Public Relations, A.A./A.S.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program and Career Description

The Public Relations emphasis is a two-year program for students planning to complete a bachelor's degree at a four- year school. Public relations specialists serve as advocates for businesses, universities, hospitals, and other organizations. They build and maintain positive relations with the public. A few selected careers are listed below.

Career	Median Experience - Average wage
Management of Businesses	$55,530
Advertising and Public Relations	$55,290
Local Government	$51,340

Career and salary information taken from www.bls.gov. Check out this web site for additional information about education requirements and preferred work styles and abilities for these careers. Salaries are not guaranteed.

Transfer Options

This emphasis is not currently a part of the Tennessee Transfer Pathway which is part of the "The Complete College Act of 2010", and therefore; it may not be fully transferable. Since general education and major requirements vary from one transfer institution to another, it is essential that transfer students decide on a transfer institution as soon as possible and refer to the major requirements in that institution's catalog when planning a program of study. The requirements of the emphasis may be modified upon request to meet the requirements in that major at a specific transfer college or university.

Articulation agreements exist between other private and non-TN public institutions. These agreements are available at www.columbiastate.edu/admissions/transfer-information.

Program Requirements

Students may be required to take additional Learning Support courses.

Communications Requirement

ENGL 1010 - English Composition I Credit(s): 3
ENGL 1020 - English Composition II Credit(s): 3
COMM 2025 - Fundamentals of Communication Credit(s): 3
or
COMM 2055 - Argumentation and Debate Credit(s): 3

History Requirement

Take 2 courses

HIST 2010 - Early United States History Credit(s): 3
HIST 2020 - Modern United States History Credit(s): 3
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History Credit(s): 3
HIST 2310 - Early World History Credit(s): 3
HIST 2320 - Modern World History Credit(s): 3

Humanities/Fine Arts

Take 3 courses -- one must be a literature course

ART 1035 - Introduction to Art Credit(s): 3
ART 2000 - Art History Survey I Credit(s): 3
ART 2020 - Art History Survey II Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2160 - Mythology Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2860 - Introduction to Film Credit(s): 3
HUM 1010 - Early Humanities Credit(s): 3
HUM 1020 - Modern Humanities Credit(s): 3
MUS 1030 - Introduction to Music Credit(s): 3
PHIL 1030 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit(s): 3
PHIL 1040 - Introduction to Ethics Credit(s): 3
PHIL 2200 - Introduction to World Religions Credit(s): 3
THEA 1030 - Introduction to Theatre Credit(s): 3

Literature Options:

ENGL 2055 - African-American Literature Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2130 - Topics in American Literature Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2235 - Topics in British Literature Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2310 - Early World Literature Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2320 - Modern World Literature Credit(s): 3

Natural Sciences Requirement

Take 2 courses

ASTR 1030 - Survey of Astronomy Credit(s): 4
BIOL 1080 - Concepts of Biology Credit(s): 4 (must not take with another BIOL)
BIOL 1110 - General Biology I Credit(s): 4
BIOL 1120 - General Biology II Credit(s): 4
BIOL 2010 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credit(s): 4
BIOL 2020 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credit(s): 4
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I Credit(s): 4
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II Credit(s): 4
ESCI 1010 - Weather and Climate Credit(s): 4
ESCI 1020 - Landforms Credit(s): 4
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus Physics I Credit(s): 4
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus Physics II Credit(s): 4
PHYS 2110 - Calculus-Based Physics I Credit(s): 4
PHYS 2120 - Calculus-Based Physics II Credit(s): 4
PSCI 1030 - Survey of Physical Science Credit(s): 4

Mathematics Requirement

Take one course

MATH 1010 - Math for General Studies Credit(s): 3
MATH 1130 - College Algebra Credit(s): 3
MATH 1530 - Introductory Statistics Credit(s): 3
MATH 1630 - Finite Mathematics Credit(s): 3
MATH 1710 - Precalculus Algebra Credit(s): 3
MATH 1720 - Precalculus Trigonometry Credit(s): 3
MATH 1730 - Precalculus Credit(s): 4
MATH 1830 - Applied Calculus Credit(s): 3
MATH 1910 - Calculus I Credit(s): 4

Social/Behavioral Sciences

ANTH 1230 - Intro to Cultural Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 1430 - Intro Prehistoric Archaeology Credit(s): 3
ECON 2100 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit(s): 3
ECON 2200 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit(s): 3
GEOG 2010 - World Regional Geography Credit(s): 3
MCOM 1110 - Media and Social Institutions Credit(s): 3
PHED 2120 - Essential Lifetime Wellness Credit(s): 3
POLS 1010 - Intro to Political Science Credit(s): 3
POLS 1030 - American Government Credit(s): 3
POLS 2025 - State and Local Government Credit(s): 3
POLS 2035 - International Relations Credit(s): 3
PSYC 1030 - Introduction to Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSYC 2130 - Life Span Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOCI 1010 - Introduction to Sociology Credit(s): 3
SOCI 1040 - Social Problems Credit(s): 3
SOCI 2010 - Marriage and Family Credit(s): 3

Major Required Courses

COLS 101 - Columbia State College Success Credit(s): 1
COMM 1020 - Media Writing Credit(s): 3
COMM 2450 - Intro to Public Relations Credit(s): 3
MCOM 1110 - Media and Social Institutions Credit(s): 3
Electives **

Requirements for Graduation Include:

earning 25% of total program credits in residence at Columbia State.
earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
taking the Exit Exam.

If you have completed TN eCampus courses, run a degree audit from the student tab in myChargerNet to determine how these courses apply to this program.

Public Relations, A.A./A.S. Sample Academic Plan - Total Credit Hours: 60

First Year - Fall Semester - Total Credit Hours: 16

ENGL 1010 - English Composition I Credit(s): 3
Social/Behavioral Science Credit(s): 3
History Requirement Credit(s): 3
Mathematics Requirement Credit(s): 3
MCOM 1110 - Media and Social Institutions Credit(s): 3
COLS 101 - Columbia State College Success Credit(s): 1

First Year - Spring Semester - Total Credit Hours: 15

ENGL 1020 - English Composition II Credit(s): 3
Social/Behavioral Science Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3 **
COMM 1020 - Media Writing Credit(s): 3
COMM 2025 - Fundamentals of Communication Credit(s): 3
or
COMM 2055 - Argumentation and Debate Credit(s): 3

Second Year - Fall Semester - Total Credit Hours: 16

Literature Requirement Credit(s): 3
History Requirement Credit(s): 3
Natural Science Requirement Credit(s): 4
Humanities/Fine Arts Credit(s): 3
COMM 2450 - Intro to Public Relations Credit(s): 3

Second Year - Spring Semester - Total Credit Hours: 13

Natural Science Requirement Credit(s): 4
Humanities/Fine Arts Credit(s): 3
Electives Credit(s): 6 **

Note(s):

**Note: An elective can be any college-level course.

**If pursuing the A.A. degree, 6 of the 10 electives must be one-year sequence of the SAME foreign language. Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree at universities include demonstrated competency in foreign language at the intermediate level. Community college students are encouraged to attain intermediate-level competency in foreign language before transferring. Complete information regarding foreign language requirements at each university may be found on the transfer and articulation web sites of the Tennessee Board of Regents and the University of Tennessee System. Community college students are encouraged to be familiar with foreign language requirements at the universities and, if applicable, complete the requirements before transferring.

For more information contact:
Lacey Benns-Owens at
lbenns@columbiastate.edu or 931.540.2875
or
Humanities & Social Sciences Division office at 931.540.2780

Columbia State Community College, a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educational institution.
CoSCC- PUBLIC-02-14-18