| Public Relations Master's Program "Hits the Ground Running"The field of public relations is climbing the list of hottest jobs, according to a 2006 ranking of popular professions by Money Magazine. Working as a public relations specialist ranked in the top 20 careers based on factors such as salary, job market and work environment.
Noting the growing need for highly trained public relations professionals, Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication launched its master’s of public relations concentration in fall 2006. The program was crafted primarily for individuals who are interested in pursuing or refining careers in public relations and advancing to a strategic or management level. Graduate students in the program learn effective measurement techniques, online media tactics and framing strategies. “PR is hot. There is a lot of demand for public relations education at the graduate level, and the market supports that demand. Job placement is up, salaries are up and job satisfaction is higher than ever. Public relations has never been more salient that it is today,” says Jeanette Drake, a new associate professor who is heading the master’s public relations program. The program enrolled 12 students in its inaugural fall semester. Students must complete a minimum of 36 total hours of coursework that includes a master’s thesis, professional project or apprenticeship. With a 92.5 percent placement rate among public relations undergraduates, Kent State is known as the place for professional education in public relations. The new program continues the tradition and “kicks it up a notch, to the PR management level,” Drake says. Drake comes to Kent State’ School of Journalism and Mass Communication with eight years of teaching experience and tenure at the University of Findlay and 13 years of communications management for corporate and nonprofit organizations in Columbus, Ohio. Visit the School of Journalism and Mass Communication to learn more about the program.  |
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