WVU :: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism

Online Minor in Public Relations

Every organization, whether nonprofit, trade association, corporate, or government agency, needs to tell its story to survive and thrive. Public relations practitioners, also known as corporate communicators, public information officers, promotions directors, spokespersons and a host of other terms, tell these stories. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates some 200,000 persons are employed in the public relations profession.

In addition, those in professions as varied as medicine, engineering, education and social work now need an understanding of basic public relations principles to engage their communities and clients. Regardless of title or area of emphasis, all of these professionals need a solid base in written, oral and visual communications, along with an understanding of various audiences and the media and interpersonal mechanisms with which to communicate with them.

Students in colleges and units outside of the P.I. Reed School of Journalism may earn a minor in Public Relations online during summer sessions by completing the following courses and meeting the requirements as stated below.

Prerequisites and Schedule Hours:

JRL 101 Introduction to Mass Communication, 3 hours
Can be taken on campus or online. Generally offered every term.
PR 215 Introduction to Public Relations, 3 hours
Can be taken on campus or online. Generally offered every term.
PR 301 Writing for Public Relations, 3 hours
Prerequisites: JRL 101, PR 215
PR 301 must be taken online during summer session. It is generally offered during the fist six weeks of summer school.
PR 401 Applied Public Relations, 3 hours
Prerequisites: PR 301
PR 401 must be taken online during summer session. It is generally offered during the second six weeks of summer school.
PR 410 IMC for Public Relations, 3 hours
Prerequisites: PR 301 (For majors ADV 315 or PR 324)
PR 410 must be taken online during summer session. It is generally offered during the second six weeks of summer school.

To earn a minor in Public Relations a student must earn a grade of C or better in each of the five courses.

The PR minor is not available to any student enrolled in the P.I. Reed School of Journalism. Students minoring in public relations cannot become public relations majors.

Students who double-minor in Advertising and Public Relations may choose an additional course from the School’s online and 200-level open enrollment courses in place of JRL 101 (which they will have already taken for the Advertising minor.)

Students can complete the minor with the two lower division courses during the school year and the online courses in one summer. Students completing the entire minor online can expect to complete it in two summers.

All courses are taught completely online. Students need to plan on logging on daily during the week, but can do so at the time of their own choosing. Students should budget the same amount of time for an online class as they do for classroom classes.

To get permission to register for online journalism classes, please send an email to sojexlearning@mail.wvu.edu

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	Online Minor in Public Relations Every organization, whether nonprofit, trade association, corporate, or government agency, needs to tell its story to survive and thrive. Public relations practitioners, also known as corporate communicators, public information officers, promotions directors, spokespersons and a host of other terms, tell these stories. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates some 200,000 persons are employed in the public relations profession. In addition, those in professions as varied as medicine, engineering, education and social work now need an understanding of basic public relations principles to engage their communities and clients. Regardless of title or area of emphasis, all of these professionals need a solid base in written, oral and visual communications, along with an understanding of various audiences and the media and interpersonal mechanisms with which to communicate with them. Students in colleges and units outside of the P.I. Reed School of Journalism may earn a minor in Public Relations online during summer sessions by completing the following courses and meeting the requirements as stated below. Prerequisites and Schedule Hours: JRL 101 Introduction to Mass Communication, 3 hours Can be taken on campus or online. Generally offered every term. PR 215 Introduction to Public Relations, 3 hours Can be taken on campus or online. Generally offered every term. PR 301 Writing for Public Relations, 3 hours Prerequisites: JRL 101, PR 215 PR 301 must be taken online during summer session. It is generally offered during the fist six weeks of summer school. PR 401 Applied Public Relations, 3 hours Prerequisites: PR 301 PR 401 must be taken online during summer session. It is generally offered during the second six weeks of summer school. PR 410 IMC for Public Relations, 3 hours Prerequisites: PR 301 (For majors ADV 315 or PR 324) PR 410 must be taken online during summer session. It is generally offered during the second six weeks of summer school. To earn a minor in Public Relations a student must earn a grade of C or better in each of the five courses. The PR minor is not available to any student enrolled in the P.I. Reed School of Journalism. Students minoring in public relations cannot become public relations majors. Students who double-minor in Advertising and Public Relations may choose an additional course from the School’s online and 200-level open enrollment courses in place of JRL 101 (which they will have already taken for the Advertising minor.) Students can complete the minor with the two lower division courses during the school year and the online courses in one summer. Students completing the entire minor online can expect to complete it in two summers. All courses are taught completely online. Students need to plan on logging on daily during the week, but can do so at the time of their own choosing. Students should budget the same amount of time for an online class as they do for classroom classes. To get permission to register for online journalism classes, please send an email to sojexlearning@mail.wvu.edu