It’s great that a public relations degree will teach you how to create and maintain a brand and target your communications effectively.
So, if you are considering getting a master’s degree in online public relations, this article will help you.
Public Relations degree online programs focus on developing thinking, writing, research, strategic planning, and execution skills. Ethics also play a large role throughout the program as you develop the public relations skills necessary to become a responsible communicator.
Additionally, a master’s degree in public relations can help you become an effective public relations professional and a very useful member of your organization’s team. An online public relations degree can help you advance your career and achieve your most ambitious goals.
In this article, we look at the best masters in online public relations, application requirements, and career paths for learners in this field.
Here is a review of what you can expect in this post.
What is public relations?
Public relations (PR) is the practice of intentionally managing the disclosure and dissemination of information between an individual or organization (such as a business, government agency, or non-profit organization) and the public.
Public relations (PR) can involve organizations or individuals providing exposure to audiences using public interest topics and news items that do not require direct payment. This distinguishes it from advertising, which is a form of marketing communication.
What is a Masters in Public Relations Any information?
The Master’s program in Public Relations focuses on modern public relations, the nature of human communication, and the role of the media. These programs often help students acquire the ability to write clearly and concisely in modern media formats and speak to a variety of audiences.
Master’s programs in public relations also help students develop professional management skills or specialize in non-profit, corporate, or international public relations.
Why Get a Master’s Degree in Online Public Relations?
A master’s degree in public relations can be studied offline as well as online, depending on which learning format suits your lifestyle. Just as some people enjoy their coffee with cream while others do not, you may find a graduate school with a great Master’s in Public Relations program, or you may feel that an online Master’s in Communication program is a better fit for your lifestyle.
If you are a professional or caring for a family full-time, earning a graduate degree may seem like too much to handle or lack the flexibility you need to maintain your current lifestyle.
However, earning a master’s degree in public relations online is a great alternative to on-campus options and allows for the flexibility, convenience, and affordability you need.
Online programs are often designed differently than on-campus programs, and some programs may even allow you to earn credit for work and life experience. Many online programs are also offered sequentially, allowing learners to complete the coursework on their own schedule. Students who earn their degrees online save money by not having to commute to campus.
What can you learn in a Master of Public Relations degree online program?
The courses you take will depend on the school you choose, but many online public relations programs have something in common. Sample courses for a public relations degree include:
1. Promotional writing
This course will provide you with strong written communication skills across all types of platforms and all media.
2. Law and ethics
This course examines the laws and ethics of public relations and how professionals in the field must comply with them.
3. Communication studies
While earning a master’s degree in public relations online, you will encounter one or more research-based courses designed to provide you with research methods and implementation skills and a broad understanding of existing scholarship in the field.
4. Media and society
This course will provide you with a deeper understanding of how public relations functions and the role it plays. The course may also highlight how public relations fits into society.
5. Identity and branding
Many master’s in public relations online programs include courses that address organizational and/or individual identity and branding. This is an important aspect of being an effective public relations professional because your job is to represent the identity and professional brand of the company or individual you employ.
What are the admission requirements for the Online Master of Public Relations?
Admission requirements may vary by school. Possible admission requirements for public relations online programs include:
work and experience
Many programs require applicants to have three to five years of professional work experience. Although it’s not always a requirement for admission, work experience can set you apart from other applicants.
Rating average
An applicant’s undergraduate GPA can help admissions committees predict how well a student may perform in graduate school. Many masters in public relations online programs require applicants to have a minimum 2.5-3.0 GPA. Students should have look for the minimum GPA required by their target school before applying.
Graduate Record Exam Scores
The GRE is not required for all Masters in Public Relations online programs. However, prospective students should research their desired program and decide whether they need it or not.
Relevant Bachelor’s Degree
Some public relations programs expect prospective students to have a bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, or a related field. But that isn’t always the case.
letter of recommendation
To apply to most Master of Public Relations online programs, prospective students must submit two to three letters of recommendation. Nominators must describe the applicant’s character and potential for success in the promotional program.
