Public Relations (PURE) - Ferris Course Catalog

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Public Relations PURE

College(s): Business

Required Courses		Credit Hours
BUSINESS CORE
ACCT 201	Principles of Accounting 1	3
ACCT 202	Principles of Accounting 2	3
BLAW 301	Legal Environment of Business	3
BUSN 499	Integrating Experience	3
FINC 322	Financial Management 1	3
ISYS 321	Business Information Systems	3
MGMT 301	Applied Management	3
MGMT 370	Quality-Operations Mgmt	3
MKTG 321	Principles of Marketing	3
STQM 260	Introduction to Statistics	3
MAJOR
JRNL 121	Writing for Mass Media	3
JRNL 122	Reporting	3
MKTG 425	Marketing Research	3
PREL 101	Contemporary Public Relations	1
PREL 201	Public Relations Seminar II	1
PREL 240	Public Relations Principle	3
PREL 301	Public Relations Seminar III	1
PREL 341	Public Relations Writing\Tools	3
PREL 350	Public Relations Ethics\Law	3
PREL 401	Public Relations Seminar IV	1
PREL 440	Public Relations Strategy	3
PREL 455	Public Relations Campaigns	3
PREL 491	Public Relations Internship	3
Additional Electives	Pick one concentration
Employee Relations Concentration
MGMT 373	Human Resource Management	3
MGMT 375	Negotiations	3
MGMT 385	Recruitment and Selection	3
*	Employee Relations Directed Elective	3
Investor Relations Concentration
FINC 300	Mathematics of Finance	3
FINC 312	Financial Markets-Institutions	3
FINC 323	Financial Management 2	3
*	Finance Directed Elective	3
Marketing Promotion Concentration
AIMC 300	Principles of Advertising/IMC	3
AIMC 324	Promotional Writing	3
MKTG 321	Principles of Marketing	3
MKTG 322	Consumer Behavior	3
Media Relations Concentration
ENGL 411	Prof Technical Communication	3
JRNL 228	Feature and Opinion Writing	3
TVPR 243	Video Production	3
TVPR 326	Television Production Writing	3
UNIVERSITY GENERAL EDUCATION
Communication Competence
COMM 121	Fundamentals-Public Speaking	3
ENGL 150	English 1	3
ENGL 250	English 2	3
ENGL 325	Advanced Business Writing	3
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Additional General Education
JRNL 121	Writing for Mass Media	3
JRNL 122	Reporting	3
Scientific Understanding
*	Lab Science Elective	4
*	Science Elective	3
Quantitative Math Skills
MATH 115	Intermediate Algebra	3
*	If Math ACT is 24 or higher, substitute a general education elective
Cultural Enrichment
*	Cultural Enrichment electives (one must be at the 200 level or above)	9
Social Awareness
ANTH 122	Intro Cultural Anthropology	3
ECON 221	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
ECON 222	Principles of Microeconomics	3
PSYC 150	Introduction to Psychology	3
SOCY 121	Introductory Sociology	3
General Education Elective
*	General Education Elective	2
Minimum credit hours required for B.S. degree		121 - 122

Why Choose Public Relations?

The Public Relations major at Ferris is one of the only programs in the nation offered as a business curriculum; a distinction not lost on employers who consider the combination both logical and highly desirable. Additionally, Ferris has the only nationally certified PR program (CEPR) in the state of Michigan, and one of only 27 in the nation. The solid business curriculum is combined with ten PR-specific courses, more than any program in the state. Our faculty bring both real-world experience and professional certification (APR) to the classroom, where students are required to work on real projects for real clients. The program’s proven excellence and distinctive offerings give our graduates a real competitive advantage in the workplace.

Career Opportunities

Public Relations is cited as one of the fastest growing professions, with anticipated growth of more than 24% through 2018 (US Dept. of Labor). According to the Public Relations Society of America, the average practitioner’s salary is $69,000, with starting salaries ranging from $35-50,000. Top PR executives can make well into the six-figure salary range. Our program requires students to start the career search process early by making excellent contacts through job shadows, business networking, and internships. Graduates land jobs with corporate, nonprofit, and governmental organizations throughout the United States (and beyond).

Admission Requirements

New Students: 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from high school and two of the following three criteria: (1) English ACT score of 16 or higher, or English SAT score of 370 or higher; (2) Math ACT score of 19 or higher, or Math SAT score of 460 or higher; (3) Reading ACT score of 19 or higher, or Verbal SAT score of 430 or higher.

Transfer Students: Combined college or university GPA of 2.35 (on a 4.0 scale) from all institutions attended, and the following criteria: (1) transfer equivalency for ENGL 150 or placement in ENGL 150 the first semester at FSU which would require an English ACT score of 16 or higher; (2) transfer equivalency for FSU MATH 115 or placement in MATH 115 the first semester at FSU which would require a Math ACT score of 19 or higher.

Exceptions: Applicants not meeting the above criteria (new or transfer students) for direct admission, but still meet Ferris State University admission criteria, will be placed in the Pre-Marketing program until admission criteria are met. Any mitigating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis by the College of Business Dean's Office.

Graduation Requirements

The Public Relations program at Ferris leads to a bachelor of science degree in business with a major in Public Relations. Graduation requires a minimum 2.0 GPA in the core courses, in the major and overall.

More Information

Marketing Department
119 South Street/BUS 212
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2284
Phone: 231-591-2426
Email: MKTG@ferris.edu

The College of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP.) Next Accreditation Review is February 2018.
http://www.acbsp.org/p/st/ld/sid=s1_001