Business Communication: Curriculum in Public Relations

Suggested Program of Study, B.S., Public Relations Track

Academic Requirements

General Arts and Sciences Requirements
Bentley's Unique Business Core
Major Requirements
Internship for Academic Credit

Recommended Out-of-Class Activities

Academic Requirements

General Arts and Sciences Requirements

20 courses in areas such as writing, literature, philosophy, economics, mathematics, computer information systems, social sciences, and the humanities

Bentley's Unique Business Core

8 courses in areas such as accounting, finance, business statistics, law, management, marketing, policy, and operations management

Major Requirements

(8 courses or 6 courses plus an internship)

Communications Core (2 required)

COM 210 Effective Speaking
BC 370 Web Design I: Information Design Principles and Practices

Specialized Public Relations Courses (all 3 recommended)

BC 250 PR Theory & Practice
BC 255 PR Writing
BC 355 Strategies in International Corporate Communication

Additional Communication Courses (3 required, or 1 plus an honors internship, at least one course must begin with the prefix COM)

BC 240 Graphic Production
BC 350 Journalism & the Web
BC 380 Web Design II: Information Architecture & Site Management
COM 322 Theories of Persuasion: From Plato to Vance Packard
COM 325 Introduction to Linguistics
COM 324 Design as Communication
COM 320 Intercultural Communication
COM 321 Mass Communication
COM 323 Small-Group Communication

Internship for Academic Credit

Strongly recommended, but only available to students with an 3.0. GPA. Students enroll in both of the following courses.

COM 410 Communication Research Design
COM 420 Internship

See descriptions of Business Communication courses

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Recommended Out-of-Class Activities

Internship	We strongly recommend that all students participate in an internship. Successful internships give you the valuable experience that employers want in first-time job seekers. Students who maintain at least a 3.0 GPA may receive academic credit for their internship.
Portfolio	A portfolio of your work, along with a resume, is a powerful job-applicant tool that you will use throughout your career. Our classes provide you with opportunities to develop portfolio pieces.
Service Learning.	Service learning refers to learning activities in which you apply your skills in service to the community. Bentley is the leader in service learning, and some of our courses provide you with opportunities to work in the community.
Professional meetings	The best time to begin networking for a job is when you're not seeking one. We therefore encourage you to become active in professional organizations, such as the Public Relations Society of America, so you can build your network of contacts before starting a job search.