COM celebrates 60 years of PR education

BOSTON, Massachusetts – (April 4, 2008) Boston University’s College of Communication will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Master of Science Degree in Public Relations April 23. The degree was the world’s first when originally introduced in 1947-48, and has been offered continuously for the past six decades.

The day’s main event features a panel of public relations industry leaders including Harold Burson, Founding Chairman, Burson-Marsteller; Ray Kotcher, Senior Partner & CEO, Ketchum; Carol Cone, Founder and Chairman of Cone, Inc.; and, Dr. Otto Lerbinger, Professor Emeritus of Public Relations at Boston University. The speakers will be addressing the progress of public relations over the decades. Kotcher and Cone both have M.S. degrees in public relations from BU while Burson has received an honorary degree from the university

The panel takes place as part of a reception that runs from 3:30 until 6 p.m. in the Colloquium Room on the Ninth Floor of BU’s Photonics Center at 8 Saint Mary’s Street. The panel begins at 4 p.m. Admission is free. For complete information, including a schedule of events, please contact the College of Communication Alumni Office at (617) 353-5017.

The April 23 schedule also includes classroom discussions with distinguished industry leaders Willard D. (Bill) Nielsen, retired Senior Vice President of Johnson & Johnson; and Robert Grupp, president of the International Public Relations Association and Grupp Global Partners LLC.

Public relations education in BU’s world renowned College of Communication is part of the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising and Public Relations which earlier this academic year was named as first in the nation in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, a highly-respected ranking based upon scholarly publications, grants and awards.  In addition to enjoying an international reputation for research excellence over the past six decades, public relations education at BU also has a noted reputation for being practical and for producing graduates who are very successful in the workplace.

T. Barton Carter, professor and chairman of the department, points out, “Our department is a mix of professionals and academics, so what this Chronicle ranking shows is that we’re able to maintain a balance and achieve excellence in both areas: professional training and professional recognition, as well as scholarly recognition of our faculty’s research and writing.”

Public relations graduates from Boston University are highly regarded on the job market. Dr. Tobe Berkovitz,  dean ad interim of the College of Communication, says, “An important measure we have about how successful public relations education is at BU is the fact organizations that hire our graduates not only frequently say good things about them but also return to us each year encouraging our students to apply for their jobs or internships.” 

Public relations classes at Boston University are taught by six full time faculty members whose backgrounds represent a unique balance of practical and theoretical credentials. BU also has the Harold Burson Endowed Chair in public relations as well as several adjunct faculty members from the greater Boston professional community who teach public relations courses.

Classes in communication theory and research that are required of all public relations majors are taught by four other full-time faculty members with doctoral degrees from major universities. BU’s library holdings include the papers of noted practitioner Edward L. Bernays who many consider to have been “the father of public relations.” Harold Burson also has made arrangements for BU to acquire his papers.

In addition to the Master of Science Degree in Public Relations, Boston University also offers a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Public Relations emphasis through its Department of Mass Communication, Advertising and Public Relations.