of Journalism and Communications, students competing in the Public Relations Student Society of America’s (PRSSA) Bateman Case Study Competition have won more competitions than any other university in the United States.

UF’s public relations students acquire knowledge and expertise in:

• Communication skills across multiple media platforms including writing, social media, information management, and video.
• Public policy, social psychology, political science, economics and the principles of management and ethics.
• Technical skills in opinion research, public-issue analysis, media relations, community engagement, publications, and audiovisual productions.

Public Relations Specializations

Students majoring in Public Relations may elect to graduate with their degree in one of the following specializations:

Public Relations | Corporate

The Corporate track is designed to prepare students for entry-level jobs in corporate public relations settings. They will be ready to work as technicians, such as producing social media strategies and tactics or effective multimedia news releases, as well as for career advancement as managers, such as formulating a communication plan for a new initiative or forecasting the reputational impact of an organizational decision or action. Excellent writing and critical thinking skills are essential.

Public Relations | Public Interest Communications

The Public Interest Communications track is designed to help students learn how to use strategic, science-based communications to effect positive social change both in the U.S. and around the world. Students learn the core concepts of public interest communications and how to apply them.

Students learn the basics of being a public interest communicator, including how to identify and reach key audiences; how to develop effective, values-based messaging; how to choose the right messengers; the importance of storytelling; how to use powerful visuals for maximum impact; how to use digital media to achieve communications goals; and how to develop a strategic communications plan.