About Public Relations (BMassComm)
People today, particularly young people, are incredibly media savvy. You probably already have your own personal PR profile out there in the public arena through Facebook; MySpace or your on-line avatars. Turn that basic understanding into an exciting and global career in Public Relations. With a Public Relations degree you’ll learn the theory and practicalities behind campaign management, strategic planning, issues management and the relationship between public relations and other communication professions. Combined with writing and professional communication subjects you’ll be ready to launch.
What can I do with my Public Relations degree?
Most entities, whether private businesses or Government Departments, have a strong need for public relations experts to guide them through the minefield of media profile and public perception. You may choose to go into media relations, community consultation and promotion in any number of areas; from multinational mining companies through to the small charities and NGO’s, it’s all up to you.
How to apply
Our entry requirements tool will help you find the most appropriate and quickest pathways to admission. The tool will take you through a couple of steps to help identify the best pathways for you based on your situation. Once you have chosen the most suitable pathway you will also be provided you with information on how to apply based on the criteria you are using for admission.
Domestic student applications:
If you would like to apply for this course you can now:
International student applications:
If you would like to apply for this course you can now:
Course Details
| Important information |
|
| Length of course |
3 years full time internal study or part equivalent |
| International fee information |
$18,750 indicative annual fee |
| Location |
South Street |
| Murdoch course code |
B1230 |
| TISC code |
MUHCC |
| 2008 cut off score |
71.25 |
| STAT score |
>145 |
| Information on course units |
Link to handbook entry |
Recommended TEE subjects:
We don’t have prerequisite subjects for any of our courses as we are a strong promoter of a well rounded education. However, remember that you will need to demonstrate competence in English, normally through passing either English or English Literature or by getting a sufficiently high score in ESL.
Course structure:
Year 1
Foundation Unit
All new first year students take a Foundation Unit. These are designed so you have some idea what’s going on, because, let’s face it, you’ve never been to uni before!
Core Units
You must take these units for a particular major to gain a specialisation in this area.
- Introduction to Mass Communication
- Introduction to Public Relations
General Electives
You must take these units to have enough units to graduate. General Electives give you the flexibility to learn from a variety of different areas.
Suggested double majors:
To take a double major, students simply take the core units from another major in place of their general elective units. Further details on double majors are available in the Prospectus. Some recommended double majors are:
- Journalism;
- English & Creative Arts;
- Politics & International Studies;
- Community Development and
- Marketing Management.
What are my career options?
As a Murdoch Public Relations graduate, your employment outlook is enhanced, especially if you combine it with other disciplines. Depending on which skill combinations or specialisations you have, your Murdoch degree may lead you towards work and study opportunities in a number of areas. The following are some professions to consider, including extra majors and minors that will improve your prospects of achieving them.
| Professions |
What they do |
Suggested double majors |
| Public Relations Specialists |
Public Relations Specialists draft press releases and contact people in the media who might print or broadcast their material. Many radio or television special reports, newspaper stories, and magazine articles start at the desks of public relations specialists. Sometimes the subject is an organisation and its policies toward its employees or its role in the community. Often the subject is a public issue, such as health, energy, or the environment, and what an organisation does to advance that issue. They also arrange and conduct programs to keep up contact between organisation representatives and the public. For example, they set up speaking engagements and often prepare speeches for company officials. |
Journalism
Communication, Technology and Policy
Marketing Management
|
| Manager Public Relations Managers |
Public Relations Managers supervise public relations specialists. These managers direct publicity programs to a targeted audience. They often specialise in a specific area, such as crisis management, or in a specific industry, such as health care. They use every available communication medium to maintain the support of the specific group upon whom their organisation’s success depends, such as consumers, stockholders, or the general public. For example, they may clarify or justify the firm’s point of view on health or environmental issues to community or special-interest groups. They observe social, economic, and political trends that might ultimately affect the firm, and make recommendations to enhance the firm’s image on the basis of those trends. |
Journalism
Communication,
Technology and Policy
Marketing Management
Management
|
| Copywriters |
Copywriters and their assistants write the words of ads—both the written part of print ads as well as the scripts of radio and television spots. |
English and Creative Arts
Journalism
|
| Advertising Managers |
Advertising Managers oversee advertising and promotion staffs, which usually are small, except in the largest firms. In a small firm, managers may serve as liaisons between the firm and the advertising or promotion agency to which many advertising or promotional functions are contracted out. In larger firms,
advertising managers oversee in-house account, creative, and media services departments. |
Marketing Management
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Journalism
Marketing and the Media
Electronic Business
|
|
