Online Bachelor of Science Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communications

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Throughout the program, students build skills in persuasive communication that can be used in a wide range of professional settings. Students will study the successes and failures of communication within organizations and their relations to the public. The customizable course work blends communication, public relations, advertising, and marketing. Students have the option of choosing classes that enhance professional writing, speaking, and presenting. Other topics include communication theory, digital communications, and applied research.

This degree is great for those who are interested in learning and improving the skills to generate an impactful, relevant message, select the best communication channels for proper message distribution, and assess communication efforts against goals and standards that have been established. This degree also allows the opportunity to prepare for further studies in psychology, law, research, and other disciplines that can be used to build a strong foundation for effective communication for any company or organization.

Additionally, the Communication department is home to the  Communication Studio , which offers professional online communication coaching in support of our Public Speaking and Business and Professional Communication courses.

In order to be eligible to take all major-specific requirements, first time in college and transfer students seeking this degree must successfully pass ENC 1101 Writing and Rhetoric I and ENC 1102 Writing and Rhetoric II with a C, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.85, including any transfer work.

Graduation Requirements

Students must pass with a C or better the following three SCJ required courses that are built into the upper-level 60 credit program requirements:

• MMC 3303 Global Media and Society (which also satisfies one Global Learning requirement),

• MMC 3123 Writing Fundamentals for Communicators

• IDS 3309 How We Know What We Know (which also satisfies the FIU Humanities core requirement and one Global Learning requirement).

Before taking major specific courses, students must pass MMC 3303, MMC 3121 and IDS 3309 with a C or better in order to take the remaining upper division courses, usually at the start of their third semester for first-time students and second semester for transfers.

Students need a minimum of 120 credit hours to be eligible for a Bachelor’s degree. To be eligible for graduation, a student must have a minimum 2.75 GPA in all courses required for the degree.

School of Communication and Journalism Core (15 credits)

• PUR 1951 PRAAC Orientation (0)

• MMC 3303 Global Media and Society - GL (3)

• COM 3714 Fundamentals of Written and Visual Communication (3)

• IDS 3309 How We Know What We Know–GL/GRW (3)

• MMC 4200 Mass Communication Law and Ethics (3)

• VIC 3400 Visual Design for Globalized Media–GL (3)

Major Specific Requirements (21 credits):

• ADV 3008 Principles of Advertising (3) or  PUR 3000 Principles of Public Relations (3)

• COM 3520 Designing Communication Strategies (3)

• ADV 4323 Strategic Branding and Social Media (3)

• COM 4310 Communication Research Methods (3)          

• PUR 4100 Writing for Public Relations (Prereq: PUR 1951, MMC 3303, COM 3714, IDS 3309, MMC 4200, VIC 3400, PUR 3000 or ADV 3008)       

• PUR 4101 Digital Editing and Design (3) (Prereq: PUR 1951, MMC 3303, COM 3714, IDS 3309, MMC4200, VIC 3400, PUR 3000 or ADV 3008)                                     

• COM 4958 Senior Capstone Seminar: Integrated Campaigns (3)           

Specialization Courses (12 credits)

Students will take four courses (12 credits) that are critical to the advertising, public relations or applied communication area in which they decide to specialize.

• ADV 3008 Principles of Advertising (3)

• ADV 3200 Creative Concepts (3)

• ADV 4101 Advanced concepts in Creative Design and Copywriting (3)

• ADV 4201 Advertising and Society (3)

• ADV 4300 Media Planning (3)

• ADV 4322 Mobile Advertising (3)

• ADV 4411-GL

• ADV 4601 Account Planning (3)

• ADV 4711 Portfolio Workshop (3)

• ADV 4800 Advanced BOLD Practicum

• ART 3637C Digital Media Foundation (3)

• ART 3648C Introduction to Digital Art Lab (3)

• COM 3110 Business and Professional Communication (3)

• COM 3230 Business and Professional Communication (3)

• COM 3471 Social Media's Impact on Communication (3)

• COM 4022 Health Communication (3)

• COM 4361 Publishing for Applied Communication (3)

• COM 4430 International Business Communictions (3)

• COM 4462 Conflict Management (3)

• COM 4940 Communication Internship (3)

• DIG 4800 Digital Theories (3)

• GRA 2100C Introduction to Graphic Design (3)

• MMC 4302 Social Media and Globalization (3)

• MMC 4631 Audience Analysis (3)

• PGY 4611C Digital Photography and Social Media (3)

• PUR 3000 Principles of Public Relations (3)

• PUR 4106 Advanced PR Writing for Multimedia Platforms (3)

• PUR 4108 Strategic Presentation of Data (3)

• PUR 4940 BOLD Agency Practicum (3)

• RTV 3531 Multimedia Production (3)

• SPC 3210 Communication Theory (3)

• SPC 3540 Persuasion (3)

• SPC 4445 Communication for Effective Leadership (3)

Area of Concentration (12 credits)

Students must select or design a 12-hour concentration in a discipline outside the major. The concentration allows students to develop deeper expertise in an area of interest that will supplement and enrich their career aspirations. Several suggested areas are outlined below, but students also may design their own with permission of the department chair.  NOTE: CARTA courses used toward specialization as part of the degree may not also be applied to an area of concentration. 

