Department of Communication
Richard L. Krause, M.A., M.S.J., Chair
Majors
Minors
Overview
The field of public relations is a rapidly developing support industry. The study of the public relations industry focuses upon the strategic communication effort to convey meaningful messages to directly targeted audiences or “publics” with which mutually beneficial relationships are established and maintained. To study the public relations industry also includes the examination of traditional and new media forms used to convey these key messages.
The objectives of the Public Relations major are to advance student skills in the areas of writing, speaking, editing, and proofreading in a variety of formats; to provide students with technical knowledge and experience in Public Relations and related fields of communication, such as broadcast journalism, the print media, and the graphic arts; to develop students’ critical thinking skills so that they become thoughtful producers and consumers of mediated messages; and, to prepare students for graduate study in the fields of Public Relations, Business, or other related communication fields.
It is expected that a student in the Public Relations major program will join the nationally recognized Waynesburg University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) as well as complete additional field-related experience that may come from areas that include: the Yellow Jacket (newspaper), the Mad Anthony (yearbook), WCYJ-FM, WCTV, the Sports Information Office, Design Group, or any other field-related activity approved by the Department of Communication.