Public Relations

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


 

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teahan award

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.

PRSSA Kent

Award-winning chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America that provides networking, professional development, conference attendance and participation in national case study competitions.

Learn more

Internships

All students complete at least one professional internship, and many complete multiple.

Read about some of our students' experiences. 

Flash Communications

Student jobs assisting University Communications and Marketing with web content, public relations and social media

Learn more

IdeaBase

Student-powered design agency, providing student experience and jobs in research and project management, serving campus and local clients.

Learn more

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.

Statistics below are projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics through 2031.

Projected Growth

8%
Public Relations Specialists, Managers
18%
Event Planners
10%
Ad, Promotions, Marketing Managers
11%
Fundraisers
80 to 90 percent
of 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.

Public Relations in Our World

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

Alumni

Our alumni have worked/interned:

at these major companies/organizations

  • Akron Children's Hospital
  • BET Networks
  • Boys & Girls Club
  • Cleveland Cavaliers, Indians and Browns
  • Cleveland Clinic
  • FedEx Custom Critical
  • Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
  • Library of Congress
  • Northrop Grumman
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • The J.M. Smucker Co.
  • The White House
  • Walt Disney Company
  • Washington Nationals
  • Victoria's Secret
  • YouTube Originals

at these national/regional agencies

  • AKHIA
  • Allied Global Marketing
  • Dix & Eaton
  • Marcus Thomas LLC
  • Prosper for Purpose
  • Ruder Finn
  • thunder::tech
  • Whitespace Creative

Success Stories