Public Relations and Journalism, A.A.

Program Description

Students in the Public Relations and Journalism Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree learn and apply standard journalism techniques and public relations strategies. Students explore the importance of public relations to individuals and organizations. Students also learn skills such as interpersonal communication and public speaking that give them a competitive edge to gain employment and be successful in the area of public relations and/or journalism. The Public Relations and Journalism Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree is recommended for students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in public relations or journalism.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Public Relations and Journalism Associate of Arts (A.A.) will be able to:

1. Apply effective public relations strategies that align with the goals of an individual or an organization.
2. Demonstrate various communication skills and journalism techniques that are used by practitioners in the field.
3. Utilize industry-standard media technology in the production of news reports
4. Explain how public relations supports organizations and individuals.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience Credits: 1 (Institutional Requirement)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. Requirement)
• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement)

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• COM-1130 Interviewing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• PSY-1010 General Psychology Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• POS-1010 American National Government Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective) 

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• TRF-1310 Introduction to Mass Communication Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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• MAT-1130 Mathematical Ideas Credits: 3 (Math Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• MAT-1140 Introduction to Statistics Credits: 3 (Math Gen. Ed. Elective) 

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• PRJ-1210 Public Relations Techniques Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• BMT-1500 Developing a Professional Image Credits: 1 (Program Requirement)

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• EGL-1020 Composition II: Writing About Literature Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• EGL-1100 Composition II: Writing About Issues and Ideas Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• EGL-1320 Composition II: Writing for Business Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• EGL-1340 Writing About Technical Topics Credits: 3 (English Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• COM-1010 Foundations of Communication Credits: 3 (Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• COM-1090 Interpersonal Communication Credits: 3 (Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• GEO-1010 Physical Geography Credits: 3 (Science No Lab Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition Credits: 3 (Science No Lab Gen. Ed. Elective) 

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• COM-2230 Intercultural Communication Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• HST-1410 History of the United States to 1877 Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• HST-1430 History of the United States since 1877 Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• HST-1510 History of African Americans to 1877 Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective)  or
• HST-1530 History of African Americans since 1877 Credits: 3 (Social Science Gen. Ed. Elective) 

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• PRJ-2210 Communication Theory Credits: 3 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)

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• PSC-1010 Introduction to Astronomy Credits: 3 (Science with Lab Gen. Ed. Requirement)  AND
• PSC-1020 Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory Credits: 1 (Science with Lab Gen. Ed. Requirement) 

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• PHL-1010 Introduction to Philosophy: The Art of Questioning Credits: 3 (Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• PHL-1090 Introduction to Logic Credits: 3 (Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• SPN-1010 Spanish for Beginners Credits: 3 (Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective) or
• FRN-1010 French for Beginners Credits: 3 (Humanities Gen. Ed. Elective)

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• EGL-2270 Applied Grammar Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• PRJ-2000 News Writing for Public Relations Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

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• SOC-2010 Social Problems Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• TRF-2040 Introduction to Broadcast News Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

Program Total: 60 Credits

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the  same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.