Typical Scheduling of PR Courses Throughout the Year
| Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| PRLN 1110 Design & Production for Public Relations | PRLN 1110 Design & Production for Public Relations | PRLN 1110 Design & Production for Public Relations |
| PRLN 1120 Writing for Public Relations | PRLN 1120 Writing for Public Relations | PRLN 1150 Introduction to Public Relations |
| PRLN 1150 Intro to Public Relations | PRLN 1150 Introduction to Public Relations | PRLN 1160 Media and Influencer Relations |
| PRLN 1160 Media & Influencer Relations | PRLN 1170 Public Relations Research & Evaluation | PRLN 1170 Public Relations Research & Evaluation |
| PRLN 2010 Social Media for Public Relations | PRLN 2010 Social Media for Public Relations (Offered for FMRK; limited seats for PR) | PRLN 2010 Social Media for Public Relations |
| ***PRLN 2130 Community & Stakeholder Engagement*** (Offered once per year) | ***PRLN 2120 PR Campaign & Event Management*** (Offered once per year) | PRLN 2XXX Determined based on student need |
| PRLN 2310 Crisis Communications & Issues Mgmt. | PRLN 2441 Organizational Communications & Culture | PRLN 2XXX Determined based on student need |
For students considering the PR Diploma program or adding a PR course to your studies, we recommend a general order of course progression. All students should take PRLN 1150 Introduction to Public Relations first as it provides some important fundamentals that will help you succeed in all other PR courses.
Our recommended PR Diploma course progression follows four levels of study that build on your knowledge and skills. The courses in each level might take one to two semesters to complete.
Level 1: Introduction to Public Relations & University Studies
- Start Here: The first course you should take in PR is PRLN 1150 Introduction to Public Relations, which provides an overview of the fundamentals of public relations.
- Develop strong reading and writing skills that are necessary for success in PR by completing ENGL 1100 and CMNS 1140.
- Develop your knowledge of the business world with BUSI 1110 and BUSI 1215.
Level 2: Developing Foundational Skills
- Develop and begin applying foundational PR skills like design thinking (PRLN 1110) and research (PRLN 1170).
- Broaden your understanding of the world with courses like Indigenous Studies (INDG 1100) and Business Law (BUSI 2390) and learn basic marketing (MRKT 1199).
Level 3: Going Deeper
- Apply your new skills by engaging deeply with PR concepts, strategies, and tactics.
- Learn how to write specialized public relations materials (PRLN 1120) and conduct media and influencer relations (PRLN 1160).
- Begin taking your first 2000-level courses in specialized topics like social media, crisis communications and stakeholder engagement.
Gain Work Experience: Consider taking an optional four-month or eight-month paid co-op placement with an employer in public relations/communications, prior to completing your last semester of studies.
Level 4: Bringing it All Together
- Bring all your skills and knowledge together to plan and create PR campaigns and manage organizational communications.
- Fill in any gaps in knowledge to prepare for your transition to the workplace.
A sample course progression based on these four levels might look something like this:
| Level 1: Intro to PR & University Studies | Level 2: Developing Foundational Skills | Level 3: Going Deeper | Level 4: Bringing It All Together |
|---|---|---|---|
PRLN 1150* ENGL 1110 BUSI 1110 BUSI 1215 CMNS 1140 | PRLN 1110 PRLN 1170 MRKT 1199 INDG 1100 BUSI 2390 | PRLN 1120 PRLN 1160 PRLN 2010 PRLN 2130 PRLN 2310 | PRLN 2120 PRLN 2441 Quantitative Req** PHIL 3033** General Elective** |
*PRLN 1150 Introduction to Public Relations should be the first course you take in PR.
** These courses can be taken at any time throughout the course progression, but you will probably gain the most from them in levels 3 or 4.