BA (Hons) Public Relations
This
new course gives you a chance to specialise in public
relations while studying in London,
the hub of Europe's
PR industry. The pathway covers all key
aspects of public relations practice. These include concrete
skills, such as the abilities to run a press conference, to create
high quality written work for a range of audiences, and to
construct a website. Just as importantly, you will gain an
understanding of how to set up, run and evaluate a PR campaign. The
course also gives you lots of experience in giving
presentations.
Alongside your studies of PR practice you will also gain an
up-to-date, critical understanding of the PR industry.
All the teaching staff on the PR pathway have many
years' experience in different parts of the PR industry. We also
benefit from having the UK's PR industry on our
doorstep: throughout the course you will hear from and meet a range
of PR practitioners working within different fields in
London and beyond.
The inclusion of PR within our long-established BA Media
Studies programme reflects our belief that would-be PR
practitioners will benefit from a good understanding of the media
and the way in which journalists work. To this end you will study a
range of journalistic techniques and media theory alongside the
specific PR modules.
Year One
During the first year we will introduce some basic, practical
skills, including techniques for handling the media. You will
produce a portfolio of written work including press releases,
leaflets and internal communications material. Together with your
fellow students you will set up and run a press conference. You
will also design an individual website with the aim of using it as
a PR tool.
At the same time, you will look at the PR industry and the
role it plays in social, in political and economic life and
its relationship to the media. Your lectures and seminars may cover
everything from celebrity and consumer PR through to the
controversial role played by political spin doctors, the role
propaganda plays in contemporary wars, and considering who has the
upper hand: journalists or PR people.
Year Two
During the first half of the academic year you will focus on PR
campaigns. You will undertake a case-study of a real-life PR
campaign, and, responding to brief, develop and present your ideas
for your own PR campaign. You will also prepare a portfolio of
desk-top-publishing quality material.
During the second half of the year you will have the opportunity to
take a module in Corporate Communications. This will enable you to
devise and present an effective communication strategy, while
applying a range of analytical techniques to evaluate the
communication programmes of major players in the global
marketplace.
Year Three
You will undertake a final public relations project which will
involve planning and implementing a PR campaign. You will also take
a final module in which you will look at some of the current issues
in PR, bringing you up to date with the latest thinking as you
prepare to enter the industry.