At a glance: Public Relations
At a glance: Public Relations
Did you know? ONU's student chapter of PRSSA works with real clients in the community and on campus.
Public Relations Features:
In the Windy City
The Public Relations curriculum helps students learn both conceptual and functional skills. Internships and activities courses provide exceptional opportunities for students to develop contact among area professionals and to produce materials to include in their portfolios. Visit the department's web site.
Degrees offered
Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts with a concentration in public relations; a minor is also offered.
Distinctive features
- Hands-on experience in chosen field
- Opportunities to double major in most areas of the University and to attain teacher licensure in education
- Exciting internship and international study abroad programs
- One of only 22 programs in the world to be certified for education in public relations (CEPR) by the Public Relations Society of AmericaDean’s scholarships
- Award-winning faculty who are actively engaged in research and the profession
- Certified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
- Nationally recognized chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
- Students can interact with professionals in the region, students from other campuses both regionally and nationally.
Facilities
Classes in public relations are held in the Smith Educational wing of the Freed Center for the Performing Arts. This facility also includes a state of the art computer lab with a Mac platform, scanner, laser printer and appropriate software.
Student organizations
Visions Communications – nationally affiliated student-run public relations firm; Lambda Pi Eta – national communication honorary; Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
Program outcomes
- U.S. News & World Report ranks Ohio Northern No. 2 among more than 300 Midwest baccalaureate colleges in America’s Best Colleges (2010).
- Listed in Princeton Review’s The Best 371 Colleges 2010 Edition.
- One of the top 200 programs in the nation for creative students in Creative Colleges: A Guide for Student Actors, Artists, Dancers, Musicians and Writers (2010).
- Among the top 100 private four-year colleges and small universities in Peterson’s Competitive College Guide (2010).
- Named in Colleges of Distinction (2010), a guide profiling America’s most distinguished teaching-centered colleges and universities.
Professional placement/Internships
A wide variety of internships exist. In addition to on-campus opportunities, students have held internships in the Hardin county community, with hospitals in Lima and Findlay, with the Lima Symphony Orchestra, the Lima Area Arts Council and businesses such as West Ohio Gas and BP Chemicals. Outside the area, students have held internships with: The Ohio State Fair, Grant-Riverside Hospital and Children's Hospital (Columbus), Inventure Place (Akron) Pierce Transit (Tacoma, Washington), Hill & Knowlton (Tallin Estonia), The Points of Light Foundation (Washington D.C.).
In the spotlight
Vision Communication, the student-run public relations firm at ONU, has been recognized as one of PRSSA’s nationally affiliated student-run firms. This is a high honor that requires firms to adhere to seven standards for excellence in practice established by PRSSA and to report regularly on their activities to the board of directors of the Central Ohio PRSA chapter. ONU students have won competitive internships with organizations, corporations and agencies nationwide, including Ketchum Public Relations, Waggener Edstrom Public Relations, Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations, SBC Public Relations, Nationwide Insurance, Ashland Chemical, Hickory Farms and many others.
