Public Relations (MA Degree)
Why Public Relations?
Getting a Master’s degree in Public Relations advances or jumpstarts your career in this in-demand communications field. When the trajectory of a company or organization's reputation can be altered by the click of a social media post, it’s never been more important for brands and organizations to own their narratives and have robust media relations.
Why Study Public Relations at Iona?
At Iona University, our Master of Arts (MA) in Public Relations degree develops thought leaders equipped with the communication management skills to shape messages, build brand strategies and advance causes. To accommodate the schedules of working professionals, our graduate program in public relations is offered through evening courses at our New Rochelle, New York campus, as well as hybrid and online courses.
With our flexible curriculum, you can specialize your graduate program to focus on an area of interest: sports and entertainment public relations, corporate communications or non-profit communications. In each track, you gain practical experience working with corporations, agencies, and media outlets to hone your creative and analytical skills in real-world settings.
Our MA degree in Public Relations trains you to meet the strategic communication needs of modern organizations. We continually review our curriculum and make changes in response to the industry’s latest innovations and trends.
What You’ll Learn
During your Master’s degree in Public Relations at Iona, you’ll learn how to guide your clients through a media landscape that changes daily and how to lead audiences to discover the bigger ideas behind the brands and organizations you represent.
Over seven courses (21 credits), you will learn the theoretical underpinnings of public relations and achieve practical application of that knowledge to demonstrate accomplishments comparable to those in agencies and corporate communication departments. Specialization courses, opportunities for individualized study and experiences working for real organizations emphasize growth and networking opportunities. Our MA degree builds the skills you need to become a successful public relations professional.
Iona’s graduate program in Public Relations provides rigorous training, centered on proven business principles and consulting models, delivered in traditional, small-class seminars as well as fully online courses.
All of our faculty members have extensive professional experience in the fields they teach – nonprofits, media relations and journalism, integrated marketing, corporate communications and public relations in a range of fields. Bringing together professionals from New York City and beyond, our Media & Strategic Communication Department is a deliberately small community where personalized mentorship happens everyday!
PR Program Highlights
Multimedia Lab
MSC students have access to a new, state-of-the-art multimedia lab that includes:
- A top-of-the-line Podcast Center
- TV studio anchor set
- Large video monitors for virtual appearances by media professionals
- Latest technology and software
- Distance-learning capabilities for students abroad
NYC Internships
Our internship program complements the learning you receive in the classroom, ensuring you gain valuable experience and contacts in the corporate world. Iona’s proximity to New York City, the communications capital of the world, provides unlimited opportunities for public relations internship placements during your graduate program.
Non-Profit Certificate
You can choose to enroll in our 9-credit Non-Profit Public Relations certificate and apply those credits to the full MA in Public Relations degree! Combine your skills as a communicator with a cause you are passionate about to make a positive impact.
Public Relations Careers & Outcomes
Completing a rigorous Master’s degree in Public Relations is an ideal way to advance your career and gain hands-on experience in the field. Apply your skills to a world of communication and engagement for various companies and organizations to ensure that their public image remains in a positive light.
Job Titles
- Account Executive
- Communications Associate
- Digital Marketing Manager
- Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
- Integrated Marketing Director
- Social Media Associate
- New Business Coordinator
Our Graduates Have Found Careers With:
Natalie Redcross, Ph.D.
Hear from Professor Natalie Redcross, Ph.D., about the Public Relations major and what you can expect in courses and activities as a student.
Learn more about Iona’s MA in Public Relations!
Iona University’s Master of Arts in Public Relations provides the expertise and skills you need to become a successful public relations professional. Our graduate program offers the opportunity to study public relations in the NYC area with outstanding faculty that provide personalized mentorship.
Request information to learn more about Iona’s MA degree in Public Relations.
Ready to apply? Begin your Iona graduate application process.
Find Out what an Iona Education Can Do For You
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