MS in Public Relations

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What is Public Relations?

Trust takes years to build—and minutes to lose. Great public relations professionals know how to protect it.

Public relations is the practice of building relationships between organizations and the people who matter most to them—from customers, investors, policymakers, and journalists to employees and communities. Today’s PR professionals do more than communicate on behalf of organizations. They influence strategy, advise leadership teams, manage reputations, guide organizations through change, and earn lasting public trust.

Some students come to public relations because they love storytelling. Others are drawn to strategy, leadership, crisis communication, or helping organizations navigate complex challenges. Whatever path brings you here—whether you’re entering straight from college or pivoting from another profession—you’ll find a collaborative community where diverse perspectives lead to stronger communication. You’ll graduate ready to help organizations earn trust, build meaningful relationships, and communicate with purpose.

Why choose BU’s MS in Public Relations

Where MS in public relations graduates go

Reputations aren’t built by accident. They’re built through thoughtful communication.

Public relations is seeing a projected 7% growth surge over the next decade—outpacing the national average for most industries. As organizations face increasingly volatile media environments, polarizing social conversations, and new platforms, the demand for credible, strategic communicators has never been higher.

Every organization has a reputation. The organizations that thrive are the ones that know how to earn trust, respond with integrity, and communicate with clarity. That’s why all sectors—from Silicon Valley startups and Wall Street finance giants to healthcare networks, sports franchises, and public policy groups—need experts who can help organizations navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Example alumni roles

• Executive leadership: Chief Communications Officer (CCO), Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Agency Founder
• Strategic management: Public Relations Manager, Crisis and Reputation Management Advisor, Corporate Communications Manager, Public Affairs Officer
• Digital + media tracks: Media Relations Strategist, Digital Content Strategist, Social Media Director, Influencer Relations Specialist

Example employers by industry

• Global agencies: Edelman, Ogilvy, Burson, Weber Shandwick, FleishmanHillard, BCW Global, Ruder Finn, Baldwin Boyle Group, Hencove Marketing
• Entertainment, sports, + consumer brands: Reality Labs at Meta, MPRM Communications, Elevate 1850, Hasbro, Sotheby’s, Naked Group, Signet Jewelers, KIND
• Corporate, tech, + finance leaders: Citi, Wells Fargo, Dropbox, OneSignal, Union Pacific
• Biotech + healthcare leaders: Biogen
• Government, public affairs, + nonprofits: Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, Amnesty International, the United Nations

BU COM’s reputation as one of the nation’s best for PR and lengthy list of notable alumni are what initially caught my eye. PRLab was one of the top reasons I ultimately chose BU. I also chose BU for the networking opportunities it offered and ultimately delivered — attending the Page Society Spring Summit and joining the PR Club of New England Board.

Clay Patrick, alumnus and public relations manager at Walker Sands

What you’ll learn in the MS in Public Relations

Every organization has a reputation. Public relations shapes how the world understands it.

The BU PR master’s curriculum combines strategic communication, analytics, and hands-on experience to prepare you for leadership in today’s fast-moving communication landscape. Through seven core courses and five electives, you’ll build the writing, research, and strategic decision-making skills needed to advise organizations, manage reputation, and lead with confidence.

Core areas of expertise:

• Earn trust that lasts: Build communication strategies that strengthen reputation over time.
• Tell the right story in the right place: Create strategic content across traditional, digital, and internal channels.
• Lead when the stakes are highest: Guide organizations through crises, change, and leadership transitions.
• Prove your impact: Measure campaign performance and use analytics to show communication impact.
• Build relationships that matter: Work effectively with journalists, editors, influencers, and media partners.

Tailor your degree through electives

Customize your five electives to build expertise in the areas that match your interests and career goals, including:

• Crisis control: Crisis Communication & Reputation Management
• Corporate + policy: Corporate Communication, Public Affairs, & Political Opinions
• Modern branding: Marketing Communication, Brand Strategy, & Influencer Relations
• Digital innovation: Social Media Strategy & Multi-Channel Campaigns
• Global advocacy: International Public Relations, Public Policy, & Health Campaigns

You’ll graduate ready to do more than communicate. You’ll be prepared to advise leaders, strengthen relationships, protect reputations, and help organizations earn trust when it matters most.

Real experience before you graduate

The best way to become the person leaders rely on is to start advising real clients.

PRLab: COM’s student-run communications agency operates like a fast-paced professional firm. You’ll work with real clients, deliver measurable results, and graduate with client references and a portfolio that demonstrates the impact you can make.

In-house and agency internships: Our students regularly secure competitive internships at leading agencies, global brands, and nonprofit organizations, including:

Global agencies: Edelman, Burson, Weber Shandwick, FleishmanHillard, Ketchum

In-house brands + organizations: Boston Red Sox, Bank of America, Fidelity Investments, Biogen, Amnesty International, the United Nations

Many of these organizations—including Ketchum—regularly hire COM at BU students as interns and full-time employees.

