Fisher Announces Public Relations Major

This fall, the Department of Media and Communication at St. John Fisher University will begin offering a major in public relations.

Through writing, design, research, and strategy, the program will teach students how to develop public relations campaigns, work with media professionals, and create multi-platform messages for traditional and social media.

The program curriculum builds foundational skills in communication and an in-depth exploration of media-related areas, including video storytelling, public relations writing, social media management, research and analytics, and more. Housed within the School of Arts and Sciences, students will also have the opportunity to engage in electives in political science, sport management, or health literacy, among others tailored to their specific academic interests and career goals.

The major builds on the robust reputation the Department of Media and Communication has established in the public relations industry over the last decade. Students engaged in the University’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) have won local and national recognition and Fisher also supports a student-run full-service public relations and advertising agency, The PRIMA Group. Most recently, in June 2022, undergraduates from the department swept nearly every award in the student categories at the annual PRism Awards, hosted by the Rochester chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. In prior years, students have earned national recognition for their participation in the PRSSA Bateman Case Study Competition. Students in PRIMA work with a full slate of clients, researching, planning, executing, and evaluating public relations campaigns throughout the academic year.

Graduates of the department pursuing careers in public relations have found employment at local, regional, and national organizations and agencies, including Wegmans Food Markets, DS+Co., Butler/Till, Partners + Napier, Porter Novelli, Edelman, Excellus, and more.

To learn more about the program, call the Office of Freshman Admissions at (585) 385-8064 or visit the public relations website.