Compelling Reasons To Earn a Public Relations Degree
For many incoming students, employment security is an important factor when considering what a college major. A public relations degree offers versatility and flexibility. Students can enjoy the freedom to exercise their creative muscle throughout their degree program and on into their careers.
A Public Relations Degree Can Lead to Many Career Paths
One of the most compelling benefits of majoring in this degree is that it is incredibly versatile. The most obvious career path is to become a PR specialist. PR specialists are responsible for carefully curating the brand and public image of an organization, person or other entity. Some PR specialists work in-house for the companies they represent. Others work for a PR agency and may represent a slew of different entities. The specific job responsibilities of a PR specialist can vary, but generally include the following:
- Writing press releases and distributing them to the media
- Developing strong working relationships with members of the media and responding to information requests
- Assessing clients’ public image and helping clients communicate more effectively in public settings, such as press conferences
- Writing speeches and coordinating interviews for clients
- Ensuring advertising campaigns are aligned with an ideal brand image
A public relations degree presents other career possibilities to consider, such as the following:
- Social media manager
- Event planner
- Copywriter
- Speech writer
- Marketing manager
- Public affairs consultant
- Broadcast journalist
Public Relations Graduates Have a Positive Job Outlook
The job outlook of a profession is always a key consideration when evaluating one’s career possibilities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the job growth rate is expected to be 7% through 2029. This rate is faster than average and it represents the addition of about 19,700 jobs to the U.S. economy.1
Valued Across Virtually Every Industry
As you can see, there are several career choices to consider when majoring in public relations. It should also be noted that individuals with a communications or PR degree are needed in virtually every industry. Some students develop their future with an eye toward breaking into a specific industry. For PR graduates, that list of possibilities can include the following:
- Transportation and logistics
- Retail
- Finance
- Agriculture
- Telecommunications
- Aerospace
- Education
- Healthcare
These are just a few industries to consider and they all need PR and communications specialists. Wherever your interests lie, you can pursue a communications-related career path within that industry.
Meeting Interesting People and Taking on New Challenges
PR professionals enjoy taking on new challenges every day and meeting new people. On any given day, you might meet with clients, review social media threads, write a speech for an executive or visit a TV studio to give a live interview.
To sum up, no two days are exactly alike, and no two clients are either. Some PR communications specialists work with high-profile individuals, ranging from professional athletes to rock stars to politicians to executives of Fortune 500 companies. The diversity of clientele and variety of responsibilities makes this career a dynamic field.
Learn Skills You Can Use in Your Personal Life
Beyond becoming effective communicators and presenters of ideas, students acquire key advocacy and conflict resolution skills. They explore small group exchanges, public relations fundamentals, critical thinking skills and ethical decision-making.
Grand Canyon University is a leading destination for students who aspire to pursue a career in public relations. The Bachelor of Arts in Communications program is an ideal public relations degree that provides an in-depth exploration of communication styles, leadership skills and the art of persuasion. You can begin your academic journey at GCU by clicking on Request Info at the top of your screen.
1Retrieved from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Public Relation Specialists, in September 2020.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
