At A Glance

Public relations majors and minors at Carthage gain a thorough understanding of the principles underlying media releases, social media management, PR campaigns, and crisis communication. Students build their portfolios by composing PR documents and social media posts for local businesses and nonprofits. They graduate with the versatility to work effectively in a wide range of settings.

Major

  • Public Relations

Minors

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Public relations is one of the fastest growing careers today (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021). It is a form of communication that focuses on strategically building relationships with a public audience, whether that audience is internal to your company or external to your community, country, or world.

There is a focus on writing — especially social media-based writing — and speaking. We take an in-depth look at everything from management skills to crisis communication to brand awareness. Theories are explored, and students gain hands-on experience working in real time with companies in the area.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,833,942/38466_C3994399-C5C5-4EE5-809C-14B8D3C78419_1_105_c.rev.1695665814.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,833,942/38466_C3994399-C5C5-4EE5-809C-14B8D3C78419_1_105_c.rev.1695665814.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,833,942/38466_C3994399-C5C5-4EE5-809C-14B8D3C78419_1_105_c.rev.1695665814.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,833,942/38466_C3994399-C5C5-4EE5-809C-14B8D3C78419_1_105_c.rev.1695665814.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,833,942/38466_C3994399-C5C5-4EE5-809C-14B8D3C78419_1_105_c.rev.1695665814.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,833,942/38466_C3994399-C5C5-4EE5-809C-14B8D3C78419_1_105_c.rev.1695665814.jpg" alt="Magdalena Werger ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,833,942/38466_C3994399-C5C5-4EE5-809C-14B8D3C78419_1_105_c.rev.1695665814.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,833,942/38466_C3994399-C5C5-4EE5-809C-14B8D3C78419_1_105_c.rev.1695665814.jpg 3x" data-max-w="833" data-max-h="942" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I was surprised at how smooth the transition from high school to college was! I feel very supported at Carthage, and I know that if I have a question of any sort, there are people all around to help me.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1855-magdalena-werger">Magdalena Werger</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,512,2133,2643/34337_Emily_Cain_24.rev.1650483387.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,512,2133,2643/34337_Emily_Cain_24.rev.1650483387.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,512,2133,2643/34337_Emily_Cain_24.rev.1650483387.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,512,2133,2643/34337_Emily_Cain_24.rev.1650483387.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,512,2133,2643/34337_Emily_Cain_24.rev.1650483387.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,512,2133,2643/34337_Emily_Cain_24.rev.1650483387.jpg" alt="Emily Cain ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,512,2133,2643/34337_Emily_Cain_24.rev.1650483387.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,512,2133,2643/34337_Emily_Cain_24.rev.1650483387.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2133" data-max-h="2131" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Public relations is so much more than just looking at social media; it’s about working with people, dealing with crises in a professional manner, and helping an organization gain trust with the public. With a public relations degree, you are able to create the type of job you want for yourself.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1851-emily-cain">Emily Cain</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1170,1170/36995_6554_163701665847155.rev.1677087637.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1170,1170/36995_6554_163701665847155.rev.1677087637.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1170,1170/36995_6554_163701665847155.rev.1677087637.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1170,1170/36995_6554_163701665847155.rev.1677087637.PNG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1170,1170/36995_6554_163701665847155.rev.1677087637.PNG 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1170,1170/36995_6554_163701665847155.rev.1677087637.PNG" alt="James Coakley" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1170,1170/36995_6554_163701665847155.rev.1677087637.PNG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1170,1170/36995_6554_163701665847155.rev.1677087637.PNG 3x" data-max-w="1170" data-max-h="1170" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Public relations is very important, especially nowadays with social media and technology. You learn how to properly curate an organization’s brand and public image.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2282-james-coakley">James Coakley</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2413,3200/34708_Megan_Christian_24.rev.1653671811.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2413,3200/34708_Megan_Christian_24.rev.1653671811.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2413,3200/34708_Megan_Christian_24.rev.1653671811.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2413,3200/34708_Megan_Christian_24.rev.1653671811.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2413,3200/34708_Megan_Christian_24.rev.1653671811.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2413,3200/34708_Megan_Christian_24.rev.1653671811.jpg" alt="Megan Christian ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2413,3200/34708_Megan_Christian_24.rev.1653671811.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/61/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2413,3200/34708_Megan_Christian_24.rev.1653671811.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2413" data-max-h="3200" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Other students should consider PR and communication as majors because there are a wide variety of jobs in both fields. At Carthage, these majors are especially enjoyable because you really get to know your professors and the people within your major.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1879-megan-christian">Megan Christian</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Financial Aid

More than 90 percent of Carthage students receive financial aid. The Communication and Digital Media Department holds an annual scholarship competition, with awards available to prospective communication, graphic design, and public relations majors. Recipients are chosen based on an interview and work samples.

Learn more about the public relations scholarship


PRSSA board members and public relations majors Nina Werger '24 and Shannon Laukaitis '25. beyond the classroom

Carthage has a Public Relations Student Society of America chapter that organizes speakers, networking events, and visits to PR firms in Milwaukee and Chicago, which have led to internships and jobs. A student-run “business” called Social provides PR services to other student organizations on campus.


Competitive advantage

Carthage public relations majors develop excellent interpersonal communication, group problem solving, creative thinking, and organization skills, making them more competitive in the job market, no matter what career path they pursue.