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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
The Media School

Concentration in Public Relations (Bachelor of Arts in Journalism)

Students on Summer 2023, Fall 2023, or Spring 2024 requirements JORC09

The Public Relations concentration of the B.A.J. combines foundational journalism courses with public relations course work focusing on principles, concepts, research and application of best practices in developing and managing effective communication campaigns. This course of study combines a robust core of strategic communication courses with upper-level media skills courses, allowing students to develop expertise across many different types of media. The concentration prepares them for careers with public relations and advertising agencies, corporation communication departments, and nonprofit organizations employing a wide spectrum of media technologies.

Requirements

The major requires at least 42 credit hours (plus an outside minor or certificate), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Core.
    1. Introduction to Media. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 101 Media
    2. Story Lab I. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 250
    3. Story Lab II. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 251 Story Lab II
    4. Media Law. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-J 300 Communications Law
      • MSCH-H 300 Honors Media Law in the Digital Age
    5. Statistics. One (1) course:
      • CJUS-K 300 Techniques of Data Analysis
      • ECON-E 370 Statistical Analysis for Business and Economics
      • LAMP-L 316 Junior Seminar: Analytical Problem Solving
      • PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques
      • PSY-K 310 Statistical Techniques
      • SOC-S 371 Statistics in Sociology
      • STAT-S 211 Statistics for Journalists
      • STAT-S 300 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
      • STAT-S 303 Applied Statistical Methods for the Life Sciences
    6. Media Ethics. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-J 410 The Media as Ethical and Social Institutions
      • MSCH-H 410 Honors Media as Social Institutions
    7. Media Career Development. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 150 Media School College and Career Preparation
      • MSCH-H 110 Ernie Pyle Scholar Honors Freshman Seminar
    8. Media Skill Development. Two (2) credit hours:
      • MSCH-C 260 Media Boot Camp
      • MSCH-C 270 Media Skills Workshop
      • Additional credit hours from the Public Relations Skills Electives list:
        • MSCH-B 332 Sports Writing and Reporting
        • MSCH-B 333 Sportscasting
        • MSCH-B 334 Social Media in Sports
        • MSCH-B 340 Sports Video Storytelling
        • MSCH-B 350 Esports Journalism
        • MSCH-B 432 Advanced Sports Writing
        • MSCH-J 301 Story Lab III
        • MSCH-J 326 Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Media
        • MSCH-J 331 Podcasting and Audio Storytelling
        • MSCH-J 341 News Reporting
        • MSCH-J 342 Magazine Reporting
        • MSCH-J 343 Broadcast News
        • MSCH-J 344 Photojournalism Reporting
        • MSCH-J 351 News Editing
        • MSCH-J 352 Magazine Editing
        • MSCH-J 353 Advanced Broadcast News
        • MSCH-J 354 Photojournalism Editing
        • MSCH-J 360 Journalism Specialties
        • MSCH-J 362 Journalism Multimedia Storytelling
        • MSCH-J 363 Web and Mobile Design
        • MSCH-J 365 Graphic Design I
        • MSCH-J 400 Converged Newsroom
        • MSCH-J 408 Investigative Reporting
        • MSCH-J 413 Covering Murder and Mayhem
        • MSCH-J 414 Narrative Journalism
        • MSCH-J 415 Literary Journalism
        • MSCH-J 416 Story Mechanics
        • MSCH-J 426 Reporting on Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle
        • MSCH-J 431 Advanced Podcasting and Audio Storytelling
        • MSCH-J 444 Advanced Photojournalism
        • MSCH-J 460 Topics Colloquium
        • MSCH-J 464 Infographics
        • MSCH-J 465 Graphic Design II
  2. Public Relations Concentration.
    1. Public Relations Principles. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations
    2. Public Relations Gateway. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-R 349 Public Relations Writing
    3. Public Relations Research. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-R 348 Public Relations Planning and Research
    4. Public Relations Mastery. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-R 429 Public Relations Campaigns
      • MSCH-R 480 Bateman Competition
    5. Public Relations Electives. Two (2) courses and six (6) credit hours:
      • MSCH-A 360 Media Advertising Topics
      • MSCH-H 310 Honors Media Topics (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
      • MSCH-J 360 Journalism Specialties (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
      • MSCH-R 360 Public Relations Topics
      • MSCH-R 429 Public Relations Campaigns
      • MSCH-R 431 Public Relations for Nonprofits
      • MSCH-R 450 Public Relations Management
      • MSCH-R 455 Social Media Communication Strategies
      • MSCH-R 480 Bateman Competition
      • MSCH-X 360 The Media School in Los Angeles (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
    6. Public Relations Skills Electives. One (1) course:
      • MSCH-B 332 Sports Writing and Reporting
      • MSCH-B 333 Sportscasting
      • MSCH-B 334 Social Media in Sports
      • MSCH-B 340 Sports Video Storytelling
      • MSCH-B 350 Esports Journalism
      • MSCH-B 432 Advanced Sports Writing
      • MSCH-J 301 Story Lab III
      • MSCH-J 326 Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Media
      • MSCH-J 331 Podcasting and Audio Storytelling
      • MSCH-J 341 News Reporting
      • MSCH-J 342 Magazine Reporting
      • MSCH-J 343 Broadcast News
      • MSCH-J 344 Photojournalism Reporting
      • MSCH-J 351 News Editing
      • MSCH-J 352 Magazine Editing
      • MSCH-J 353 Advanced Broadcast News
      • MSCH-J 354 Photojournalism Editing
      • MSCH-J 360 Journalism Specialties
      • MSCH-J 362 Journalism Multimedia Storytelling
      • MSCH-J 363 Web and Mobile Design
      • MSCH-J 365 Graphic Design I
      • MSCH-J 400 Converged Newsroom
      • MSCH-J 408 Investigative Reporting