How long does it take to earn a master’s degree in public relations?
The USNEI site describes a typical academic year at a higher education institution as “an academic year divided into two semesters of 15-16 week duration, a 2-3 week winter break, and a 10-12 week summer semester.” Online colleges offer 16-week sessions and accelerated courses that are about half that length.
Online students have the opportunity to meet curriculum requirements more quickly than is typically possible at an on-campus college.
Online programs can offer classes asynchronously (no set class times) or synchronous (set class times). Synchronous programs can help students persist to graduation by providing more responsibility and peer support.
Self-paced asynchronous courses, on the other hand, allow students to progress through course work as quickly or slowly as they wish. Working people and busy students often prefer asynchronous courses because they can set their own schedules.
What are the best masters in online public relations?
There are many Masters in Public Relations online programs, but we have selected the best 15 of them. These include:
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Ashland University
- Syracuse University
- University of Maryland Global Campus
- Missouri State University
- University of Florida
- Mississippi College
- Marist College
- University of Southern California
- Drexel University
- Texas Tech University
- California Baptist University
- University of Denver
- Rowan University
- Maryville University
1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Located approximately 150 miles southwest of Chicago, it is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The school offers several distance programs, including a 32-credit online Master’s in Strategic Brand Communications that features a fully distance curriculum.
The program combines components of business, advertising, and marketing. Students completing this Master of Science course in areas such as promotional strategy, strategic analysis, data visualization, strategic media management and consumer insights.
Learners must also complete a final project before graduating.
The application must include three letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and an application fee. Full-time students can complete this online program in 15 months.
2. Ashland University
program: This is an online master’s program in corporate and strategic communication.
Ashland University’s Department of Communication Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences offers a Master of Corporate and Strategic Communications (MACSC) degree program that can be completed online in 18 months.
The curriculum for Ashland University’s fully online Corporate and Strategic Communications program requires 30 credit hours of coursework comprised of prerequisites, major courses, and track-specific focus area classes.
Students choose between the Health and Risk Concentration Track and the Public Relations Concentration Track, with the Public Relations track offering classes such as “Social Media Platforms Seminar” and “Public Relations Campaigns.”
All students in the MACSC program earn a capstone degree in Communication Studies, and the coursework is all taught by talented and experienced Ashland faculty.
3. Syracuse University
Syracuse University’s SI Newhouse School of Public Communications offers an online master’s degree program in communications with a specialization in public relations that combines the reputation of a prestigious institution with the convenience of an entirely online course.
The 33-credit Master of Communications program requires five core courses exploring topics such as “multimedia storytelling” and “digital communication systems,” as well as four courses in the public relations specialization that cover theory, management, planning and design elements of the field.
4. University of Maryland Global Campus
UMGC is a public school located in Largo, Maryland. The college has regional accreditation from the Central Higher Education Commission and provides distance students access to a variety of programs, including an online Master of Business Administration program specializing in Public Relations.
This master’s program requires 36 credits. Students learn how to evaluate the effectiveness of promotional campaigns, develop new ways to reach target audiences, understand ethical and legal issues in the field, and further develop their writing skills. Required subjects include financial decision-making, statistics for management decision-making, and organizational theory.
New students without work experience must complete introductory proofreading courses in research methods, accounting, financial management, and graduate writing. Learners must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program to remain in good standing.
5. Missouri State University
Missouri State Online offers an online master’s in communication degree program, which allows students to choose from several areas of concentration, including a focus on public relations with electives such as “Public Relations Campaigns,” “Public Relations Concepts and Analysis,” “Communication Skills and Politics,” and “Presidential Rhetoric.”
The 32-credit program is housed within the School of Communication Studies and can be completed in two years, and Missouri State faculty in the Department of Communication offer direct interaction and “an outstanding reputation for accomplishments in teaching, research, and publication.”
Missouri State’s online student support services are available to all online master’s in communication students, and additional specific graduate communication advice is provided.
