Pro Tip
Still unsure if a degree in public relations, advertising, and communication is your calling? Take the career test
Public Relations, Advertising, and Communication is a degree category that consists of the following common degrees:
- Read more about Advertising
Degree programs in advertising teach students how to create promotional messages and campaigns to sell products and services. The curriculum is made up of courses that demonstrate how to develop a brand and communicate it through the various advertising channels of print, television, radio, and online media.
By its nature, advertising is an art, a science, and a business. Classes therefore span these three sectors. Artistic aspects are covered in courses like visual design, copywriting, and creative strategy. The science of the field is studied in consumer behavior, communication, and psychology courses. And the business of advertising is examined from the perspectives of research, account planning and campaigns, and sales.
- Read more about Public Relations
Degree programs in public relations (PR) teach students how to deliver information from a business, organization, government body, or individual public figure, to a target audience. The curriculum differs from that of other communication sciences. In advertising and marketing programs, students learn how to design and develop communication pieces that clients seek out and pay for. Public relations courses focus on how to achieve image management, generate publicity, and earn positive media attention through press releases, press conferences, blogs, and a social media presence.
In short, public relations degree programs are all about persuasive communication.
The coursework in these programs reflects this objective of PR:
Fundamentals of Public Relations
Fundamentals of Advertising - Writing for Public Relations / Press Releases - Speech Writing - Image Management - Developing a Public Relations Media Plan