Updated Spring 2003
4 required courses:
- COM 610 Strategic Public Relations
- COM-620 Public Relations Management
- COM-630 Applications of Public Relations
- COM-640 Project in Public Relations
4 required courses (same as above) plus 6 electives (See Recommended Electives)
Public relations is moving into the board rooms and command centers of all kinds of organizations. Yet many public relations practitioners find they have few recognizable credentials in strategic planning, research and other areas expected when organizations hire or promote someone as a public relations manager. This graduate program could become your certificate into the ranks of public relations management. You owe it to yourself to investigate.
Small Classes ... Graduate classes will include 20-25 students, allowing for plenty of individual attention and personal interaction with the professor and other students.
Theory and Application ... This graduate curriculum provides a balance of theory needed for a thorough understanding of the field and applications to make theory relevant and functional.
Working Professionals ... Evening classes and individual projects are designed to accommodate schedules of people working full time.
Career Opportunities ... Graduates of this program will have recognized credentials to enhance careers in public relations, corporate communications, marketing, and related positions involving integrated communication.
Recognized Value ... This program carries the prestige and advantages of the State University of New York, the parent institution of Buffalo State.
Flexible Program ... The courses in this program can be used in one of three ways: (1) standing alone as a graduate-level certificate, (2) as the professional core of a 10-course multidisciplinary Master of Science degree at Buffalo State College, or (3) as transfer elective credits into a master's program at another college or university.
Tuition and Expenses ... The 2002-04 tuition for graduate study at Buffalo State College is $213 a credit hour, plus fees for parking, student government and textbooks. Graduate courses are three credits each.
Prerequisites ... Candidates for this program should have a bachelor's degree (minimum 2.5 GPA) in any field and management-level work experience, preferably in an area related to public relations, marketing, advertising, communication, journalism, human resources, customer service, or a similar field.
How to Apply ... Contact the Office of Graduate Studies (Cleveland Hall 511, 878-5601) for application materials; or visit the Graduate Studies Web site. Buffalo State College does not require GREs for this program.
For Additional Information ... Contact Ron Smith at the Department of Communication (Bishop Hall 221, 878-6039). Find e-mail link at Ron Smith's home page.
... Fall Semester 2002. COM-610 will provide a foundation for graduate study, focusing on public relations as an integral activity of organizational management.
Introduction to a public relations as management
Theoretical perspectives on communication and persuasion
Professional norms, ethical and legal issues
Integration of public relations, advertising and marketing communication
Management procedures, including audits, research, and evaluation techniques
Decision making, problem solving and conflict resolution within organizations
... Spring Semester 2003. COM-620 will focus on the management of public relations in various specialized situations.
Types and categories of publics
Managing media relations
Issues management
Managing emergency public relations
Internal relations
External relations
Public relations in the marketplace
Relations with special publics
... Fall Semester 2003. COM-630 will explore the management aspects of writing, design and production of specialized messages
Strategic dimensions of writing, design and research
Managing the communication process
Managing channels of communication
Research in the management process
Applications of public relations to fund raising, law, lobbying, and other fields
... Spring Semester 2002. COM-640 (certificate program) or COM-690 (master's program) will lead to development of a public relations project in consultation with a faculty committee
Literature review
Analysis of target publics
Establishment of program objectives
Program strategies
Methodology for program evaluation
Development of campaign proposal
Faculty for this program have both academic and professional credentials.
Marian Deutschman. Professor Deutschman had 25 years of public relations and design experience prior to entering the field of higher education. She holds a doctorate in communication from the University at Buffalo. She is a past president of the Buffalo/Niagara chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Professor Deutschman is the author of several research projects in the field of organizational communication. She also is an active consultant in organizational communication.
Ronald D. Smith. Professor Smith had 20 years of public relations and journalism experience prior to moving into higher education. He holds a master's degree in public relations from Syracuse University. He has served as president of PRSA's Buffalo/Niagara chapter, chair of its Northeast District, and holder of its "Practitioner of the Year" award for 1998. Professor Smith is the author of Strategic Planning for Public Relations, two editions of Becoming a Public Relations Writer, and co-author of two editions of MediaWriting, and he has published research on persuasive communication. He also is an consultant in public relations, marketing communication and communication research.
Connect with Ron Smith's home page.
Contact Ron Smith at smithrd@bscmail.buffalostate.edu.