The Media School
Minor in Public Relations (Minors)
Students on Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023 requirements PBLCRELMIN
This minor provides students outside The Media School a fuller understanding of the PR profession and the opportunity to apply strategic communication skills to their specific fields of study. Students will learn the intricacies of the PR practice in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors as well as the process of researching, planning, and implementing strategic communication campaigns for a wide range of clients.
Requirements
The minor requires at least 18 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- PR Foundations.
- Principles of Public Relations. One (1) course:
- MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations
MSCH-C 208 Principles of Public Relations
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to public relations. Examines theory and practice of public relations, how public relations operates in organizations, and its impact on stakeholders and society. Topics include approaches to persuasion, media relations, crisis communication, reputation management, and ethics.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of JOUR-J 321, MSCH-C 208, or MSCH-R 321.
- Professional Writing. One (1) course:
- MSCH-C 225 Reporting, Writing, and Editing I
- MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I
- MSCH-C 251 Story Lab II
- ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills
- ENG-W 240 Community Service Writing
- ENG-W 270 Argumentative Writing
- BUS-C 204 BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
MSCH-C 225 Reporting, Writing, and Editing I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- Completion of the English Composition requirement
- Description
- Working seminar stressing the creation of journalistic stories for diverse audiences. Provides instruction and practice in developing story ideas, gathering information, combining visual and verbal messages, and writing and editing news.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of MSCH-C 225 or MSCH-H 225.
- Fall 2024CASE SHcourseSummer 2024CASE SHcourseSpring 2024CASE SHcourse
MSCH-C 250 Story Lab I
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Intensive, hands-on course introduces storytelling skills, techniques and tools for effective media creation in a digital, multi-platform environment and provides the knowledge and skills needed for success in higher-level, more specialized courses of study across the Media School curriculum, including advertising, digital media, journalism, and public relations.
- Grading
- Students are able to earn credit for only one of the following: MSCH-C 250; JOUR-J 210; MSCH-C 226; MSCH-C 21001
MSCH-C 251 Story Lab II
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- MSCH-C 250
- Description
- Intensive, hands-on course focuses on journalistic techniques for storytelling in a digital environment. Topics include audio and visual collection and editing, broadcast-style writing and voicing, interviewing, newswriting, reporting and verification techniques, social media and story development, principles of data, ethics and law in newsgathering and strategic communications contexts.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of MSCH-C 251, MSCH-C 225, or MSCH-H 225.
ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- Completion of the English composition requirement
- Description
- Designed to develop research and writing skills requisite for most academic and professional activities. Emphasis on methods of research, organization, and writing techniques useful in preparing reviews, critical bibliographies, research and technical reports, proposals, and papers.
ENG-W 240 Community Service Writing
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- Completion of the English composition requirement
- Description
- Integrates service with learning to develop research and writing skills requisite for most academic and professional activities. Students volunteer at a community service agency, write an assignment for public use by the agency, and perform coursework culminating in a research paper on a related social issue.
ENG-W 270 Argumentative Writing
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- Completion of the English composition requirement
- Description
- Offers instruction and practice in writing argumentative essays about complicated and controversial issues. Focuses on strategies for identifying issues, assessing claims, locating evidence, deciding on a position, and writing papers with clear assertions and convincing arguments.
BUS-C 204 BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
- Credits
- 3–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- None
- Public Relations Planning and Research. One (1) course:
- MSCH-R 348 Public Relations Planning and Research
MSCH-R 348 Public Relations Planning and Research
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- C- or higher in MSCH-C 208, or consent of instructor
- Description
- Theories and principles relevant to public relations research and strategic planning, including development of goals and objectives, client relationships, budgets, and research methods.
- Public Relations Writing. One (1) course:
- MSCH-R 349 Public Relations Writing
MSCH-R 349 Public Relations Writing
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- MSCH-C 208; and C- or higher in one of MSCH-C 225, MSCH-C 250, MSCH-H 225, ENG-W 231, ENG-W 240, ENG-W 270, or BUS-C 204
- Description
- Develops the professional writing skills expected of beginning public relations practitioners, including different approaches to a variety of audiences and media. Focuses on the basics of good writing as well as the art of writing. Provides practice in AP style. Imparts skills needed to work effectively with real-world clients.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of MSCH-R 349 or JOUR-J 349.
- Principles of Public Relations. One (1) course:
- PR Application. Six (6) credit hours:
- MSCH-R 350 PR Strategies for Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Communication
- 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-R 350 PR Strategies for Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Communication
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- MSCH-C 208
- Description
- Public relations strategies grounded in research and aligned with brand mission and image are integral to the practice of strategic communication management. This course provides training in the knowledge and skills required to develop effective strategies in brand communication within the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle media space.
MSCH-R 429 Public Relations Campaigns
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- A grade of C- or higher in MSCH-R 348 and MSCH-R 349
- Description
- Covers development and execution of a public relations campaign for a non-profit organization as well as public relations theory and in-depth care study analysis. Provides training and practice in developing and pitching a proposal to meet a client\'s business objectives. Includes media relations and crisis communications training.
MSCH-R 431 Public Relations for Nonprofits
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- C- or higher in MSCH-R 348, or consent of instructor
- Description
- This seminar focuses on how a non-profit organization creates images and how it shapes its programs and goals to gain public support. Assignments and readings are designed to foster a practical understanding of promotional techniques and campaigns using journalistic and other media.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of JOUR-J 431 or MSCH-R 431.
MSCH-R 450 Public Relations Management
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- C- or higher in MSCH-R 348 or MSCH-R 349, or consent of instructor
- Description
- Focuses on the strategic, financial, and leadership skills necessary to become a manager and leader in the public relations industry. Examines the functions of public relations management, and application of these functions in a variety of industry roles and job settings.
MSCH-R 455 Social Media Communication Strategies
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- A grade of C- or higher in MSCH-C 101 or MSCH-C 208
- Description
- Examines how social media can be used as an effective component of an organization\'s communication management strategy and when it can potentially hamper effectiveness. Covers the use of monitoring and measurement research tools and metrics to evaluate the effects of communication campaigns on organizational outcomes.
MSCH-R 480 Bateman Competition
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- A grade of C- or higher in MSCH-C 208 and consent of instructor
- Description
- The Bateman Competition is the premiere national competition for public relations students, sponsored by the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Requires development, implementation, and evaluation of a real campaign for a national client. Work is evaluated by a panel of PR professionals.
- Grading
- S/F grading.
- Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Minor GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Minor 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 minor.
- Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
Minor 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 contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—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
This program of study cannot be combined with the following:
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (JOURBAJ)
- 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)
Exceptions to and substitutions for minor 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.