Business Communication

• COM 3110 Business and Professional Communication (3)

• SPC 3602 Advanced Public Speaking (3)

• SPC 4445 Communication for Effective Leadership (3)

• COM 4462 Conflict Management (3)

Communication Arts

• COM 4510 Political Communication (3)

• SPC 3230 Rhetorical Communication (3)

• SPC 3602 Advanced Public Speaking (3)

• SPC 3540 Persuasion (3)

Social Media and E-Marketing

• MAR 3023 Introduction to Marketing – GL (3)

• MAR 4733 Digital Marketing (3)

• MAR 4233 Social Media Marketing (3)

• MAR 4674 Marketing Analytics (3)

Marketing

• MAR 3023 Introduction to Marketing – GL (3)

• MAR 4503 Consumer Behavior (3)

• MAR 4025 Marketing of Small Business Enterprises (3)

• MAR 4156 International Marketing (3)

Hospitality – Event Management

• HFT 3741 Planning Meetings and Conventions (3)                                                       

• HFT 3753 Convention and Trade Show Management (3)                                           

• HFT 4508 Group Business Sales and Services (3)                                                        

• HFT 3754 Exposition and Events Management (3)

Hospitality – Travel and Tourism

• HFT 3713 International Travel and Tourism – GL (3)

• HFT 3701 Sustainable Tourism Practices – GL (3)

• HFT 3733 Tour Production and Distribution (3)

• HFT 4509 Tourism Destination Marketing (3)

Digital Photography

• PGY 2800C Beginning Digital Photography (3)                                                

• PGY 3822C Intermediate Digital Photography (Prereq: PGY 2800C) (3)

• PGY 4611C Digital Photography and Social Media (3)

• PGY 4823C Advanced Digital Photography I (Prereq: PGY 3822C or permission) (3)

Graphic Design

• GRA 2100C Introduction to Graphic Design (3)

• ART 3637C Digital Media Foundation (3)

• GRA 3202C Typography (3)

• GRA 2151C Illustration (3)

Social Psychology

• SOP 3004 Introductory Social Psychology (3)                                                  

• SOP 3015 Social and Personality Development (3)                                            

• SOP 4414 Attitudes and Social Behavior (3)                                                             

• SOP 4731 Global Psychology: Cross Cultural Perspectives on Psychological Research and Theories GL (3)

Information Technology 

• CEN 3721 Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (3)

• CGS 3767 Computer Operating Systems  OR (3)

• CGS 4285 Applied Computer Networking (3)

• CGS 4854 Web Site Construction and Management (3)

• CGS 3095 Technology in the Global Arena – GL (3)

Area of Specialization  (12 credits)

Advertising Creative

ADV 3008, ADV 3200, ADV 4101, ADV 4711, ADV 4602, ADV 4940, IDS 3917

Advertising Management

ADV 3008, ADV 3200, ADV 4300, ADV 4411, ADV 4602, ADV 4940, SPC 4445 

Public Relations

PUR 3000, PUR 4106, COM 3110, PUR 4108, SPC 4445, PUR 4940, ADV 4411, COM 4361, COM 3230

Strategic / Social Media 

MMC 4631, ADV 4602, ADV 3200, MMC 4631, PGY 4611, PUR 4108, ART 3648C

Preparation for Graduate Studies in Social Sciences 

SPC 3210, DIG 4800, MMC 4302, ADV 4201, COM 3471, MMC 4631, PUR 4108, COM 4022, SPC 3540                     

Organizational/Internal Communications

PUR 3000, PUR 4108, COM 3110, SPC 4445, COM 4361, COM 3230, COM 4462, COM 3120

To ensure every student’s success, we have certain admissions requirements for each of our programs. To help you through the application process, our enrollment advisors are here to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.

FIU Admission Requirements

Applications are accepted for Spring, Fall and Summer terms.

Steps to Apply

First Year Students

Please submit the following:

• Online application

• $30 application fee.

• Official SAT or ACT scores.

• Official high school transcripts.

Transfer Students

Please submit the following:

• Online application

• $30 application fee.

• Official college transcripts.

• If you have less than 60 transferable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores in addition to any transcripts from postsecondary schools to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

International Students

In addition to the above requirements, international applicants should submit:

• Official English Language Proficiency exam scores (TOEFL or IELTS).

• Official translations of any transcripts, if not in English.

• If you have less than 60 transferrable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts with translation.

Returning Students

Returning students must meet the current university and degree-specific requirements to be admitted.

FIU has policies for students who left FIU, please click here for more details.

Please submit the following:

• Online application $30 application fee.

• Updated official transcripts

Admission Documents

To complete the online undergraduate programs admissions form, select your program from the application form. You may complete the online application and submit it, even before taking any entrance exams. All supporting admission documents may be sent to:


Florida International University

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

P.O. Box 659003

Miami, FL 33265-9003

USA



FIU also accepts transcripts electronically via:

• Faster (All FL public institutions)
• Naviance (Typically used by private high schools)
• SMART/Joint Service Transcript – Military records

*Meeting the university minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

Program Admission Requirements

1. Students entering FIU as Freshmen or as a Transfer Student with less than 30 credits

You are considered a freshman when you have earned less the 13 college credits since your high school graduation. Credits earned in Dual Enrollment, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs do not affect your freshman status.

Admissions criteria are the same as the general FIU criteria for students entering with fewer than 60 approved credits. Click here for the details.

2. Student transferring to FIU with 30 or more earned and approved credits

This is a limited access major. In addition to the general FIU Transfer Admissions criteria, you will also need to meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement of 2.85 to be admitted to the PRAAC major.

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