MS in Public Relations

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What is Public Relations?

Public relations is the practice of building relationships between organizations and the people who matter most to them—customers, employees, investors, policymakers, journalists, and communities. Today’s PR professionals don’t just respond to the news. They shape strategy, manage reputation, communicate during moments of change, and help organizations earn trust over time.

That’s why PR professionals work everywhere—from global agencies and Fortune 500 companies to healthcare systems, nonprofits, startups, sports organizations, and government.

What makes this MS in Public Relations different

What You’ll Learn

You’ll develop the strategic, writing, leadership, and analytical skills needed to build relationships, strengthen reputation, and help organizations communicate with confidence. Seven core courses provide the foundation, while five electives let you tailor the degree to your interests.

You’ll learn how to:

• Build communication strategies that strengthen reputation
• Write clearly across platforms and audiences
• Develop media relations campaigns
• Navigate crises and organizational change
• Measure communication effectiveness
• Lead communication teams
• Use digital and social media strategically

Five electives — choose your focus:

• Crisis communication and reputation management
• Corporate communication and public affairs
• Health communication campaigns
• Political communication and public opinion
• Marketing communication and brand strategy
• Social media strategy and influencer relations
• International PR and global communications
• And more

You’ll graduate knowing not just how to communicate, but how to help organizations build trust, strengthen relationships, and make better communication decisions.

View full course list →

Real experience before you graduate

PRLab – the world’s longest-standing student-run public relations agency, founded in 1978. You’ll work on account teams creating real campaigns for actual clients — startups, nonprofits, established organizations — right on campus. PRLab also offers career coaching, helping you strengthen your résumé, portfolio, LinkedIn profile, interviewing skills, and professional network before you graduate.

Agency internships — MS in PR students intern with some of the most respected agencies in the country, including Edelman, Burson, Weber Shandwick, and FleishmanHillard. Many agency partners—including Ketchum—regularly hire BU COM students as interns and full-time employees.

In-house internships — employers are as varied as Amnesty International, Bank of America, Boston Red Sox, Fidelity Investments, and the United Nations. Students typically earn credit for internships.

London — Spend your third semester in London through BU’sLondon Graduate Mass Communication Summer Program, taking courses while interning at PR agencies, advertising firms, startups, or nonprofits.

PRSSA — build your professional network through the Edward L. Bernays Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which offers professional development programs, networking events, regional conferences, and national competitions. BU students have won the Page Society Case Study Competition three times since 2019.

Where graduates go

Almost 90% of alumni are employed in their field of study. With projected job growth of 7% over the next decade — faster than the national average — demand for strategic communicators continues to grow as organizations navigate increasingly complex media environments, changing stakeholder expectations, and new communication channels.

Organizations in every industry need professionals who can build trust, navigate change, and communicate with credibility. That’s why PR graduates work everywhere—from global agencies and Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits, healthcare systems, sports organizations, and technology companies.

Example employers

Example roles

Public relations specialist/manager, communications manager, media relations strategist, public affairs officer, crisis and reputation management advisor, corporate communications manager, digital content strategist, social media strategist, and chief communications officer.

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

The faculty

Faculty combine decades of agency, corporate, nonprofit, and academic experience—bringing current industry challenges and executive communication expertise into every course. BU is the only university in the nation with two endowed professorships in PR. Faculty credentials include:

• Editor in chief, Journal of Public Relations Research
• Distinguished Communicator of Color Award winner, Diversity Action Alliance
• PR News Top Educator award winner
• Two-time PR News Top Women in PR award winner
• Members of the Arthur W. Page Society
• Outstanding Educator Award recipients, Public Relations Society of America
• 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

Boston

Boston is home to global healthcare companies, technology firms, nonprofits, universities, startups, professional sports organizations, and some of the country’s leading public relations agencies. It’s an ideal place to study public relations because every sector—from healthcare and technology to nonprofits and professional sports—depends on strong relationships, trusted communication, and effective reputation management.

Program details at a glance

• Degree: 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 students and alumni

Common questions about the MS in Public Relations at BU

What’s the difference between public relations and marketing?

Marketing focuses on promoting products and services. Public relations focuses on building relationships, protecting reputation, and earning trust among the audiences that matter most to an organization. In practice, the two disciplines work closely together—but PR brings a broader strategic perspective to organizational communication.

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

Yes. Media relations remains a core part of public relations—but it’s now one piece of a much broader communication strategy. Today’s PR professionals build relationships with journalists, creators, employees, customers, policymakers, and communities while helping organizations communicate consistently across every channel. At BU, you’ll learn how to develop media strategies, manage reputation, navigate crises, and communicate with the audiences that matter most.

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

It means you’re joining a program that has helped shape the profession for almost 80 years. While PR has evolved dramatically since 1947, BU’s commitment to combining academic rigor with hands-on professional experience has remained the same. Today’s curriculum reflects the realities of modern public relations, from digital strategy and crisis communication to analytics, global communication, and AI.

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.

What is PRLab?

PRLab is the world’s longest-standing student-run PR agency, founded at BU in 1978. MS in PR students can join PRLab to work on real campaigns for real clients — from startups to nonprofits to established organizations — right on campus. It’s agency experience with a short commute.

Do I need a PR background to apply?

No. The program welcomes students from a range of undergraduate backgrounds. Strong writing skills and a genuine interest in communication and relationship-building are what matter most.

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.

How quickly do graduates find jobs?

Most BU COM graduate students report securing full-time employment within six months of completing their degree. Almost 90% of alumni are employed in their field of study.

See all 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.