From managing relationships between consumers and their favorite companies to planning an event for a local nonprofit or strategizing a social media campaigns you will learn to connect our world through public relations.
Your job is to build relationships between your clients and the people they need to engage. From brand development and crisis control to media relations, Public relations builds the reputation and the voice behind the organization.
We teach you to think strategically, write effectively and to plan accordingly. From learning to develop and evaluate communications campaigns to making the most of a client’s social media and mobile platforms, you’ll learn the essential skills needed for jobs in agencies, government, nonprofits and the corporate world. In your senior year, you’ll engage with real clients, performing research, proposing strategies and producing a written campaign you’ll present to the client.
To broaden your skills, you may elect courses in such areas as sports, international, fundraising and health care public relations. All public relations majors take a minor in an area that complements their career or personal interests to help them focus their goals. Our proximity to New York and Boston provides you with valuable internship opportunities to gain real-world experience in global organizations.
Percentage of business leaders who believe public relations is just as important as marketing and advertising. (Public Relations Society of America)
Percentage of our graduates who are working or enrolled in a secondary education program six months after graduation. (Graduates from Quinnipiac Survey, 2020)
Quinnipiac students have a 20% higher satisfaction rate with our instruction in public relations than comparable national 4-year programs. (National Survey of Student Engagement, 2015)
Percentage of 2020 graduating seniors who have jobs, are continuing their education or are starting their own companies within 6 months of graduation.
The number of new communications jobs expected to be added through 2029. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Students interned at 180 locations across the country during the 2019-20 academic year.
Our Public Relations programs are certified by the Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR) through the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Our MS in Public Relations program is one of five graduate programs worldwide to receive the CEPR designation.
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. They advocate rigorous academic standards for public relations education, the highest ethical principles and diversity in the profession.
The CEPR offers approved academic programs, such as Quinnipiac’s, the opportunity to have an outside evaluation team review and endorse undergraduate and master’s level programs for meeting standards in curriculum, faculty, students, resources and facilities, assessment, professional affiliations, relationships with the total unit, and the university and diversity and global perspectives.
“Receiving the CEPR from PRSA endorses the great work of our students, faculty and alumni in the public relations program. This certification shows that we meet the industry standards for our graduates, and it shows that our program is among the best programs globally.”
Christina Bruno ’18
When public relations major Christina Bruno ’18 reflects on her time at Quinnipiac, she realizes that her most important experiences were the ones that led to her professional niche — entertainment.
”That is my passion,“ Bruno said. ”The entertainment industry is where I want to be.“
That passion was evident on campus, where Bruno used every available medium to express herself. Her show at Quinnipiac‘s radio station, WQAQ 98.1 FM, won ”Best Radio Talk Show“ for 2016–17. Off the air, she portrayed some of her favorite characters in various productions for The Fourth Wall Theatre, including a role that required her to learn Spanish.
However, Bruno gained her most valuable experience during her internship at The Paley Center for Media, a nonprofit organization that bridges the gap between society and the media industry.
Bruno did outreach work, networked with members of the press and regularly worked beside talent during red-carpet events. She also developed a digital marketing strategy to attract a millennial audience to The Paley Center, which the organization plans to implement in the next year.
“My media systems and planning class really helped me,” Bruno said. ”It taught me all of the marketing tactics I used when developing my business proposal.”
While her immediate plans are to apply her public relations education in the entertainment or fashion industries, Bruno’s ultimate goal is to use her PR savvy, personality and voice on her own talk show.
”It’s important to dream big,” she said. ”Dreaming big gives you something to strive for and I believe that can drive success.”
“This program taught me the value of strong writing skills in the communications field. In addition to the PR curriculum, I was encouraged to take classes in advertising, journalism and media studies to understand how all facets of the communications industry fit together.”
Brynn Martin ‘21 was selected as a winner of the PRSSA National Gold Key Award for 2021. This is one of the highest honors given to PRSSA members and reflects her outstanding academic excellence in public relations and communications as well as her leadership within the Quinnipiac chapter and the society as a whole. Martin was president of the Quinnipiac chapter, and she also minored in international relations and French while maintaining a 3.67 GPA. Martin also received an outstanding leadership award from the Strategic Communications department this past year and she was a member of the Lambda Pi Eta chapter.
“Quinnipiac's communications program consistently ranks as one of the best schools in New England. I was drawn by its location, only a train ride away from New York City. At Quinnipiac, hard work does not go unnoticed. It has been so rewarding to be recognized for all I have done.” — Julianne Guarino ’18
As a School of Communications student, you can build your portfolio in real time with real clients at The Agency, our award-winning, full-service, student-run interdisciplinary firm. Students majoring in advertising, public relations, and graphic and interactive design work with real-world businesses, including Lego, Peanuts Worldwide Inc. and Sikorsky. The Agency is well-equipped to handle communications needs such as web design, app design, promotional materials, print collateral, marketing research, social media management, social media analytics, media relations, community engagement, data analysis, special events, strategic planning and branding.
Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.