This program is designed to teach public relations and strategic communication theories and practices, with an emphasis on enhancing the ability to promote the image and mission of an organization or business.

Students study various facets of PR from brand promotion, content creation, and social media to crisis communication, media relations, community relations, reputation management, and marketing communications. A particular focus will be on sophisticated training in the latest communication techniques including social media, web communications and videography, as well as data analytics and data-driven storytelling.

Program graduates will be equipped with the technical skills they need to break into the PR field and the management skills they need to advance in the professional arena. The needs for these skills have increased exponentially in recent years as diverse organizations understand that they need to develop effective messaging communicated in visual, textual, and audio form through multi-, online, and social media. The goal of the program is to empower students to promote the public agenda of employers ranging from industry leaders, to mission-driven organizations, to strategic communications groups, and to political consulting firms.


  • Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality. 
  • Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA degree language requirements, for a total of 12 semester hours of language study or demonstrated equivalent proficiency, as described in Additional Requirements for BA students. Successful demonstration of proficiency does not reduce total minimum semester hours of study required to earn the BA degree.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Major Requirements

Introduction to College
COMM 1000Communication Studies at Northeastern1
or JRNL 1000 Journalism at Northeastern
Foundation Courses
COMM 1113Business and Professional Speaking4
JRNL 5311Design for Storytelling4
JRNL 5480Research for Media Strategy4
PREL 3625Public Relations Practice4
A grade of C or better is required for the following:
JRNL 2200Writing for Public Relations4
PREL 1425Public Relations Principles4
Introductory/Intermediate Electives
Complete two of the following (and any required corequisites):8
Persuasion and Rhetoric
Communication Theory
Principles of Organizational Communication
Communication in a Digital Age
Global and Intercultural Communication
Social Media Analytics
Journalism 1: Fundamentals of Reporting and Writing
and Journalist’s Toolbox
Understanding Today’s News
Visual Storytelling in Journalism
Advanced Electives
Complete three of the following (other courses may be proposed in consultation with your academic advisor):12
Political Communication
Political Communication
Advocacy Writing
Environmental Issues, Communication, and the Media
Environmental Issues, Communication, and Media
Health Communication Campaigns
Health Communication Campaigns
Crisis Communication and Image Management
Digital Storytelling and Social Media
Ethics and Diversity in the News Media
Media and Advocacy in Theory and Practice
Public Relations Strategies for Managing Scandal in Business and Politics
Critical Thinking About Public Relations Strategies
Subject Expertise
Complete three electives in the subject of your interest (e.g., public health, computer science, biology) in consultation with your advisor.12
Capstone
COMM 4608Strategic Communication Capstone4

Major Credit Requirement

60 semester hours in the major

Program Requirements

128 overall semester hours required

Sample Plan of Study

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer2/Fall 

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
JRNL 1000 or COMM 10001COMM 11134Elective4Elective4
ENGW 11114JRNL 22004Elective4Elective4
PREL 14254Foreign language4  
Foreign language 4Elective4  
Elective4   
 17 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
PREL 36254EEAM 20001Elective4Co-op0
Foreign language4JRNL 54804Elective4 
PR introductory/intermediate elective4PR introductory/intermediate elective4  
Elective4Subject expertise4  
 Elective4  
 16 17 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0PR advanced elective4Elective4Co-op0
 PR advanced elective4Elective4 
 Subject expertise4  
 Elective4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0COMM 46084  
 JRNL 53114  
 PR advanced elective4  
 Elective4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 130