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Public Relations

Also offered as: Minor

Launch your career in a growing, exciting & creative profession with opportunities in almost every industry & sector. Our hands-on public relations major equips you with the knowledge and skills to develop, manage and implement strategic communication programs & campaigns for organizations & their audiences.

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Public Relations

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Degree Level
Bachelor of Arts
Delivery
In Person
Time to Degree
8 Semesters
Credit Hours
120 Total, 45 in Major
Careers
Managers, Specialists, Advertising
Public Relations students at EIU

Why Study Public Relations at EIU?

  • Experiential learning inside & outside of the classroom: Our faculty integrate active learning assignments, and you can join our student-run PR firm, Panther Communication, to gain experience and build your portfolio from day one
  • We focus on career readiness & professional development: 100% placement rate in the 2024/25 career outcomes report, students gain workplace communication skills, and the PR Capstone coaches seniors to effectively navigate job applications and interviews
  • Supportive faculty who are award-winning educators and highly committed to your learning, growth, and success
  • One of only a few stand-alone public relations majors in the State of Illinois with a large selection of public relations classes informed by the profession
  • Curriculum designed to easily double-major throughout the School of Communication, Journalism & Theatre
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"EIU’s Public Relations major taught me so much about the value of collaboration, creativity, and community. Our professors created an environment where we could share ideas, think creatively, and connect what we were learning to the world around us. What made the program even more special was how supportive our professors were. They genuinely care about their students and want to see us succeed. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to grow personally and professionally. I’m so grateful for the professors, classmates, and experiences that made my time as a public relations major so meaningful!"
Alexis Johnson
Public Relations | Class of 2026 | Community Relations Specialist, Central Illinois Foodbank
Alexis Johnson, Public Relations at EIU

Hands-On Experience

  • Join our student-run PR firm Panther Communication and work with real clients from day one
  • Complete internships for course credit as part of your public relations electives
  • Enhance your professional development by joining our chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America
  • Develop public relations campaigns & content as part of your coursework in classes such as Public Relations and Content Creation, Public Relations Campaigns, and Strategic Messages and Influence, among others
  • Study abroad at one of our partner universities
Explore Courses
Hands-On Experience, Public Relations students at EIU

What You'll Learn

Public Relations focuses on developing, managing and implementing strategic communication programs and campaigns for organizations and their audiences. It is a fit if you are creative, enjoy writing and working with people and like solving communication problems.

Program 4-Year Sequence Curriculum
View in Catalog
$59,401
Median Salary for These CareersMedian salaryThe median is the middle value: half of the people counted earn more and half earn less. It is an estimate for a typical graduate, not a promise of what you will earn. Pay varies by employer, location, experience and the specific job.

Career OutcomesCareer outcomesThese are example careers that graduates of this program often pursue, taken from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET occupation list. They are examples, not job guarantees, and many graduates work in other fields.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

  • Public Relations Managers
  • Public Relations Specialists
  • Advertising & Promotions Managers
  • Marketing Managers
  • Fundraising Managers
  • Meeting, Convention, & Event Planners
  • Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Career Insights

Job Outlook ★ Bright Outlook Bright OutlookBright Outlook careers are ones with a promising future. They're expected to grow quickly, to have lots of job openings, or to be brand new and emerging. A career earns the label if it meets any one of these: projected growth of 5% or more, at least 75,000 projected openings, or New & Emerging status.
Grow Rapidly: Jobs in this career are expected to grow 5% or more over the next several years, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics projections.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor Grow Rapidly
Preparation Needed Considerable (4/5)Job Zone 4: Considerable preparationMost of these careers require a four-year bachelor's degree. They also tend to build on several years of work-related experience or training.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor
Personality Fit EnterprisingEnterprising interest typeYou like business and leadership. This type of work includes managing, selling, marketing and leading, including in politics or law.Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor

Connect With Us

Claudia Janssen Danyi
Professor
cijanssen@eiu.edu
2544 Buzzard Hall
217-581-6003
Claudia Janssen Danyi Message Claudia

Message Claudia

or email cijanssen@eiu.edu directly
Matthew Gill
Department Chair
mjgill@eiu.edu
Buzzard Hall 2526
217-581-6003
Matthew Gill Message Matthew

Message Matthew

or email mjgill@eiu.edu directly
Billy Panther
Head of Panther Pride
Old Main
217-581-2223
Billy the Panther Message Billy

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or email billy@eiu.edu directly

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Advertising Broadcast Journalism Communication in Organizations Communication Studies Dramatic Writing Health Communication Journalism Meeting & Event Management Musical Theatre Performance Social Media Engagement Sports Media Strategic Social Media Communication Television & Video Production Theatre Technical & Design Theatre: Generalist Theatrical Performance Video Production Visual Journalism > View All Programs

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