6. University of Florida
The University of Florida is collaborating with APCO Worldwide, a leading consultant organization, to enhance its online Master of Mass Communication with Public Relations specialization by providing public relations students with realistic, innovative skills and best practices. Offered through the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communication (CJC).
The full online Master in Public Relations requires 33 credit hours, including core courses such as “Measurement and Evaluation,” “Strategy and Messaging,” and a final capstone project.
Students pursuing the degree full-time can complete their degree in just 18 months, but the online aspect of the program gives students the flexibility to complete the degree at their own pace.
In addition to its partnership with APCO Worldwide, the University of Florida is recruiting a Public Relations Advisory Board to ensure its already cutting-edge curriculum remains relevant and provides students with the right resources.
7. Mississippi College
Mississippi College, located in Clinton, is a private college offering an online master’s degree in communications. The school is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has approximately 5,000 students.
Offered through the Department of Communication, this program is best suited for students who want to improve their marketability for a career or prepare for a doctoral program. Distance students can focus on integrated communications or professional communications in health services administration.
Online learners complete 31 credits. Required subjects for the integrated communication major include communication studies, persuasion, public relations, and the process and effects of communication. Degree earners must fill out convocation papers and take a written exam.
8. Marist College
Marist College School of Communication and Arts allows students to earn an online master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications degree (IMC Master’s). The Marist online IMC degree program requires 30 credits, and all coursework is delivered asynchronously for your convenience.
This program can be completed in just three semesters as a full-time student, or up to three years as a part-time student. The curriculum consists of related classes such as ‘Global Consumer Insights’, ‘Social Media Strategy and Tactics’, and ‘Analytical Tools for Decision Making’.
The program concludes with a final Integrated Marketing Communications Capstone course, where Marist Communication Department faculty provide support along with an assigned advisor to each student.
9. University of Southern California
The prestigious USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism offers an online degree program in communication management known for its rigor and quality.
Students participate in an online curriculum “designed to develop real-world leaders for the modern workplace” while learning from USC Annenberg faculty who have “deep academic expertise and broad professional experience.”
Master of Communication Management (MCM) student testimonials speak to the program’s success in developing critical thinkers and leaders, and prospective students have access to a variety of program videos to provide insight into the program itself and what the experience as an MCM distance learner is like.
The 32-credit program provides graduates with a “full toolbox of advanced skills” through coursework (including classes such as “Communication, Attitudes, Values, and Behavior,” “Fundamentals of Writing Effective Promotions,” and “Developing and Analyzing Online Marketing Communications”) and a capstone communications studies practicum.
10. Drexel University
Drexel University’s online master’s in communications program with a concentration in public communications prepares students for “careers in journalism, public relations, and nonprofit communications” by giving them “the skills and insider knowledge to manage communications for any organization” (there are also two other private relationships concentrations in science and health communications and technical communications).
The 30-credit program (completing 45 credits over four 10-week semesters shortens the time it takes students to earn the degree) is divided into core communication courses: “Communication and Persuasion Theory” and “Creating and Managing Communication Professional Identity.”
11. Texas Tech University
Texas Tech College of Media & Communication offers an online master’s program in strategic communication and innovation to prepare graduates for “senior positions as strategic communicators in today’s global and digital environment.”
The 30-credit online degree program requires courses such as “Strategic Communication in a Global Environment” and “Media Management, Entrepreneurship, and Consulting” to build a strategic communications foundation, while elective courses such as “Multimedia Storytelling,” “Audience/Data Analysis and Reporting,” and “Advanced Social Media Practices” allow students to focus on coursework that will specifically help them achieve their professional goals.
12. California Baptist University
California Baptist’s online Master of Public Relations degree program (MAPR) prides itself on preparing professionals who can “communicate with credibility, relevance, and impact.” Utilizing faith-based and biblical contexts, the MAPR curriculum consists of 33 credit courses such as “Legal, Ethical and Social Foundations of Public Relations,” “Critical Thinking and Crisis Management,” “New Media Strategy,” and “Public Relations Campaigns: Social and Physical.”
