Program: Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media, BA - University of Scranton

Apr 02, 2025

Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

The Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media Major focuses on the research, strategy, creativity, media planning and evaluation processes used in the respective fields. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, creativity, data analysis, and communication skills. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurriculars, practicum and capstone classes and internships in both fields.

Department Core Courses

A student wishing to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 39 credits from the department’s course offerings. Included among these 39 credits are five core courses required for all Department of Communication and Media majors:

Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media Requirements

To the department core courses, the following requirements are added for Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media.

* COMM 105 - Advertising/PR/Social Media

Choose one of the following courses:

COMM 225 - Introduction to Advertising
COMM 227 - Public Relations
COMM 235 - Social Media

Choose one of the following courses:

COMM 237 - Public Relations Writing
COMM 325 - Advertising Copywriting
COMM 365 - Social Media Production

* COMM 305 - Media Campaigns
* COMM 460 - Advertising Competition

In consultation with an advisor, Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media majors choose at least two (2) additional COMM courses for a total of six (6) credits.

COMM 236 - Advertising Campaigns
COMM 240 - (Q) Communications Research Methods
COMM 260 - Media Criticism
COMM 265 - Social Media Communication
COMM 326 - Political Advertising
COMM 327 - Cases in Strategic Public Relations
COMM 329 - Graphics
COMM 330 - Advertising Decision Making
COMM 355 - Advertising Leadership Practicum (1.5 cr.)
COMM 380 - Advertising Practicum
COMM 427 - PR Agency
COMM 428 - Public Relations Campaigns and Competitions
COMM 435 - Social Media Campaigns

Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media Curriculum

	Department and Number - Descriptive Course Title	Fall Cr.	Spr. Cr.
First Year
GE EP LEVEL I MAJOR/GE EP LEVEL II	COMM 108 - (FYW) Essential Writing Skills ¹ — COMM 205 - (EPW) Writing for Communication	3	3
MAJOR	COMM 101 - Communication and Society — COMM 105 - Advertising/PR/Social Media	3	3
MAJOR/GE EP LEVEL I	COMM 112 - (FYOC, FYDT) Foundations of Public Speaking	3
GE HUMN	HUMN ELECT - (CH, CL, CA, CF, CI) Humanities Electives	3	6
GE PHIL - T/RS	PHIL 120 - Introduction to Philosophy — T/RS 121 - (P) Theology I: Introduction to the Bible	3	3
GE FSEM	First Year Seminar ²
		15	15
Second Year
MAJOR - MAJOR/GE EP LEVEL II	COMM 215 - Introduction to Communication Theory — COMM 210 - (EPW) Logical and Rhetorical Analysis	3	3
MAJOR	COMM 225 - Introduction to Advertising or COMM 227 - Public Relations or COMM 235 - Social Media	3
FREE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Electives	3	3
GE PHIL - T/RS	PHIL 210 - Ethics — T/RS 122 - (P) Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology	3	3
GE QUAN - S/BH	QUAN ELECT - Quantitative Elective — S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective	3	3
GE NSCI	NSCI ELECT - Natural Science Elective		3
		15	15
Third Year
MAJOR	COMM 325 - Advertising Copywriting or COMM 237 - Public Relations Writing or COMM 365 - Social Media Production — COMM 305 - Media Campaigns	3	3
MAJOR ELECT	COMM ELECT - Communication Elective	3
GE FREE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Electives³	6	9
GE PHIL - T/RS	PHIL ELECT - Philosophy Elective or T/RS ELECT - T/RS Elective	3
GE NSCI	NSCI ELECT - Natural Science Elective		3
		15	15
Fourth Year
MAJOR	COMM 460 - Advertising Competition (2 semesters)	3	3
MAJOR	COMM ELECT - Communication Elective		3
GE HUMN - S/BH	HUMN ELECT - (CH, CL, CA, CF, CI) Humanities Elective — S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective	3	3
GE FREE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Electives³	9	6
		15	15
Total: 120 Credits

¹The Department of Communication & Media prefers students fulfill (FYW) requirements by completing COMM 108 . However WRTG 107 or WRTG 105 and WRTG 106 may be substituted.

²The selection of a First Year Seminar is likely to fulfill requirements both for the First Year Seminar and a General Education Requirement. Thus, the First Year Seminar will not add to the total credits for the semester. Talk with your advisor if you have any questions.

³The Department of Communication & Media strongly recommends students complete 3-6 credits satisfactory (CS) internship in the GE free elective area.

Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media, BA

Department Core Courses

Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media Requirements

Advertising/Public Relations/Social Media Curriculum

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Total: 120 Credits