First Of Its Kind Public Relations Management Program Offered at Centennial College
Posted by Jason White on Tuesday, January 21, 2014
While Public Relations programs at university level are known for
offering a solid amount of theory, it is possible to attend a Bachelor
program that trains you for this field at college level. On top of
gaining a Bachelor degree, this experience offers the added advantage of
an ample amount of hands-on practice before entering the field.
Centennial College’s Bachelor of Public Relations
Management is one such program. It takes four years to complete and is
actually the first-of-its kind in Canada. The focus of this undertaking
is on teaching students theory, principles and application of public
relations, along with a solid foundation in business principles through
10 core business courses. The combination is well respected by employers
in the field, which include: public relations agencies, corporate
communications and investor relations departments, digital marketing
companies, not-for-profit sector organizations, hospitals and healthcare
organizations. Public Relations courses at Centennial College also
include a strong focus on research, social and digital media and
corporate communications. These additional topics are extremely
relevant, as social and digital media are increasingly becoming avenues
for public relations professionals.
The first few semesters of the offering focus on giving students a solid
foundation before specialization. They include courses such as
Introduction to Public Relations, Introduction to Media, Writing For
Public Relations, Fundamentals of Research, and Internal Communications.
In the fifth semester, courses begin to take on more specific angle and
include: Advanced Social Media, Non-Profit Communications, Public
Sector Communications, Advanced PR Writing, Issues Management and Crisis
Communications, and more.
Another aspect that sets this offering apart from other PR programs in
the Greater Toronto Area is that its final semester is completely
devoted to a field placement. During this time, students spend time in
the field working alongside professionals who may prove to be valuable
contacts once they complete the offering. This also allows students to
apply what they learn in their PR program Toronto-training to the real
world.
To apply for this Public Relations Degree program, applicants should
note that there are different requirements for high school and mature
students. High school applicants must have at minimum an Ontario
Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent; at least six Grade 12U,
Grade 12M, or OAC credits with an overall average of 65% or higher.
Courses must include: English Grade 12U; final grade 70% or higher; and
Math Grade 12U; final grade 65% or higher. Meanwhile, mature students
must be 21 years of age or older by December 31 of the program year.
These students must also provide transcripts showing English Grade 12U,
OAC, or equivalent; Mathematics Grade 12U, 12M or equivalent; a complete
academic history (transcripts or international evaluation); and a
resume detailing work experience. All applicants must attend a mandatory
program admission session during which they will submit a letter of
intent explaining interest in he program and reason for applying, and
complete a writing test.
Tags: bachelor of public relations public relations courses public relations programs public relations degree