Public Relations

With your strong communication and people skills, you’re a public relations professional in the making.

In the Greenlee School’s public relations major, you’ll learn the concepts, skills and expertise you need to help organizations build relationships with diverse audiences. Our Bachelor of Science degree in public relations prepares you with knowledge and tools for rewarding careers in corporate communications, government affairs, public relations firms and more.

Your classes will give you a strong foundation in writing, research, digital and emerging media, and professionalism. Many of our courses include team-based projects where you’ll develop creative campaigns for real-world clients and learn how to manage client expectations, feedback and relationships. You’ll also complete a 300-hour capstone internship experience to gain practical, resume-worthy experience.

Our public relations students have interned with top companies such as Weber Shandwick, Caesars Entertainment, Spong PR (now Carmichael Lynch Relate), Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Baltimore Ravens and many other agencies, firms, businesses and government entities.

In 2023, our public relations program was recertified by the Public Relations Society of America Board.

Public relations minor

Our public relations minor requires just 15 credits. With only two required courses, you can choose your remaining electives from topics that fit your unique interests.

This minor is not available to students who already have a primary major in the Greenlee School.

Experiences

As a public relations major, you’ll find your people right away through our Greenlee learning communities. You’ll also have access to plenty of student media clubs and organizations where you can enjoy fun activities and add to your professional portfolio. Our Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter does agency tours, attends national and regional conferences, and competes in national case study competitions.

Iowa State also has over 800 student organizations for academic interests, hobbies, volunteerism, intramural sports and more – and all of the clubs on campus need strong communications and social media creators!

Whether you get involved in Student Government or find your people through a campus publication, community is in the making here.

Career opportunities

Students who study public relations have many diverse opportunities across various industries. These careers emphasize the importance of effective communication and strategic messaging in building and maintaining brands and organizational success.

Here are just some examples of the careers you can pursue with a degree in public relations:

• Public Relations Specialist
• Communications Manager
• Social Media Manager
• Corporate Communications Specialist
• Event Planner
• Media Relations Specialist
• Public Affairs Specialist
• Crisis Communications Manager

Get to know the LAS Career Services team to help you explore the many career opportunities a degree in advertising can open for you.