Public Relations, BSC
Public relations is the strategic communication process that connects an organization to the public, and at the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations, our students graduate with a well-rounded education that allows them to excel in promoting and representing the organizations that employ them.
Program Overview
If you enjoy strategic thinking and utilizing communication to manage relationships and promote the brand and goals of a company or organization, our public relations major is for you!
Public relations professionals understand how to integrate various forms of communication, such as mediated, digital, and direct, into cohesive campaigns with strong messaging to meet organizational goals and objectives. The public relations major gives students the opportunity to be creative, analytical, and a critical thinker—skills we develop in our classes at the Tombras School.
Why study Public Relations?
Careers in public relations can take you around the globe and to your choice of organizations, whether that be a nonprofit, public sector, or corporate settings.
We Teach Applied Job Skills
In public relations courses in the Tombras School, you will learn practical skills that equip you for success throughout your career. You will learn to write strategically for a broad range of digital, mediated, and print channels as well as best practices for relationship management. Our public relations curriculum is hands-on and prepares students to enter the workplace ready to excel.
Build a Long-lasting network of Vols
In the Tombras School, you will enjoy smaller class settings, typically less than 25 students per class, which ensures that our students receive individualized attention and instruction. In addition to graduating with a major in public relations, our students graduate with a network of valuable relationships they have formed with both faculty and students as well as with important industry and alumni connections. These relationships can lead to references for internships and jobs, and some alumni even benefit from on-going mentorships that help them evolve in their careers long after they leave the program.
The Real World is Your Classroom
Creating professional development opportunities for students is a top priority of the Tombras School, and there are several ways we make the “real world” their classroom. The Tombras School provides unique opportunities for students to visit agencies and departments in New York City and other cities, where they experience what their future careers could look like while making valuable connections. There, students expand their professional networks by meeting alumni and others in the industry, and they get to ask questions that better inform the choices they make after graduating. The Tombras School also offers a study abroad program to Italy where they can study public relations in a different culture and provides opportunities such as one-on-one industry coaching.
Points of Pride
1st
named school at UT
and first named ADPR school in the SEC and at any land-grant institution in the country
3
master’s concentrations, including a 4+1 concentration that allows students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s in five years.
20:1
student-to-faculty ratio
What can you do with a BSC in Public Relations after graduation?
Account Management
Public Relations Account Coordinator
- Tasks:
- Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients
- Prepare or edit organizational publications, such as employee newsletters or stockholders’ reports, for internal or external audiences
- Consult with advertising agencies or staff to arrange promotional campaigns in all types of media for products, organizations, or individuals
- Related minors:
- Communication Studies
- English
- Entry-level salary: $45,000
Media Relations
Public Relations Specialist
- Tasks:
- Specialize in maintaining relationships with media outlets
- Act as a media spokesperson on behalf of the company and address questions and complaints.
- Write press releases or other media communications to promote their company.
- Related minors:
- Social Media Analytics
- Business Administration
- Digital Media
- Entry-level salary: $50,000
Event Planning
Corporate Events Production Assistant
- Tasks:
- Helps with the delivery, set-up, and on-site client support for corporate events and meetings
- Operates various technology platforms used to deliver events or meetings, such as audio consoles, lighting, and digital assets
- Write/modify scripts and prepare on-stage speakers during the event or meeting
- Related minors:
- Corporate Event Strategy, Promotion, and Production
- Entry-level salary: $45,000
Social Media Management
Social Media Community Manager
- Tasks:
- Works on new ways to engage the digital community and are often seen as advocates of a brand
- Uses social listening tools to understand the brand’s community members
- Leverages social media analytics to employ social media strategies to recruit more community members
- Related minors:
- Social Media Analytics
- Business Administration
- Digital Media
- Entry-level salary: $45,000
Entertainment/Sports Communication
Digital Marketing Coordinator
- Tasks:
- Works for a sports or entertainment company
- Manages content for that company’s official social media accounts
- Manage email marketing campaigns using CRM and email marketing platforms
- Related minors:
- Social Media Analytics
- Business Administration
- Digital Media
- Entry-level salary: $45,000
Fundraising and Development
Fundraiser
- Tasks:
- Identify and build relationships with potential donors
- Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors
- Write and send letters of thanks to donors
- Create or update donor databases
- Related minors:
- Corporate Event Strategy, Promotion, and Production
- Entry-level salary: $50,000
Helping CCI Students Start Their Career
Whether it is landing an internship, resume and portfolio building, or honing interview skills, our Office for Professional Development helps our students achieve their career goals.
Office of Professional Development
My time at both UT and the Tombras School has been amazing. I have met professors who have pushed me to be better and made friends who have brought me so much joy.”
Olivia Hailey (’24)
Public Relations alumna
Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations
Featured courses
Our courses are designed to provide students with a broad view of what type of work they’ll be doing when they enter the field of public relations.
Requirements and Curriculum for the Public Relations major
PBRL 320 – Public Relations Writing
Mechanics of effective writing for various media to achieve organizational goals. Overview of governing communication and persuasion theories. Focus on implementation of research-based, planned, and managed techniques in a lab setting.
PBRL 420 – Advanced Public Relations Writing
Advanced mechanics of effective writing for various media to achieve organizational goals and produce professional-quality public relations materials. Advanced understanding of governing communication and persuasion theories. Focus on implementation of research-based, planned, strategic, and managed techniques in a lab setting.
PBRL 340R – Public Relations Research
Secondary data and primary research techniques for public relations decision making.
PBRL 470S – Public Relations Campaigns
Research, planning, and communication and evaluation of major public relations campaigns. Oral and written presentation of written public relations project from inception to completion. Requires extensive out-of-class work.
Complementary minors
Minors that pair well with a major in Advertising include:
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