CBU Public Relations faculty have experience in online teacher training as well as the effectiveness of media and public relations, and the MAPR program is offered by the Department of Online and Professional Studies, “established for the specific purpose of meeting the needs of the growing number of adults and non-traditional students seeking higher education.”
13. University of Denver
The University of Denver University College’s 48-credit online Master’s degree program in Communications Management offers students six concentration options, specifically one in public relations. A fully online degree can be completed in 18 months. All students participate in the same 12 credits of core courses, such as “Research, Measurement, and Storytelling” and “Business Fundamentals for Communicators,” and choose between a final capstone project or a portfolio capstone.
The Public Relations concentration comprises 15 credit hours of the degree program and covers topics such as “Communication and Society: Theory and Applications” and “Dimensions of Reputation Management.” An additional nine credits of electives round out the program, and with approval, students may choose to take classes in other University College programs.
14. Rowan University
Rowan University’s Master’s degree program in Strategic Communication, offered as a partially online program through Rowan Global Learning & Partnerships and previously known as the Master of Arts in Public Relations, allows students more freedom to focus on their professional interests.
Students can choose to focus on “media relations, strategic writing, event planning and management, visual communications, online public relations, or school public relations,” and all coursework is taught by Rowan University faculty with experience in both the field and the classroom.
Classes are relevant and accessible in a hybrid format (face-to-face evening classes and online classes) with a 33-credit curriculum consisting of required courses such as “Graduate Strategic Case Studies and Public Relations Planning” and “Graduate Strategic Visual Communication.” The remaining classes are chosen in conjunction with the student’s area of focus, and there is no thesis requirement to complete the degree.
15. Maryville University
Promising an “experience-driven degree,” Maryville University’s online Master of Strategic Communications and Leadership program allows students to “graduate with at least three high-demand professional certifications (Google AdWords, Salesforce, and HubSpot).”
The 36-credit program’s fully online courses consist of a Strategic Leadership Core, Strategic Communications Core, electives, and optional Emerging and Digital Media concentrations. Classes are rigorous but student-centered and cover topics such as “Strategic Communication Best Practices,” “Public Relations Research and Strategy,” “Professional and Organizational Ethics,” and a concentration in emerging and digital media.
reference: Compare 20 Online Masters Programs in Political Science in 2023
What can you do with a master’s degree in public relations?
Graduates who earn a master’s degree in public relations online can secure positions such as public relations specialist, human resources manager, sales account executive, internal communications manager, and learning and development analyst.
How much can you earn with a master’s degree in public relations?
Graduate salaries vary depending on job title, location, and experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a public relations specialist is $60,000. The bottom 10% of public relations professionals earn about $34,000 per year, while the top 10% earn more than $112,000.
conclusion
Earning an online master’s degree in public relations can be a very good idea. This is especially true for graduates who work and don’t have time to take actual classes.
It’s also a good idea to know which online program is best for this course to make your studies worthwhile.
Best Masters in Online Public Relations FAQ:
Professionals typically do not need a master’s degree to work in public relations. However, some employers may require a graduate degree for certain positions. An online master’s degree in public relations can set you apart from other applicants in a competitive job market, position you for leadership roles, and increase your earning potential.
Graduates who earn a master’s degree in public relations online can secure positions such as public relations specialist, human resources manager, sales account executive, internal communications manager, and learning and development analyst.
Graduate salaries vary depending on job title, location, and experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a public relations specialist is $60,000. The bottom 10% of public relations professionals earn about $34,000 per year, while the top 10% earn more than $112,000.
A master’s degree in public relations can be studied offline as well as online, depending on which learning format suits your lifestyle. Just as some people enjoy their coffee with cream while others do not, you may find a graduate school with an outstanding master’s degree in public relations program or feel that an online master’s in communications program is a better fit for your lifestyle.
The Master’s program in Public Relations focuses on modern public relations, the nature of human communication, and the role of the media. These programs often help students acquire the ability to write clearly and concisely in modern media formats and speak to a variety of audiences.