Assistant Professor Cardona, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-6463

The Master of Arts in Public Relations at Hofstra University is designed to educate students in the fast-evolving communications field. It emphasizes management, research, best practices, and the skills needed for writing and using communications tools required within the public relations (PR) profession. The program prepares students to assume specialized public relations positions and leadership roles.

The 36-credit program seeks to achieve specific academic goals that include effective instruction in communication practice; public relations work skills and ethics; an understanding that the convergence of print, broadcast and online journalism greatly impacts the profession; critical thinking; strategic planning; international understanding; media literacy and content creation; and competent management techniques essential in the practice of public relations.

Emphasis is placed on management and executive level responsibilities. Courses are structured to build upon and complement each other, and syllabuses will emphasize business acumen, ethics, and a professional understanding of the public relations industry as it relates to modern media and target audiences.

There are numerous career options when a student completes an advanced degree in public relations. Corporations offer public relations management positions at all levels including entry, intermediate and advanced, and PR practitioners can work in the communications/marketing departments of Fortune 500 companies, major media organizations, entertainment firms, sports franchises, fashion companies, retail, service, and small-to large-sized private and public companies. Public relations agencies vary in size from sole practitioners to international corporations, specializing in various areas, such as consumer and lifestyle, corporate clients, health care, entertainment, travel, investor relations, and others. There are public relations careers found within nonprofit organizations as well, supporting the efforts and agencies and their missions to improve social, environmental, health, economic, political, community, religious, and educational conditions.

Working with an adviser, students plan and complete a capstone project in their final semester. In addition to the completion of the capstone, students are required to maintain a minimum 3.00 GPA to qualify for the MA in public relations.