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

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.

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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

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IdeaBase

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

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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

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.