The Master of Science in Public Relations is designed to provide students with the essential theoretical and practical tools they need to develop their careers in public relations and public communication. Students graduating with the MSPR leave with an enhanced understanding of the processes of facilitating and negotiating communication between individuals, groups and organizations. The program is designed to be valuable to students with a variety of public relations experiences; we welcome students who bring diverse perspectives on the practice of public communication. All of the courses in this program are offered in the evening or online for flexible completion of the program.

Careers: What can you do with a degree in Public Relations?

Health Promotion Media analysis/Planning Non Profit Public Relations Advertising/Marketing Community Relations Corporate Communication Lobbying

News/Informational Writing Human Resource Management Corporate Public Affairs Public Opinion Research Fundraising Editing Sales

Admission Criteria/Application Procedures

The number of students admitted to the program each year is usually limited. Applicants will be evaluated according to the weighting system listed below. If the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of openings, the applicants with the highest ratings will be given first consideration for admission to the program. Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements may be considered for probationary admission.

1. A bachelor’s degree in communication or related discipline with significant coursework in
   communication.
2. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
3. One of the following tests: LSAT, MAT, or GRE. Other tests may be accepted with prior approval of the department.
4. Three letters of reference, with at least one from an academic source
5. A completed Graduate Studies Admission form
6. A letter of application stating the applicant’s purpose for pursuing a graduate degree in public relations

Online? Yes Evening Classes? Yes Program Length If you take a full load of 9 credits per semester, you could finish this program in about 3 semesters

Program Structure

Disclaimer

Emphasis One: Public Relations Theory & Practice

Courses	Credits
COMT 502 Research Methods*	3
COMT 514 Issues in Organizational Communication*	3
COMT 522 Issues in Public Relations*	3
COMT 525 Media Criticism*	3
COMT 526 Case Studies in Public Relations*	3
COMT 527 Public Relations Ethics*	3
COMT 529 The Law of Public Communication*	3
COMT 565 Communication Theory*	3
Choose one of the following three options:
Coursework: COMT 595 Comprehensive Exams	3
Elective	3
Project: COMT 570 Applied Communication Studies*	3
COMT 598 Culminating Project	3
Thesis: COMT 599 Thesis (final 2 semesters at 3 credits/semester)	6
*With the advisor’s approval, another graduate course may be substituted for this course if the student has previous coursework in this area.
Total credits required for degree	30

Emphasis Two: Health Communication

Course	Credits
COMT 502 Research Methods*.	3
COMT 514 Issues in Organizational Communication*	3
COMT 525 Media Criticism*	3
COMT 527 Public Relations Ethics*	3
COMT 565 Communication Theory*	3
COMT 580 Health Communication*	3
COMT 581 Media for Social Change*	3
Choose one course from the following:
HADM 605 Evidence Based Management*	2^
HADM 607 Health Information Management*	3
HADM 635 Health Law and Ethics*	3
HADM 640 Managerial Epidemiology*	3
HADM 685 Research and Evaluation Methods*	3
HADM 687 Healthcare Marketing and Strategy *	3
HHP 560 Sport Marketing*	3
^ This course requires concurrent enrollment in one credit of COMT 590 Internship.
Choose one of the following three options:
Coursework: COMT 595 Comprehensive Exams	3
Elective	3
Project: COMT 570 Applied Communication Studies*	3
COMT 598 Culminating Project OR Elective	3
Thesis: COMT 599 Thesis (final 2 semesters at 3 credits/semester)	6
Total credits required for degree	30
*With the advisor’s approval, another graduate course may be substituted for this course if the student has previous coursework in this area.

Emphasis Three: Political and Public Communication

Course	Credits
COMT 502 Research Methods*	3
COMT 514 Issues in Organizational Communication*	3
COMT 525 Media Criticism*	3
COMT 527 Public Relations Ethics*	3
COMT 565 Communication Theory*	3
Choose two courses from the following:
COMT 529 The Law of Public Communication*	3
COMT 530 Public Influence*	3
COMT 531 Political Communication*	3
Choose one course from the following:
COMT 521 Communicating Online*	3
COMT 522 Issues in Public Relations*	3
COMT 529 The Law of Public Communication* (if not chosen above)	3
COMT 530 Public Influence* (if not chosen above)	3
COMT 531 Political Communication* (if not chosen above)	3
COMT 581 Media for Social Change*	3
COMT 592 Seminar:  Feminist Rhetoric*	3
POLS 523 Constitutional Law:  Civil Liberties*	3
POLS 558 Public Organization Dynamics*	3
POLS 559 Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis*	3
Choose one of the following three options:
Coursework: COMT 595 Comprehensive Exams	3
Elective	3
Project: COMT 570 Applied Communication Studies*	3
COMT 598 Culminating Project	3
Thesis: COMT 599 Thesis (final 2 semesters at 3 credits/semester)	6
Total credits required for degree	30
*With the advisor’s approval, another graduate course may be substituted for this course if the student has previous coursework in this area.

Emphasis Four: Media and Society

Course	Credits
COMT 502 Research Methods*	3
COMT 514 Issues in Organizational Communication*	3
COMT 525 Media Criticism*	3
COMT 527 Public Relations Ethics*	3
COMT 565 Communication Theory*	3
Choose two courses from the following:
COMT 520 Advertising, Media, and Culture*	3
COMT 521 Communicating Online*	3
COMT 540 Popular Culture and Cultural Studies*	3
COMT 561 Multicultural Mass Communication*	3
Choose one course from the following:
COMT 520 Advertising, Media, and Culture* (if not chosen above)	3
COMT 521 Communicating Online* (if not chosen above)	3
COMT 522 Issues in Public Relations*	3
COMT 529 The Law of Public Communication*	3
COMT 530 Public Influence*	3
COMT 540 Popular Culture and Cultural Studies* (if not chosen above).	3
COMT 561 Multicultural Mass Communication* (if not chosen above)	3
COMT 581 Media for Social Change*	3
Choose one of the following three options:
Coursework: COMT 595 Comprehensive Exams	3
Elective	3
Project: COMT 570 Applied Communication Studies*	3
COMT 598 Culminating Project	3
Thesis: COMT 599 Thesis (final 2 semesters at 3 credits/semester)	6
Total credits required for degree	30
*With the advisor’s approval, another graduate course may be substituted for this course if the student has previous coursework in this area.

Faculty (Master of Public Relations)

Balter-Reitz, Susan: (406) 657-1727 / sbalter-reitz@msubillings.edu/ View Faculty Web Site
Boerboom, Samuel: (406) 657-2962 / samuel.boerboom@msubillings.edu
Coffman, Steve: (406) 657-1726 / stephen.coffman@msubillings.edu / View Faculty Web Site
Gross, Dan: (406) 657-1745 / dgross@msubillings.edu / View Faculty Web Site
Keller, Sarah: (406) 896-5824 / skeller@msubillings.edu / View Faculty Web Site

Contact Graduate Studies

Please contact the office of Graduate Studies for information about this program, admission requirements, application forms, graduate assistantships and other scholarship information. Contact us as well for information about any of our graduate degree programs.

Our office is located in McMullen Hall, First Floor.
The office is open from 8:00 to 5:00 (Mountain time) Monday through Friday. Office: 406-657-2238 Fax: 406-657-2302