Bachelor of Public Relations Management Balances Subjects for Thorough Understanding

A university is no longer the only place to obtain a four-year bachelor degree. While community colleges are traditionally known for offering diploma and certificate programs, they are now expanding into degree program areas. These offerings, however, do not follow the traditional structure of a university-level undertaking. At Centennial College, students have four degree programs from which to choose.

One of these offerings is the Bachelor of Public Relations Management program, which is open to anyone with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent; at least six Grade 12U, Grade 12M, or OAC credits with an overall average of 65 per cent or higher (courses must include English Grade 12U with a final grade of 70 per cent or higher). It is worth noting that after admission, students are asked to take a mathematics assessment. The outcome of the assessment determines math placement or exemption.

All of the Public Relations courses featured in the offering are geared towards helping students to secure the knowledge they will need to be field-ready after four years of study. As a result, students:

• Gain an in-depth understanding of the public relations industry with highlights such as building critical skills for career success in professional writing, research, strategic communications and social and digital media;
• Become familiar with business skills such as financial management, organizational behaviour, business law and accounting that will give them a competitive edge in the marketplace;
• Focus on global citizenship, corporate social responsibility and the role communicators play in helping organizations make change;
• Learn the skills to navigate today’s digital world, including developing multifaceted social media and integrated online marketing programs.

As mentioned above, unlike other PR programs this offering includes a focus on business, specific courses within this undertaking include Introduction to Public Relations, Statistics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Strategic Communications Planning, Internal Communications, Advanced Social Media, Investor Relations, Public Sector Communications, Advanced PR Writing and more.

While Public Relations programs at university level typically have a theoretical focus, this offering also incorporates ways for students to practice the skills they gain. This is achieved through projects that mimic scenarios that students may encounter in the real world.

Rounding out this PR program Toronto-based offering is a fifteen-week industry field placement. During the semester-longer experience, students apply everything they have learned, expanding their professional network and gaining experience that they can then feature on their resumes.

With this Public Relations Degree, grads can secure positions in a number of career paths. That’s because the combination of business and digital communications principles gives grads a competitive edge. Among the career areas for which grads are prepared are: public relations agencies, corporate communications and investor relations departments, digital marketing companies, not-for-profit sector organizations, and hospitals and healthcare organizations.

Bachelor of Public Relations Management Gives Students a Business Advantage

Although roles vary for those in public relations, there are some common duties that these professionals must fulfill. Among them are:

• Preparing, developing and executing various public relations strategies;
• Answering inquiries from media, individuals and other organizations;
• Researching for, writing and distributing press releases to media organizations;
• Writing and editing in-house magazines, case studies, speeches, articles and annual reports;
• Preparing and supervising the production of publicity brochures, handouts, direct mail leaflets, promotional videos, photographs, films and more;
• Devising and coordinating photo opportunities and press conferences;
• Maintaining and updating information on the organization’s website

The skills to effectively carry out these tasks are taught through post-secondary Public Relations programs. These undertakings focus on offering students skills in professional writing, research, strategic communications, and social and digital media.

One school that offers a Bachelor of Public Relations Management program is Centennial College. This program, however, is unique in comparison to other similar offerings. That’s because it is a first-of-its kind program in Canada. As such, students attend college-level courses but graduate with a Public Relations Degree. This approach is advantageous for a number of reasons.

Firstly, because it is presented at a college, this program offers students a practical rather than theoretical education. Among the hands-on application students enjoy are real-world projects, which mock tasks that students will have to complete once they graduate and enter the field. Students also partake in a 15-week field placement in the industry. During this time, they work alongside professionals from whom they can learn and build relationships with that may benefit them upon graduation.

Secondly, Centennial College’s Public Relations courses are completely up-to-date and, therefore, cover traditional and modern PR approaches. While ten core business courses are offered in partnership with Centennial’s School of Business and ensure a solid foundation, more specific PR courses allow students to master the skills to navigate today’s digital world — including developing multifaceted social media and integrated online marketing programs.

Additionally, while other PR programs focus strictly on the industry, Centennial College believes it is essential that students get a deeper understanding of today’s complex world. As such, it places a focus on global citizenship, corporate social responsibility and the role communicators play in helping organizations make change.

Lastly, because this PR program Toronto-based offering does teach students key business skills including financial management, organizational behaviour, business law, accounting, and more it gives them a competitive edge in the marketplace. As such, there is a wide range of career options available to graduates. Graduates from the program are prepared to work in a diverse range of careers in organizations including: public relations agencies, corporate communications and investor relations departments, digital marketing companies, not-for-profit sector organizations, and hospitals and healthcare organizations.

Bachelor of Public Relations Management Opens Doors to Various Industries

Public relations agencies, corporate communications and investor relations departments, digital marketing companies, not-for-profit sector organizations, and hospitals and healthcare organizations all seek professionals to come up with PR strategies, build relationships with the media, write press releases and reports on media coverage data, oversee content production (adverts, videos, social media and online PR stunts), arrange press conferences and events, manage client relationships and oversee social media PR strategies.

The professionals in this area have one thing in common: They have all attended one of Canada's Public Relations programs, such as Centennial College's Bachelor of Public Relations Management. This four-year offering is completed with all of the perks of a college program — interactive components, small classes that allow for discussion, a more personal relationship with instructors that allows for networking — but results in a Bachelor credential.

During their time in the offering, students attend a range of Public Relations courses that teach them to:

• Develop an in-depth understanding of the public relations industry;
• Gain critical skills in professional writing, research, strategic communications and social and digital media;
• Learn key business skills that will impact career success, including financial management, organizational behaviour, business law, accounting, and more;
• Obtain a thorough understanding of society that includes a focus on global citizenship, corporate social responsibility and the role communicators play in helping organizations make change;
• Learn the ins and outs of the digital world, including developing multifaceted social media and integrated online marketing programs.

With its thorough lessons, the Bachelor of Public Relations program contains a balance between theoretical and practical learning. Among the courses included are 10 core business courses as well as classes that emphasize research, social and digital media and corporate communication. Specific Public Relations Degree courses include: The Power of Communications, Introduction to Social media, Writing for Public Relations, Media Relations, Strategic Communications Planning, Internal Communications, Introduction to Communication Design, Investor Relations and much more.

Both in and out of the classroom, students complete real-world projects that mimic situations they will encounter in their careers. Additionally, they partake in a 15-week industry field placement. This field placement is one of the aspects that sets this offering apart from other PR programs and gives students an additional edge over the competition. Students get to practice everything they have learned in their program under the supervision of seasoned professionals. This experience does not include getting coffee for employers but instead sees students delve into tasks they would normally complete in the profession. In addition, it is an opportunity for students to expand their professional networks, which may help to secure jobs once they graduate.

This is one PR program Toronto-based offering that truly offers a comprehensive range of public relations, corporate communications and social media.