London Graduate Summer Program: Spend your third semester in one of the world’s leading communication capitals. Through BU’s London Graduate Mass Communication Summer Program, you can take advanced courses while interning with PR firms, creative agencies, startups, or international advocacy organizations.

PRSSA: Connect with industry leaders, alumni, and peers through BU’s Edward L. Bernays Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Members participate in networking events, conferences, professional development workshops, and national competitions. Since 2019, BU students have won the prestigious Page Society Case Study Competition three times.

Meet the Public Relations faculty

Learn from faculty who have led agencies, advised Fortune 200 companies, shaped nonprofit strategy, and advanced public relations research. They bring current industry challenges, perspective, and decades of leadership experience into every course.

BU is the only university in the nation with two endowed professorships in PR—a reflection of BU’s leadership in public relations education. You’ll be mentored by faculty with:

• Professional leadership: Editor in chief, Journal of Public Relations Research; members of the Arthur W. Page Society
• National recognition: PR News Top Educator; two-time PR News Top Women in PR; Outstanding Educator Award (PRSA); Distinguished Communicator of Color Award
• Industry experience: Executives from Fortune 200 companies

Mentoring, teaching, and engaging students is a passion that I never even knew I had until I started doing it. In short, the lesson I learned is that no matter how old you are or how long you’ve been working in a particular job or industry, you might just be lucky enough to find something even more special that you didn’t even know existed.

Laura Hannon, Associate Professor of the Practice, Public Relations

Study in Boston: a connected media ecosystem

Boston is a living case study for public relations. As a national hub for healthcare, biotechnology, higher education, venture capital, nonprofits, and professional sports, the city is home to global PR agencies, Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, startups, and mission-driven organizations. At BU, your classroom extends into one of the country’s most dynamic communication markets, connecting you with the organizations where future communication leaders build their careers.

Program details at a glance

• Degree: Master of Science (MS)
• Credits: 48
• Courses: 12
• Length: 3 semesters
• Format: On campus; full-time or part-time
• GRE: Not required
• Scholarships: Merit scholarships available—no separate application required
• Double Terrier: Scholarship available for current BU undergraduate students and alumni

Frequently asked questions about the MS in Public Relations at BU

What’s the difference between public relations and marketing?

Marketing focuses primarily on product promotion, sales funnels, and customer acquisition. Public relations focuses on the overarching relationship layer—building institutional trust, protecting corporate reputation, and earning credibility among journalists, investors, policymakers, and communities. PR provides the strategic discipline that makes marketing campaigns successful.

Do PR professionals still need media relations skills in the age of social media?

Absolutely. Media relations is still a vital pillar of PR, but it has expanded. Today’s professionals don’t just pitch traditional journalists; they manage multi-channel strategies involving creators, digital platforms, internal employees, and direct-to-consumer newsrooms to ensure an organization communicates consistently everywhere.

Why does it matter that BU launched the world’s first university-run PR degree?

It means you are inheriting an active global alumni network that has led and defined the public relations industry for nearly 80 years. While our curriculum features cutting-edge strategies in AI tool integration, digital listening, and real-time social analytics, our foundational focus on combining academic rigor with deep, hands-on client agency execution remains unchanged.

Can I study part-time?

Yes. The MS in Public Relations is available full-time (three semesters) or part-time to accommodate professional schedules. Contact COM Graduate Affairs for details on the part-time track.

Do I need a background in PR or communication to apply?

No. Our cohorts include students from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, including humanities, business, international relations, and sciences. We teach you strategic communication from the ground up—what matters most is excellent writing potential, analytical curiosity, and a passion for storytelling.

Is there an opportunity to study or intern abroad?

Yes. The BU London Graduate Mass Communication Summer Program allows MS in PR students to spend a semester in London taking courses and completing internships at PR and advertising agencies, startups, and nonprofits.

See all MS in PR frequently asked questions →

Also worth exploring

Learn more about our other graduate programs in communication and media, including:

• MS in Advertising: For students focused on brand strategy, creative campaigns, and consumer insight — with hands-on experience through AdLab.
• MS in Media Science: For students who want to understand how media messages influence audiences — with concentrations in health, politics, and marketing communication.
• MS in Journalism: For students who want to work on the editorial side — reporting, multimedia storytelling, and investigative journalism.
• MS in Strategic Integrated Communication (online): A fully online master’s for working professionals who want to lead at the intersection of branding, integrated marketing, crisis communication, and digital strategy.
• Graduate Certificate in Civic Science Communication (Online): A four-course online certificate for professionals who need to communicate scientific topics clearly to public audiences.