Community colleges such as Kirkwood Community College (kirkwood.edu) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, offer associates degrees. Kirkwood's communications media/public relations associate program requires four semesters of coursework with titles such as mass media, news reporting, public speaking and public relations in addition to general education classes in math, science, composition and humanities. Students personalize their degree by choosing further classes from areas such as design, photography, broadcasting, principles of selling, marketing and electronic production. Kirkwood's program also includes three credit hours of field experience.
Bachelor's degrees tend to open more job possibilities for graduates, and many colleges and universities offer public relations degrees. Ferris State University (ferris.edu) in Big Rapids, Michigan, advertises a program that focuses heavily on business. Advertising, marketing and journalism classes prepare students to work in a required internship. The program is designed to place graduates in social service organizations, educational institutions, businesses, sports organizations and government agencies as media directors, public relations managers, recruiters and fundraisers.
Online programs in media relations include one from Kaplan University (kaplanuniversity.edu). Kaplan's Advanced Start bachelor of science in communication may be a good choice for students looking to get their degree in an accelerated format. Besides communications courses, Kaplan's program teaches interactive media and software applications, making it more focused on technology than some other programs. Students on the Advanced Start track enter with 90 credits of college work and can then complete the bachelor's degree in about two years.
Students may pursue advanced degrees such as the doctor of management--emerging media concentration from Colorado Technical University (coloradotech.edu). Colorado Tech offers this degree online or from campuses in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Denver, Colorado; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Students take a dozen 5-credit classes that focus on current technology and media advances, teaching students how to analyze and work with projects. An additional dozen 3-credit classes focus on research and writing. The program takes three years to complete.