Public relations is crucial to every sector of the economy. At Kent State, students learn and practice the ways strategic communication can enhance organizational transparency and trust, mobilize social movements and drive behavior. 

Public relations professionals use planning and communication skills to deliver messages over multiple channels: through social media, events, speeches, websites, printed materials, public policy and much more. The Kent State public relations major is rooted in professionalism, with a focus on developing writing and presentation skills and building students’ understanding of multimedia storytelling. Many classes incorporate client work, where students conduct research and develop communication plans alongside local professionals. 

Kent State boasts the only public relations program in Ohio that is both certified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).

View Public Relations Requirements

Coursework and Involvement

Classes routinely involve researching, creating and presenting a public relations plan for real clients. Thanks to this and a number of student involvement and job opportunities outlined below, students will graduate with strong portfolios and a robust professional network.

• Internships: All students complete at least one professional internship, and many complete multiple. Read about some of our students' experiences. 
• Public Relations Student Society of America: Award-winning student organization that provides networking and professional development, along with opportunities to travel to national conference and participate in national case study competitions.
• Flash Communications: Student jobs assisting University Communications and Marketing with web content, public relations and social media
• IdeaBase: Student-powered design agency, providing student experience and jobs in research and project management, serving campus and local clients 

Public Relations in Our World

Watch now: Associate Professor Luke Armour gives examples of public relations at work in our world.

Career Outlook

Kent State public relations graduates learn the business, they master the skills, and they get jobs.  They can be found working in corporate boardrooms, creative agencies, sports arenas, the halls of Congress, global nonprofits, hospitals, fashion runways and beyond. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects increasing demand for public relations professions through 2029: public relations specialist (7%); fundraisers (14%); event planners (8%); public relations and fundraising managers (9%). 

Furthermore, Kent State's job placement statistics are excellent: 80 to 90 percent of our public relations graduates secure a job within the public relations field within a year of graduation. Others find jobs in human resources, sales and other related fields, or pursue graduate education.