Dual-Degree BA or BS/MS in Public Relations (4+1)
Carret iconIntroduction
Program Overview
Our five-year Dual-Degree BA/MS or BS/MS in public relations (4+1) program offers the opportunity for undergraduate students pursuing any major to get a head start on a master’s degree and begin taking some graduate-level courses in their senior year. The PR program reflects the contemporary trends of the industry and will prepare you for a career in government, sports, the nonprofit world or the private sector.
You’ll have the flexibility to shape your experience based on your interests and professional ambitions, and you can choose either the traditional public relations track or a social media track, which examines the most effective PR strategies organizations employ on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Through a variety of electives, you’ll explore specialized areas within the field, including international public relations, investor relations and health care PR, where you’ll hone your writing, analytical and communication skills.
Our faculty members come from a diverse range of PR backgrounds and have professional connections throughout the industry who serve as valuable resources for jobs and experiential learning opportunities. Our career counselor will work with you one-on-one to assist in your job search and organize internships that will give you the practical experience and relationship-building skills you need to hit the ground running once you graduate.
Curriculum and Requirements
Dual-Degree BA/MS or BA/MS (4+1) Program of Study
Current Quinnipiac undergraduate students may apply for the five-year dual-degree program in their junior year.
Students in the Dual-Degree BA/MS or BS/MS in Public Relations (4+1) program complete 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year, which also fulfills undergraduate electives. Students must work with their undergraduate adviser to ensure that the courses fit into their degree programs.
To earn the master’s degree, students must complete 36 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA and no grades less than a C. Any course with a grade of less than C has to be retaken.
Sample Schedule
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Year (Fourth Year) | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| STC 501 | Principles and Theories of Public Relations | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| STC 506 | Public Relations Management | 3 |
| Summer Semester | ||
| STC 504 | Law and Ethics in Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 531 | Graduate Internship in Public Relations | 3 |
| Graduate Study (Fifth Year) | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| STC 502 | Public Relations Research Methods | 3 |
| STC 505 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| STC Elective | 3 | |
| STC Elective | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| STC 503 | Public Relations Research Design | 3 |
| STC 507 | Strategic Planning in Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 601 | Public Relations Professional Project | 6 |
| or STC 602 | Public Relations Research Thesis | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Program of Study
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core requirements | ||
| STC 501 | Principles and Theories of Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 502 | Public Relations Research Methods | 3 |
| STC 503 | Public Relations Research Design | 3 |
| STC 504 | Law and Ethics in Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 505 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| STC 506 | Public Relations Management | 3 |
| STC 507 | Strategic Planning in Public Relations | 3 |
| Public Relations elective requirements 1 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
STC 510 | Crisis Management | |
STC 511 | Global Strategy | |
STC 512 | Investor Relations | |
STC 513 | Health and Strategic Communications | |
STC 514 | Social and Mobile Media | |
STC 515 | Special Topics in Public Relations | |
STC 531 | Graduate Internship in Public Relations | |
STC 606 | Independent Study | |
| Free elective | ||
| Select one public relations elective (from list above) or elective from other School of Communications graduate programs approved by adviser | 3 | |
| Capstone requirement | ||
| STC 601 | Public Relations Professional Project | 6 |
| or STC 602 | Public Relations Research Thesis | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| 1 | Students pursuing the Social Media Track must complete the following electives: STC 514 and two ICM electives focused on social media (graduate director approval required). |
Dual-Degree BA/MS or BA/MS (4+1) Program of Study
Current Quinnipiac undergraduate students may apply for the five-year dual-degree program in their junior year.
Students in the Dual-Degree BA/MS or BS/MS in Public Relations (4+1) program complete 6 credits of graduate courses during their senior year, which also fulfills undergraduate electives. Students must work with their undergraduate adviser to ensure that the courses fit into their degree programs.
To earn the master’s degree, students must complete 36 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA and no grades less than a C. Any course with a grade of less than C has to be retaken.
Sample Schedule
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Year (Fourth Year) | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| STC 501 | Principles and Theories of Public Relations | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| STC 506 | Public Relations Management | 3 |
| Summer Semester | ||
| STC 504 | Law and Ethics in Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 531 | Graduate Internship in Public Relations | 3 |
| Graduate Study (Fifth Year) | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| STC 502 | Public Relations Research Methods | 3 |
| STC 505 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| STC Elective | 3 | |
| STC Elective | 3 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| STC 503 | Public Relations Research Design | 3 |
| STC 507 | Strategic Planning in Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 601 | Public Relations Professional Project | 6 |
| or STC 602 | Public Relations Research Thesis | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Program of Study
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core requirements | ||
| STC 501 | Principles and Theories of Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 502 | Public Relations Research Methods | 3 |
| STC 503 | Public Relations Research Design | 3 |
| STC 504 | Law and Ethics in Public Relations | 3 |
| STC 505 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| STC 506 | Public Relations Management | 3 |
| STC 507 | Strategic Planning in Public Relations | 3 |
| Public Relations elective requirements 1 | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
STC 510 | Crisis Management | |
STC 511 | Global Strategy | |
STC 512 | Investor Relations | |
STC 513 | Health and Strategic Communications | |
STC 514 | Social and Mobile Media | |
STC 515 | Special Topics in Public Relations | |
STC 531 | Graduate Internship in Public Relations | |
STC 606 | Independent Study | |
| Free elective | ||
| Select one public relations elective (from list above) or elective from other School of Communications graduate programs approved by adviser | 3 | |
| Capstone requirement | ||
| STC 601 | Public Relations Professional Project | 6 |
| or STC 602 | Public Relations Research Thesis | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| 1 | Students pursuing the Social Media Track must complete the following electives: STC 514 and two ICM electives focused on social media (graduate director approval required). |
If accepted, you can take up to 6 credits of graduate courses beginning in the fall semester of your senior year with the permission of the graduate public relations director. Those credits can be applied to both undergraduate and graduate programs. You will then complete the remaining requirements for the master's degree in the following year.
Additional course details
Explore descriptions, schedule and instructor information using the Course Finder tool.
Admissions
Only currently enrolled students may apply to this program. Applications will not be accepted until junior year. Application requests, requirements and general counseling will happen directly with an advisor from the School of Communications.
