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Public Relations Minor
Nearly any career can benefit from a better understanding of media relations, crisis communication, and general communication strategy. With a minor in public relations from Dordt, you can add those skills and more to your professional toolbelt.
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Program Overview
Public relations means more than writing press releases and “putting spin” on a story or situation. Dordt’s public relations minor will equip you to effectively communicate with an audience. It will help you develop a clearer understanding of ethical decision-making. And it will improve and expand your communication skills.
Equally as important, we’ll help you understand what a Christian perspective of public relations looks like. Your faith won’t just play a role in your career—it will be a driving force in your success.
What You'll Learn
You’ll take classes on organizational communication, public relations writing, and marketing. You’ll plan and execute hands-on public relations campaign strategies for local organizations. You’ll analyze public relations cases and situations. And you’ll examine real organizations and their public relations policies so you can apply them to your own career in the future.
What You Can Do With A Public Relations Minor
With the skills gained from a public relations minor at Dordt, you’ll be ready to help organizations communicate effectively. Whatever your major, strong communication skills reap benefits. Plan to enter a career or industry in which understanding and leading with communication can make an impact? Then be sure to pursue a public relations minor.
Public Relations Specialist
Public Relations Specialists use media and social programs to create a positive public image of the company they represent.
Communications Planner
A Communications Planner uses strategy to implement an organization's creative and media ideas.
Fundraiser
A Fundraiser attempts to raise money for an organization by putting together different campaigns and events.
Career Preparation
Dordt University's 2023 Career Outcome Rate was 99.4%! “This data point tells us that Dordt graduates are prepared for the careers of their choosing,” said Amy Westra, director of Career Development. “A Dordt education provides students with industry-relevant courses and connections that make a difference.”
To earn a public relations minor, students will need to complete four communication courses and two business administration courses. These courses will teach students how to write for businesses with an external focus.
- Organizational Communication: The analysis of formal and informal communication in such organizations as corporations and institutions. Included will be considerations of communication problems related to grapevine, rumor, channels, perception, power, status, roles, structures, etc.
- Public Relations: As an introduction to public relations, this course will set the background for additional courses in communication and business administration. After a study of the history of public relations, students will learn what is expected of public relations workers, study the various publics, become familiar with current problems and issues in public relations, analyze several cases, and develop a Christian perspective for the continued study of public relations.
- Public Relations Writing: This course is, above all, a writing course. Focused on public relations writing that serves overall organizational goals, the course readings and assignments allow students opportunities to further develop their writing, research, and critical thinking skills and creativity in one of the most culture-shaping industries.
- Campaigns and Cases: An advanced course that focuses on public relations as a management function in organizations. A key component of the course is planning and implementing a public relations campaign for a local organization. Students also will examine specific public relations contexts and analyze case studies that exemplify how real organizations successfully apply communication to take advantage of public relations opportunities and to solve public relations problems.
- Principles of Marketing: A study of marketing institutions, product development, channels of distribution, price determination, promotion methods, government influences, and ethical problems facing marketing personnel. Includes a foundational study and discussion of business from a Christian perspective.
- Marketing Research: A study of the various techniques used to assess the wants and needs of consumers, including focus groups and market surveys. Both qualitative and quantitative procedures will be studied with emphasis on questionnaire development and interpretation using SPSS. Business market and not-for-profit research will also be discussed. The value of secondary sources will be explored. A Christian response to the use of this analytical tool will be developed.
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Student Stories
Dordt students and alumni use their gifts to make a difference in the world. Check out their stories to see how Defender Nation lives out our mission to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.
Broadening Faith
Jacob ClarkWith Dordt's environment of small class sizes and student-teacher interaction, Jacob was much more prepared for graduate school and beyond.
Jacob Clark
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