Multidisciplinary Studies Main

Public Relations Management Option

Master's Degree:

This option is designed for students who hold undergraduate degrees in areas other than public relations, although public relations graduates can be admitted. Combining the four public relations courses with 18 credit hours of focused electives allows students to learn to apply their public relations skills in a specific field.

Certificate Program:

Those interested in the public relations program who do not wish to pursue a master's degree may choose a four-course (12 credit hour) certificate option. The certificate program will assist those making the transition to public relations management by focusing on formal perspectives of the professional and managerial dimensions of the field.

Admission Requirements:

Application Deadlines

Certificate-only Program: Applicants to the graduate certificate-only program in public relations management (12 credit hours) must apply by July 1, 2008 for the fall 2008 semester. The next public relations cycle begins in fall 2008 and the courses must be taken in sequence. Qualified students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Full Master's Degree: Applicants to the full master of science degree in multidisciplinary studies degree (30 credit hours) using the public relations certificate coursework to partially meet the degree requirements may apply for the fall, spring, or summer semesters according to application deadlines published in the Graduate Catalog. Please note that the next public relations course cycle begins in fall 2008 and the courses must be taken in sequence. Qualified students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Application Requirements

Completion of a Graduate Admission Application packet (pdf). Current Buffalo State graduate students wishing to change majors, must complete a Change of Major Application (pdf). Hardcopy applications available, e-mail the Graduate Studies Office.
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (4.0) scale.

Statement of Intent including the following:

Work experience, if any, relevant to public relations or other areas of public communication.
Career goals and how this program will help the applicant achieve them.
Detailed outline of proposed plan of study, including specific courses, if you are applying to the master of science degree in Multidisciplinary Studies. Your plan of study must comply with the Program Regulations. If you are applying to the certificate program only, no list of courses is required.
The statement of intent will be evaluated as a writing sample, indicative of academic success at the graduate level. Please type and proofread it prior to submission.

Interview with the option coordinator. The coordinator will contact the student for an appointment after the completed application packet is received.

Required Courses

Certificate Core Courses (12 credit hours)

COM 610
Strategic Public Relations
offered fall 2008**

COM 620
Public Relations Managment
offered spring 2009

COM 630
Applications of Public Relations
offered fall 2009

COM 640/690*
Certificate Project or Master's Project
offered spring 2010

* = Students pursuing the master of science degree in multidisciplinary studies must take COM 690, master's project, plus an additional 18 credit hours of elective courses.

** = The public relations core courses - COM 610, COM 620, COM 630 and COM 640/690 - must be taken in sequence. Only one of these courses is offered each semester. Students pursuing the full master's degree may take the six elective courses at any time and in any order.

Certificate Core Course Descriptions

COM 610: Strategic Public Relations - As a foundational course in Public Relations Management, this course will deal with organizational principles and strategic planning practices underscoring effective management of public relations.

COM 620: Public Relations Management - This course will take a case-studies approach, focusing on the management of public relations in various specialized situations.

COM 630: Applications of Public Relations - This course will explore the management aspects of writing, design and production of specialized messages.

COM 640: Certificate Project - Practical application of knowledge acquired in COM 610, COM 620, and COM 630 through the development of a strategic public relations campaign or project

Coordinator Information:

Coordinator, Public Relations Management Option

Ron Smith, Ph.D.
Professor, Communication Department
Bishop Hall 221
(716) 878-6039
e-mail:smithr@buffalostate.edu
option web site: http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/smithrd/grad/overview.htm

Coordinator, Multidisciplinary Studies Program

Kimberly J. Jackson, Coordinator
Graduate School Office
Cleveland Hall 204
(716) 878-5601
e-mail: jackskj@buffalostate.edu