COM-203 Public Relations

This survey course in Public Relations introduces students to the field of public relations. It will describe the responsibility and roles of the public relations professional in private and public companies.

Credits

3

Cross Listed Courses

BUS-203

Prerequisite

ENG-101

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

0

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

• Business

Grading Scheme

• Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

• No

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the purpose of the public relations function for an organization
2. Flow Chart the process of public relations planning and objective setting within an organization
3. Relate the importance of ethics to task of public relations
4. Identify and discuss legal dilemmas confronting the public relations professional
5. Differentiate between legal and ethical dilemmas
6. Identify the goals of the public relations function in relation to the competitive consumer marketplace
7. Evaluate effective writing as an essential and critical skill for public relations professional
8. Identify and describe the fundamentals elements of effective writing for the public relations professional
9. Differentiate between public relations, marketing and advertising
10. Evaluate how public relations practice intersects the worlds of advertising and marketing, and the importance of public relations professionals in understanding how these sister disciplines work
11. Identify reasons that explain the the importance of crisis management for an organization
12. Describe the task associated with the public relations process
13. Define issues management and then discuss what issues management entails
14. Explain the historical evolution of the public relations function
15. Identify societal changes in the 20th and 21st century that have contributed to the importance of the public relations function for an organization
16. Identify the process and steps for effective communication
17. Identify what is required to serve as a public relations professional for an organization
18. List the commodities of public opinion
19. Identify and explain how organizations use public opinion to create and maintain its reputation
20. Evaluate the role of public relations as a critical function of management

View Course Outline

COM 203: Public Relations

Department

Business

Course Description

This survey course in Public Relations introduces students to the field of public relations. It will describe the responsibility and roles of the public relations professional in private and public companies.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture	3
Lab	0
Other	0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Prerequisites

ENG-101

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the purpose of the public relations function for an organization
2. Flow Chart the process of public relations planning and objective setting within an organization
3. Relate the importance of ethics to task of public relations
4. Identify and discuss legal dilemmas confronting the public relations professional
5. Differentiate between legal and ethical dilemmas
6. Identify the goals of the public relations function in relation to the competitive consumer marketplace
7. Evaluate effective writing as an essential and critical skill for public relations professional
8. Identify and describe the fundamentals elements of effective writing for the public relations professional
9. Differentiate between public relations, marketing and advertising
10. Evaluate how public relations practice intersects the worlds of advertising and marketing, and the importance of public relations professionals in understanding how these sister disciplines work
11. Identify reasons that explain the the importance of crisis management for an organization
12. Describe the task associated with the public relations process
13. Define issues management and then discuss what issues management entails
14. Explain the historical evolution of the public relations function
15. Identify societal changes in the 20th and 21st century that have contributed to the importance of the public relations function for an organization
16. Identify the process and steps for effective communication
17. Identify what is required to serve as a public relations professional for an organization
18. List the commodities of public opinion
19. Identify and explain how organizations use public opinion to create and maintain its reputation
20. Evaluate the role of public relations as a critical function of management

Topic Outline

1. What is public relations?
2. The History and Growth of Public Relations
3. Communications 
4. Public Opinion
5. Management
6. Ethics
7. The Law
8. Research
9. Media Relations/Print and Broadcast
10. Employee Relations
11. Government Relations
12. Consumer Relations
13. Public Relations Writing
14. Integrated Marketing Communications
15. Crisis Management