Public Relations and Advertising Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

A Public Relations and Advertising major studies how organizations build their reputation and persuade audiences. Public relations and advertising majors learn media relations, campaign planning, copywriting, crisis communication and social media strategy.

A Public Relations and Advertising major includes coursework in principles of public relations, advertising and copywriting, campaign planning, crisis communication, and social media strategy and more. You build skills such as persuasive writing, campaign planning, media relations, and social media. Typical degrees: bachelor's and master's degrees.

Typical courses include principles of public relations, advertising and copywriting, campaign planning, crisis communication, social media strategy, and media relations. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Public Relations and Advertising is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Bachelor's and master's degrees. In the latest federal data, 110 colleges reported certificate awards, 28 colleges reported associate awards, 363 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 123 colleges reported master’s awards, and 8 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to public relations and advertising include public relations specialist, public relations manager, marketing manager, advertising sales agent, fundraiser, and event planner. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include public relations specialist (typical training: 4 years), public relations manager (typical training: 5+ years of experience), marketing manager (typical training: 4 years plus 5+ years of experience), advertising sales agent (typical training: 1–6 months), fundraiser (typical training: 4 years), and event planner (typical training: 4 years or event experience).

Public Relations and Advertising majors build skills such as persuasive writing, campaign planning, media relations, social media, and presentation.

Good pairings include Marketing (connects messaging to business results), Graphic Design (helps you create campaign visuals), and Political Science (fits public affairs and government relations).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as public relations specialist, public relations manager, and marketing manager, and enjoy subjects like principles of public relations and advertising and copywriting. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes principles of public relations, advertising and copywriting, and campaign planning; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

480 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

Pennsylvania (34), New York (30), Florida (29), Ohio (28), and Texas (27), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

448 of the colleges that offer public relations and advertising also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Public Relations and Advertising studies how organizations build their reputation and persuade audiences. Communications studies how people create, share and interpret messages in person and through media. Public Relations and Advertising leads to careers such as public relations specialist and public relations manager, while Communications leads to careers such as public relations specialist and technical writer.

Public Relations and Advertising studies how organizations build their reputation and persuade audiences. Journalism teaches you to report, write and produce news across print, broadcast and digital media. Public Relations and Advertising leads to careers such as public relations specialist and public relations manager, while Journalism leads to careers such as journalist and editor.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to public relations and advertising, such as Public Relations Specialist Training.