EIU Public Relations

PR Coursework

Fillable Curriculum Guides for Download

* Curriculum Guide, 2024-2025 (pdf)
* Curriculum Guide, 2023-2024 (pdf)

Academic Catalog listing

PUBLIC RELATIONS CORE: 37 HRS

• CMN 2010 Introduction to Communication Theories
• CMN 2920 Introduction to Public Relations
• CMN 3020 Public Relations Research, Evaluation and Measurement
• CMN 3100 Persuasion
• CMN 3930 Message Strategies & Influence
• CMN 3960 Public Relations Writing and Production
• CMN 3965 Advanced Public Relations Writing and Production
• CMN 3980 Strategic Social Media Communication
• CMN 4460 Public Relations Capstone
• CMN 4919 Principles and Practices of Public Relations Campaigns
• CMN 4920 Public Relations Case Studies
• CMN 4921 Seminar in Public Relations
• JOU 2101 Writing for News Media

PUBLIC RELATIONS ELECTIVES: 15 HRS

Elective coursework is comprised of one 9-hour elective cluster and 6 hours of additional coursework. 

ELECTIVE CLUSTERS: 9 SEMESTER HOURS

Students must complete 9 hours in one elective cluster of their choice.

ADVANCED PRODUCTION AND DESIGN

• CMN 2500 Production I
• CMN 3030 Promotional Communication
• CMN 3940 Advertising: Theory and Practice OR JOU 3501 Principles of Advertising
• CMN 3950 Conferences and Event Planning
• JOU 2902 Copy Editing & Design
• JOU 2950 Introduction to Visual Communication

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND DIVERSITY

• CMN 3220 Rhetoric of Race and Class
• CMN 3710 Intercultural Communication
• CMN 3903 Rhetoric of Gender and Sexuality
• ANT 2200G Introduction to Anthropology
• JOU 3970 Race, Gender, and the Media

INTERNAL & INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

• CMN 2630 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
• CMN 3300 Interviewing
• CMN 3470 Small Group Communication
• CMN 3640 Advanced Interpersonal Communication
• CMN 3660 Communication & Conflict Management

LAW (recommended for students enrolled in the 3+3 Accelerated Law School Program)

• JOU 4420 Communication Law & Ethics
• PLS 2503 Legal Research and Argument
• PLS 2513 Moot Court (I, II, and III)

SOCIAL & DIGITAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION

• CMN 2520 Introduction to Mass Communication
• CMN 3982 Social & Digital Media Analytics
• JOU 3002 Introduction to Multimedia Journalism
• JOU 3750 Social Media Engagement
• ENG 3008 Digital Writing & Multimodal Texts

SPORTS MEDIA

• JOU 2850 Sports Media Relations
• JOU 3706 Writing for Sports Media
• JOU 3953 Perspectives on Sports and the Media

POLITICAL COMMUNICATION

• CMN 4820 Political Communication
• PLS 1153G American Government and Constitution
• PLS 2703 Introduction to Public Policy
• PLS 3733 Interest Groups and Lobbying

WRITING TECHNIQUES

• ENG 2000 Introduction to Creative Writing
• ENG 2760 Introduction to Professional Writing
• ENG 3005 Technical Communication
• JOU 2902 Copy Editing & Design
• JOU 3102 Feature Writing
• JOU 4770 News Media Opinion Writing & Editing

MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES

• BUS 2101 Financial Accounting
• BUS 3010 Management and Organizational Behavior
• BUS 3100 Survey of Marketing Principles
• CMN 2650 Introduction to Organizational Communication
• CMN 3650 Case Studies in Organizational Communication

ELECTIVE COURSES: 6 SEMESTER HOURS

Students must complete two additional courses from the following list that are not counted toward the required cluster. Students are welcome (and encouraged) to take extra elective courses.

• CMN 2500 Production I
• CMN 2520 Introduction to Mass Communication
• CMN 2630 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication
• CMN 2650 Introduction to Organizational Communication
• CMN 3030 Promotional Communication
• CMN 3220 Rhetoric of Race and Class
• CMN 3230 Advanced Public Speaking
• CMN 3470 Small Group Communication
• CMN 3560 International Communication
• CMN 3640 Advanced Interpersonal Communication
• CMN 3650 Case Studies in Organizational Communication
• CMN 3660 Communication & Conflict Management
• CMN 3710 Intercultural Communication
• CMN 3903 Rhetoric of Gender and Sexuality
• CMN 3940 Advertising Theory and Practice
• CMN 3950 Conference and Event Planning
• CMN 3982 Social & Digital Media Analytics
• CMN 4030 Seminar I
• CMN 4275 Internship
• CMN 4900 Advanced Topics in Communication Studies
• ENG 2000 Intro. to Creative Writing
• ENG 2760 Intro. to Professional Writing
• ENG 3005 Technical Communication
• JOU 2850 Sports Media Relations
• JOU 2902: Copy Editing & Design
• JOU 2950 Introduction to Visual Communication
• JOU 3002 Introduction to Multimedia Journalism
• JOU 3102 Feature Writing
• JOU 3706 Writing for Sports Media
• JOU 3750 Social Media Engagement
• JOU 3800 Advanced Editing
• JOU 3920 Public Relations in Society
• JOU 3953 Perspectives on Sports and the Media
• JOU 3970 Race, Gender, and the Media
• JOU 4001 Media Management
• JOU 4420 Communication Law & Ethics
• JOU 4770 News Media Opinion Writing and Editing
• BUS 2101 Financial Accounting
• BUS 3010 Management and Organizational Behavior
• BUS 3100 Survey of Marketing Principles

TOTAL PR MAJOR HOURS: 52 HRS