Are you interested in a future with exciting and diverse employment prospects, a promising job outlook and the flexibility to pursue opportunities in different sectors throughout your career? The versatile William Paterson University (WP) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Relations online program can prepare you to add value to a wide range of professional organizations as you expand your career opportunities in public relations.
Below are some of the most significant benefits of earning a B.A. in public relations.
Diverse Career Options
This program can help advance your career by emphasizing important public relations concepts such as strategic communication, communication via digital and social media platforms, managing crises and promoting corporate social responsibility. In the program, students develop integrated marketing campaigns in preparation for a wide variety of public relations (PR) roles as they prepare to uphold and enhance their employers’ reputations and brands.
There are challenging and exciting employment opportunities available for graduates in many sectors, including media, government agencies, non-profit organizations and educational institutions. The strategic PR skills learned through a public relations degree program can apply to a range of careers in fields such as marketing, advocacy, civic engagement, advertising and communications. Graduates can work for employers in virtually all sectors and all sizes or pursue an entrepreneurial path.
A degree in public relations opens doors to a range of professions, such as social media marketing coordinator, publicist, fundraising manager, marketing communications manager, brand manager, employee relations manager and health communication specialist. While graduates may need further education or certifications to fill these roles, a B.A. in PR sets professionals up with in-demand foundational skills. With a wide array of professional opportunities given your degree, responsibilities for graduates in a number of roles may include writing speeches, organizing an event, speaking to the media at press conferences and engaging with leaders in the private and public sectors.
Experienced PR professionals are involved in a wide variety of communications roles that involve politics and law, emergency management and public official management. As you progress in your career, your degree and experience can take you into increasingly high-profile leadership positions.
Strong Compensation and Job Prospects
As businesses and organizations emphasize maintaining their image and reputation in a globalized and growing economy, the demand for skilled public relations professionals is likely to increase. For that reason, the job outlook for public relations specialists is better than average between the years of 2021-31, with 8% projected growth, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). About 27,400 new jobs in this field are expected to open during the period as current professionals retire or transfer to other professions. The median pay is $62,800 per year.
Develop Your Writing and Communications Skills
Few professionals in any industry are as astute in writing and communicating as are those in public relations. These skills alone can open doors to an even larger number of opportunities. Being able to communicate ideas, plans and objectives clearly and effectively is essential in any leadership role. Effective communication skills can help leaders to establish trust, build credibility and inspire confidence. Leaders with superior writing and communication skills can adapt to many environments and communicate effectually with their team members and stakeholders. In any field, these capabilities are valuable because they foster better collaboration, increased productivity and positive outcomes.
Streamlined Admission Requirements Help You Get Started Quickly
The William Paterson University B.A. in Public Relations online program not only equips graduates with vital skills like strategy, research, communication and marketing but also has attractive elements for students’ credits when entering the program. While students must complete 33 credit hours of public relations core courses, the program permits a flexible application of prior learning, professional experience and transfer credits toward meeting these major requirements. Students may transfer up to 90 approved credit hours to decrease cost and time to completion.
Admissions requirements include a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and official transcripts from each college attended. You may also submit a high school transcript if you do not have prior college experience. There are six start dates per year, and students may apply online. If a dynamic career with exciting employment prospects appeals to you, the WP B.A. in Public Relations online program can be the academic key that unlocks your future.
Learn more about William Paterson University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations program.
