Public Relations

All Majors & Minors

Public Relations

Degree

Bachelor of Science, Major, Minor

School/College

College of Arts & Sciences

The Public Relations program at ��ϲʹ�� focuses on clear, effective, and ethical communication that creates change and advocates for those with the least access to wider audiences.

Communicate effectively

��ϲʹ��’s Public Relations program prepares students to identify optimal means of communication across various media platforms and channels, audiences, and situational contexts.

Maximize your future

A major in public relations prepares students for careers in a variety of industries, as well as for graduate study in a wide range of disciplines including communication, education, law, politics, public administration, social work, and business.

Deliver information concisely

PR students will be expected to apply basic public relations theories and principles to practice through effective presentations and ethically sound/socially responsible public relations plans.

Put your education to work

Fairfield’s location– an hour by train from New York City– makes it ideal for PR students looking to secure internships in related job fields. Students have the opportunity to complete an independent study in their junior or senior year that will count towards graduation.

A student sits at a desk on her laptop with a ��ϲʹ��“F” sticker on the case.

Internship Opportunities

��ϲʹ�� is committed to developing the creative and intellectual potential of our communication and public relations majors by combining rigorous academic study with practical experience. Through internships, students can test and apply theories learned in the classroom while investigating career opportunities and adding a distinctive learning experience to their resumes. ‌

Interested? Learn More

Find Out More

Course Requirements

33 credits

15 credits

Contact Us

Undergraduate Admission
admis@fairfield.edu
(203) 254-4100

Career Outlook

��ϲʹ��graduates are attractive to many employers who identify communication skills as the most important factor in their hiring and promotion decisions. Employers also value our students' intensive coursework, internship experience, and broad liberal education that all ��ϲʹ��students receive.

Employers

��ϲʹ��alumni have recently gone on to find employment in the following fields:

Recent Placements

Power Digital Marketing
The Hartford Insurance
Penske Truck Leasing
Liberty Mutual
SeriousFun Children’s Network
Berkadia
Hildene Capital Management, LLC

Job Fields

Advertising
Copy editing, design, and creative services
Corporate/Organizational communication
Human Resources
Marketing and consumer research
Non-profit communication
Public information and policy
Sales and sales training

The students, faculty, and staff are extremely connected, welcoming, and friendly.

- Gianna Valela

Resources for Student Success

The College of Arts and Sciences is committed to serving ��ϲʹ�� students with comprehensive career support services, programming, and resources.

Career and Professional Development

��ϲʹ��supports the scholarly success and intellectual growth of our students by providing various resources on campus including the Science Center, Writing Center, DiMenna-Nyselius Library, and more.

Academic Support at Fairfield

Located just a train ride away from New York City - the country's capital of communication and PR - and an even shorter commute to numerous prestigious companies within Southwest Connecticut, ��ϲʹ�� offers students the unique ability to take communication theory learned in the classroom and apply it in the real world laboratory of a workplace setting. Through an internship experience, students can acquire first-hand knowledge about an area of work and experience new professional activities and relationships. Many students find jobs through their internships and many more find out something far more valuable - that a particular area of the communication field is simply not for them.

This real-world work experience is combined with a series of workshops and academic assignments back on campus that are designed to help students get the most from their internships.

Requirements

Internships are available during the fall and spring semesters as well as during the summer term. Through a special arrangement with the internship coordinator, you can also complete an internship during the January intersession. The requirements for pursuing a Communication internship are as follows:

Junior or senior standing (minors are not eligible)
Minimum 2.8 GPA requirement for fall/spring semesters
No GPA requirement for summer/winter intersessions (students must register and pay for additional classes)
12-15 hours/week or 120-150 hours a semester
Up to six (6) credits can be earned from internships. Three (3) of the six (6) credits can count towards communication electives‌

Our majors regularly say that their internships were some of their best experiences at Fairfield. We couldn't agree more, and we hope that you'll take the time to explore these pages, learn more about how to find an internship, and how to make the most out of your internship experience.

Fall or Spring Internships

You do not register for fall or spring internships when you sign up for the rest of your classes. Registration for Fall Internships generally happens in late September and for Spring internships in mid-February. Information about the Internship class will be provided by the Internship Coordinator at the start of the semester. During Fall and Spring, the Internship class on campus meets periodically and students can expect to have a variety of essays, portfolios, and journals required as part of the academic component of their internship experience.

Summer Internships

Please note it is not necessary to register for credits to do a summer internship. This option is available primarily for those students who:

(A) Want/need internship credits to meet graduation requirements
(B) Have secured an internship experience that requires students to be registered for credit to be eligible.

Exactly what assignments you will need to complete during the Summer internship depends on how many credits you've registered for. Specific assignments related to the internship class MAY include journals, portfolios, and essays. The Summer Internship class is an online course, meaning you can intern anywhere and still take the class portion online.

For any questions relating to the internship program, please contact the Internship Coordinator.

Internship Handout
Internship Agreement Form

Faculty

Learn more about the public relations faculty members.
College of Arts and Sciences in the News

See what our students and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences have been up to.

Get Started at Fairfield

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