Public Relations Undergraduate Certificate

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Public relations has been defined as the management function that entails planning, research, publicity, promotion and collaborative decision-making to help any organization’s ability to listen to, appreciate and respond appropriately to those persons and groups whose mutually beneficial relationships the organization needs to foster as it strives to achieve its mission and vision. The undergraduate certificate in public relations is designed for undergraduate communication majors who wish to demonstrate to potential employers that they possess skills and knowledge in the area of public relations. It also is useful for non-degree-seeking working professionals without bachelor’s degrees who plan to enter or re-enter the workplace and who seek to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to perform public relations in their professional environments.

Certificate Requirements

The undergraduate certificate in public relations requires 12 semester hours (four courses). Students must complete the following three courses:

COMM 4635 - Principles of Public Relations
COMM 4640 - Advanced Public Relations
COMM 4665 - Principles of Advertising
Additionally, students choose one course from the following:
COMM 3680 - Mass Communication Skills
COMM 4240 - Organizational Communication
COMM 4805 - Graphics

Total: 12 Hours

Students may be permitted to take courses other than those listed above to fulfill the requirements for the certificate if those courses fit their professional goals better (COMM 4635, Principles of Public Relations may not be substituted, however). Requests for approval of substitute courses, including an explanation for the substitution, must be made in writing to Hamilton Bean.

Grade and Residency Requirements

A grade of B must be earned in each course completed as part of the certificate. All of the credit hours for the certificate must be earned at the University of Colorado Denver.

Application Procedures and Additional Information

Students should apply for the undergraduate certificate in public relations after the completion of the required courses. To apply, students must complete the certificate application and return it to Dr. Hamilton Bean in his mailbox in room 102-A of the Plaza Building or mail to Department of Communication; P. O. Box 173364, Campus Box 176; University of Colorado Denver; Denver, CO 80217-3364. The approved certificate is mailed to the student.

Students who are not already enrolled at CU Denver must also complete an Application for Non-Degree Admission prior to registering for courses. The form should be returned to the Office of Admissions in the annex of the CU Building.

Additional information about the undergraduate certificate in public relations may be obtained from Dr. Hamilton Bean, Department of Communication, Plaza 102-Q, 303-352-3876, Hamilton.Bean@ucdenver.edu.

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