Public Relations & Strategic Communication, B.A.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Communication, Media, & Culture at Coastal Carolina University is to provide opportunities for student success, career flexibility, and life-long learning. All programs of study in the Department unite theory and practice to provide students with the background necessary to pursue careers in business, industry, government, and media industries, or to continue education in graduate programs of study. Because of the range of disciplines offered in the Department, students have a variety of pathways to their professional careers and/or graduate studies. Through their studies in the Department, students gain the ability to integrate critical, cultural, theoretical, and ethical perspectives and apply those perspectives in their professional, personal, and civic lives. Faculty in the Department strongly embrace a teacher/scholar model and place particular emphasis on high quality teaching, engaged learning, discipline-based research, and collaboration with our community.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students accomplish a variety of learning outcomes. They are able to:

1. Understand the processes of human interaction;

• demonstrate familiarity with and comprehension of communication theories, principles, and concepts.
• recognize the field of communication as “the study of human interaction” in a variety of contexts.
• identify communication problems.

2. Engage in the study of human interaction;

• evaluate communication processes and messages for their effectiveness, strengths, and weaknesses.
• think critically about human interaction and how professional and popular use of communication and media affect society.
• analyze principles of communication, identifying underlying values and assumptions.

3. Demonstrate effective communication practices;

• apply principles and best practices to engage audiences and solve communication problems.
• research, create, and deliver effective, strategic, and ethical messages or stories appropriate for communication professions.
• demonstrate competence in one or more areas: communication studies, health communication, interactive journalism, public relations/strategic communication, sports communication.

Note:

Upper-level courses often require prerequisites that must be met before enrolling. Depending on the student’s major, many prerequisites may be taken as core curriculum courses.

Students must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in each of the courses used to satisfy the major requirements. Final responsibility for satisfying degree requirements, as outlined in the University Catalog, rests with the student.

Students select a minor in consultation with their advisors. They choose from any minors listed in the Coastal Carolina University Catalog, including, but not limited to: Communication, Film and Production Studies, Graphic Design Minor (For Non-Art Studio Majors), Health Communication, Journalism, Marketing, New Media and Digital Culture, Social Media, Sport Studies, or Web Application Development.

No more than six credits can be counted for Major Courses, Major Requirements, and Minor requirements.