      • MSCH-J 413 Covering Murder and Mayhem
      • MSCH-J 414 Narrative Journalism
      • MSCH-J 415 Literary Journalism
      • MSCH-J 416 Story Mechanics
      • MSCH-J 426 Reporting on Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle
      • MSCH-J 431 Advanced Podcasting and Audio Storytelling
      • MSCH-J 444 Advanced Photojournalism
      • MSCH-J 460 Topics Colloquium
      • MSCH-J 464 Infographics
      • MSCH-J 465 Graphic Design II
    7. Additional Requirements.
      • At least nine (9) credit hours in the concentration must be at the 300–499 level.
      • Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the concentration.
      • A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the concentration—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
  3. Second Concentration. One (1) of the following:
    • College-approved Certificate or Minor
      • Complete a College of Arts and Sciences minor, certificate, or other credential transcripted by the College. If the credential is less than 24 credit hours, electives in MSCH-J or MSCH-R courses must be completed to reach 24 credit hours.
      • Students must follow standard policies for declaring these credentials. Completion of the B.A.J. second concentration will not result in automatic transcription of these credentials.
      • Credit hours earned from coursework outside the College that are applied to credentials within the B.A.J. second concentration will be included in the 100 College of Arts and Sciences Credit Hours requirement. These credits from outside the College do not count toward the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism major hours limit, however.
    • Outside Concentration
      • Complete one (1) of the options below. All options require the completion of an established minor or certificate.
        • Kelley School of Business. In addition to ECON-B 251 Fundamentals of Economics for Business I or ECON-E 251 Fundamentals of Economics I with a C- or higher, complete the Minor in Business, Minor in Financial Literacy, Minor in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, or Minor in Marketing.
        • School of Education. Complete courses required for high school teacher certification. Interested students should meet with the Director of the High School Journalism Institute for more information.
        • School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. Students may apply an Informatics minor or the Certificate in Informatics towards the completion of the second concentration. To earn the Certificate in Informatics, students must complete all 27 credit hours. To use an Informatics minor, students must complete additional coursework to meet the 24 credit minimum for the second concentration. Consult with your Media School advisor to identify appropriate courses to meet the credit hour minimum. A minimum grade of C in all courses taken for the certificate is required.
        • Jacobs School of Music. Of the 24 Jacobs School of Music credits needed, at least 14 credit hours of MUS-K, M, T, or Z courses (excluding MUS-Z 110) are required. Applied music courses must be in private instruction in one instrument. No ensemble work may apply. Alternatively, students may complete the special minor offered through the Jacobs School of Music along with additional approved credit hours to reach the 24 required. For more information, see the Minor for Music Scoring for Visual Media in the "Opportunities" section of this Bulletin.
        • School of Public Health. Students interested in using one of the following four SPH minors to complete a B.A.J. second concentration may do so following the stipulations outlined below; however, the College of Arts and Sciences does not recognize these minors for inclusion on a student's transcript.
          • Minor in Kinesiology (plus additional SPH courses from the minor list to total 24 credit hours)
          • Minor in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management (plus additional SPH courses from the minor list or the Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management major list to total 24 credit hours)
          • Minor in Sports Marketing and Management (plus additional SPH courses from the minor list or the Sport Marketing and Management major list to total 24 credit hours)
          • Minor in Event Planning (plus additional SPH courses from the minor list or the Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management major list to total 24 credit hours)
        • School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Students can complete any of the SPEA minors or certificates transcripted by the College (plus additional SPEA courses to total 24 credit hours).
  4. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100-499 level with the MSCH prefix--as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements--as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent--except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
  • Any course, consistent with the policies herein, that is part of a concentration, track, and/or specialization being pursued as part of this academic program

The above courses cannot be applied toward the College Breadth requirement in the major.

Exclusions

The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement:

  • No common exclusions

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Media (MEDIABA)
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts (CINEARTBFA)
  • Bachelor of Science in Game Design (GAMEDSGNBS)
  • Certificate in Journalism (JOURUGACR1)
  • Certificate in New Media and Interactive Storytelling (NMISTACRT1)
  • Minor in Black Cinema and Media Studies (BLKCNMDMIN)
  • Minor in Cinema and Media Studies (CNMDASTMIN)
  • Minor in Fashion Media (FAMEDIAMIN)
  • Minor in Film Production (FILMPRDMIN)
  • Minor in Game Design (GAMEDSNMIN)
  • Minor in Global Media (GLVMDIAMIN)
  • Minor in Media and Creative Advertising (MDCRADMIN)
  • Minor in Media and Diversity (MDIADIVMIN)
  • Minor in Media Law and Ethics (MDLWETMIN)
  • Minor in Media Persuasion (MDIAPRSMIN)
  • Minor in Media, Sex and Gender (MDGNDRMIN)
  • Minor in Public Relations (PBLCRELMIN)
  • Minor in Sports Media (SPORTMDMIN)
  • [Discontinued credential name unavailable] (NMISTACRT)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.