Public Relations

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations in the School of Communication and Media at Western Illinois University provides students with practical, hands-on experience alongside the knowledge, theory and skills to manage relationships across consumer, corporate, economic, government and media organizations. Students engage in real-world projects where they learn to research, plan, execute, and evaluate strategic communication campaigns between organizations and their various audiences as well as learning how to monitor the organization's environment, assess organizational risks and opportunities, and provide counsel to management on developing policies and programs.

Why study Public Relations?

In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked public relations as the best creative and media job option, and the U.S. Department of Labor has projected an 8 percent growth rate in the PR industry between 2021 and 2031, making it one of the fastest growing occupations nationwide. PR professionals create mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its publics. It’s an exciting and dynamic field that requires a wide range of communication and production skills in order to: 

  • Develop effective relationships with journalists and influencers in order to facilitate favorable coverage.
  • Guide management through crisis situations.
  • Monitor and protect the brand’s reputation and relationships with important publics.
  • Create digital and hard-copy content for multiple audiences.
  • Manage social media platforms.
  • Design, manage and promote advertising campaigns and special events.

As a Public Relations BA graduate, you will be prepared to apply your expertise in entry-level positions in agency, corporate, government and nonprofit spaces. Using data analytics, promotions, relationship building and creative strategic messaging, you will be able to communicate effectively to ethically influence attitudes and behaviors, fostering positive change among key target audiences.

Possible career paths include:

  • Account Executive
  • Corporate Communications Specialist
  • Director of Communications
  • Director of External Communications
  • Director of Public Affairs
  • Event Coordinator/Manager
  • Internal Communications Specialist
  • Media Director
  • Media Relations Specialist
  • Public Affairs Manager
  • Public Relations Director
  • Public Relations Specialist