Colorado Technical University

Which major would be better for a career in Public Relations?

I want to be a public relations specialist for a company dealing with music, art, hair, or fashion, and I am going to SUNY Purchase College. The college offers a few majors that I feel could potentially lead to a career in PR, but I don't know which one would be better. If there is anyone out there that could help me please do. =] The first major is journalism. I feel like that major would sharpen my writing skills, and give me the edge to express both orally, and through type, precisely what I am trying to express. I have been told that this is a very important skill for PR Specialists to posses. I'm just scared that this major wont make me stand out to potential employers, and that if PR falls through for me as a career choice, I will have nothing to fall back on as I have heard that Journalism is a dying field. Here is their curriculum for that major: http://www.purchase.edu/departments/AcademicPrograms/LAS/humanities/Journalism/AcademicRequirements.aspx The second major is a neat and unique major. It is called Communications - Media, Society, and the Arts, and I like it because I would learn about the arts and social sciences, but at the same time I would also learn a lot about the media. From what I've read, I need to know a lot about the media to become successful in the PR field. The school's website says: "The Media, Society, and the Arts B.A. Program combines social science theory and methodology with studio training in the arts. Our students explore the complex and fascinating relationships that exist among media, society, and the arts, including how various institutions and forms of art and media relate to one another, as well as the role of the artist and media professional in today’s society. Students who choose to emphasize visual art forms like video, film, or photography may use these media either as methodological tools for expanding a discipline in the social sciences, or as substantive areas of inquiry in their own right. Alternatively, students who choose to emphasize dance, music, or theatre arts relate these performing art forms to social inquiry" I also feel like getting my hands dirty in the arts would make me look more legitimate to the types of companies that I would like to work for. I just don't know if potential employers would recognize this as a legitimate major. Here is the curriculum for the Media, Society, and the Arts major: http://www.purchase.edu/departments/AcademicPrograms/LAS/FilmMediaStudies/MSA/academicrequirements.aspx Which do you think would be an overall better choice? Here is a list of the rest of their majors if you think neither of those would be a good choice: http://www.purchase.edu/departments/admissions/ (Click the drop down menu) Thanks in advance for any help that you provide! =]

Public Comments

1. Both of those sound great! I'm considering going into PR myself, and I chose Communications to be my major for that (I'm doubling in Economics as well.) You're smart to realize that you should, however, have a back up plan, because it's a really competitive field. Do you have any other career options in mind? You could also choose a double major as a back up plan. It won't hurt your career in PR, either. The other Communications major choices look interesting, too. Any of the English options could work as well for PR. But I'd definitely think about a 2nd major - what other things interest you? If you don't want to double major, Communications seems to be more broad, especially with the media, society, and the arts option. Journalism, however, will probably provide you with more specific training. I'd say either will be great, just make sure you have a solid GPA and relevant internships.