Advertising/Public Relations

Advertising/Public Relations

Does the idea of using your writing skills to accomplish organizational goals appeal to you? If so, a major in advertising/public relations may be for you.

About

This major prepares students for careers in advertising, public relations and social media marketing. Students learn to professionally represent businesses and help inform, persuade and interact with customers and other critical publics. The program uses modern instruction methods and technologies that enable students to work on national as well as global marketing communication campaigns.

Note: Strategic Communication has been subsumed by Advertising/Public Relations.

Why Advertising/Public Relations is in Demand:

  • Communication and journalism are listed among the college majors most in demand today. (Source: CareerBuilder.com)
  • Whether you decide to be a doctor, a lawyer, a journalist, an advertising executive or something else entirely – strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as curiosity and leadership, will be valued by future employers. 

Is it for me?

Are you:

  • Curious and hard working?
  • Intelligent and informed?
  • A good writer who wants to be even better?

Five Reasons to Choose Scranton for Advertising/Public Relations

1.
Employment.   Graduates from the Communication & Media Department have an impressive record of full-time employment. The Class of 2015 reported a 91% employment rate for that year.
2.
Strong community.   In the College of Arts and Sciences, the liberal arts environment provides a supportive community. Students are treated as individuals, and professors work with each student personally.
3.
Focus on writing.   Employers have shared with Scranton faculty the importance of exceptional writing skills to succeed in business communication. In the strategic communication program, good writers learn to be even better—and more valuable to potential employers.
4.
Jesuit education.   The focus on intellectual curiosity is paramount. The Jesuit principles of excellence, reflection, discernment and concern for the individual bring deep levels of meaning to each student’s experience.
5.
Critical thinking.   Students are encouraged to question, find innovative ways to solve problems, and hone their critical thinking skills for career success.

The Communication Department was (and is) the most inviting and lovely department on campus. All of the professors are so helpful, so intelligent, and bring forth so much knowledge to impart on the students. I am 100% certain that if I chose another major, I would not be where I am today.

-Ruth David, Class of 2014

  • Preparing You For Personal & Professional Successplus or minus

    You'll learn how to:

    • Influence and persuade
    • Speak and present well in public
    • Write effectively
    • Think critically
    • Plan communication strategies to meet organizational needs

    Internships 

    Professional internship opportunities give students valuable experience and business contacts. Here are a few of the internships that communication and media students have held:

    • Discovery Channel
    • Fox News
    • Yankees
    • 93.3 WMMR radio
    • Sirius XM
    • Good Morning America
    • Golf Magazine
    • Phillies
    • Channel 7 Eyewitness News, Los Angeles

    Students benefit from the 450-year old Jesuit tradition of academic excellence. It goes back to the idea of intellectual curiosity with a healthy dose of skepticism. In every situation, you need to ask yourself three questions. What’s happening? Why is it happening? What makes the world work? Then – and only then – you can truly make a difference.

    -Matthew Reavy, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor

  • What You'll Learnplus or minus

    Curriculum

    Effective writing is the foundation for this major. Courses also emphasize persuasive communication and public speaking. Students are required to take courses in fundamental areas of public relations and advertising.

    Click here to see the curriculum. 

  • Pursue Your Passion and Make a Differenceplus or minus

    Advertising/public relations majors do not need to wait until graduation to make professional-level contributions to the world. Internships, class projects, volunteering, and campus media enable students to utilize and practice skills learned in the classroom.

    For example, Eddie Ravert, Class of 2014, demonstrated this in a big way. A native of Capertown, New Jersey, Eddie was named Outstanding Public Relations Student and received the PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) Daniel J. Edelman Award. This included a scholarship and a paid internship at Edelman Chicago. Eddie had several internships as a student, including Gregory FCA Communication, Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 93.3 WMMR, 92.5 WXTU and Wired 96.5 WRDW. He was also a Royal baseball player and had a regular program on the campus radio station.

    Through this program, I have learned what my true gifts and talents truly are, and I was able to capitalize on them by writing for websites such as Thought Catalog, The Odyssey and even creating my own personal blog. I have met mentors that I will have for life.

    Lauren Welkie '17

Careers

Where will Advertising/Public Relations take me?

Students enter the workplace armed with practical skills and experience. Most students will pursue employment in PR or advertising in agency or corporate settings. Nonprofits, government and other organizations also value strategic communication skills. Average starting salary for advertising/public relations majors is $46,000.

Examples of jobs:

  • Advertising account executive
  • Public relations manager
  • Marketing assistant
  • Copywriter
  • Editor
  • Social media manager

Top Graduate Schools

Approximately 10% of communication and media majors continue their education through advanced degrees. Here are just a few of the graduate schools which have admitted recent graduates:

  • University of Hawaii
  • New York Law School
  • Liberty University

Leading Employers:

You’ll find Scranton communication and media graduates working for a wide range of companies and organizations in every state. Here are some examples:

  • Atlantic Coast Media Group
  • Beckerman PR
  • CBS, New York City
  • Clear Channel Media & Entertainment
  • Hearst Magazines
  • The Nielsen Company
  • Ogilvy Public Relations

How Scranton Gives You a Competitive Edge

Competitive Edge

Updated degree requirements for the advertising/public relations major reflect contemporary and practical needs of employers, enabling graduates to begin entry-level jobs with a high degree of knowledge and insight.

Strategic communication courses, especially the Senior Seminar, provide students with professional-level projects to include in their career portfolios. Demonstrating outstanding work enables students to stand out in job interviews. 

In addition, dedicated faculty members truly get to know their students. They enthusiastically provide grad school recommendations or job references with specific and compelling information to boast students’ prospects. 

Take the Next Step

Get the Facts

View PDF with Program Overview
& Curriculum

For More Information

Office of Admissions
The Estate
Scranton, PA 18510
1-888-SCRANTON or (570) 941-7540
570-941-7572
admissions@scranton.edu

Department of Communication and Media
Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D., A.B.C.
Chair, Department of Communication and Media
(570) 941-4135
stacy.smulowitz@scranton.edu