9 out of 10
students in the School of Communication participate in internships and experiential-learning opportunities.
96%
of School of Communication students felt their instructors cared about them as people.
99%
of School of Communication students had instructors who made them excited about learning.
Pursue a B.A. in public relations and social media management
The public relations and social media management major prepares you to help organizations tell their stories, build trust and connect with their audiences. Public relations establishes a brand's narrative, while social media acts as a powerful channel for distributing that narrative and engaging directly with the public. They work together to build brand awareness, manage crises, and create strong connections through content sharing, influencer partnerships, community building and data analysis.
The public relations and social media management major equips you with the following skills:
- Influence of media and strategy
- Reputation management
- Content distribution
- Audience engagement
- Interactive media
- Crisis management
- Influencer and media relations
- Public relations
- Data analysis
- Storytelling
- Public affairs and society
- Strategic platform use
- Community building
What you'll learn
In the public relations and social media management major, you will learn the foundations of communication theory, social media strategy, leadership development and more before moving into advanced and applied topics such as campaign development and crisis communication. Elective coursework allows students to explore additional media-related topics across the School of Communication while tailoring the program to their career goals. Students may also elect to participate in an internship for course credit.
Where you'll be after graduation
WMU graduates with degrees in public relations and social media management are prepared for careers as:
- Public relations specialists
- Social media managers
- Digital content strategists
- Communications coordinators
- Brand managers
- Media relations specialists
Students are supported throughout their career preparation by Career and Student Employment Services, which offers one-on-one career coaching, résumé and cover letter reviews, practice interviews and access to job and internship opportunities through the Handshake platform.
What others have achieved
Meet other public relations and social media management students who are putting their skills into action at Western Michigan University and beyond.
Making the most of your learning experience
Public relations and social media management majors have many opportunities for experiential learning that allow them to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. These can include professional projects, real campaign competitions and internships with agencies, nonprofits, corporations or government offices. Experiences like these help students build professional portfolios, develop strategic communication and campaign planning skills and form connections that support future careers in public relations, marketing, corporate communication and beyond.
What scholarships are available for a public relations and social media management degree?
In addition to WMU's numerous scholarships for merit and financial aid, the School of Communication offers a variety of scholarships for personal and academic achievement. Recipients are recognized at an annual School of Communication awards ceremony, where you will have the opportunity to connect with other students and faculty.
