Is Public Relations a Good Major?

Do you have a knack for communicating clearly and persuasively? Are you great at thinking on your feet and solving challenges? Perhaps a career in public relations (PR) could be a good fit for you.

Is public relations a good major and what can you do with a public relations degree, exactly? Get the answers to your PR-related questions below.

In This Article: 

• What Is a Public Relations Degree? 
• What Can You Do With a Public Relations Degree? 
• What Is the Difference Between PR and Marketing Professionals? 
• What Do People in PR Do? 
• Benefits of a Career in Public Relations
• Pursue a Career in Public Relations at GCU

What Is a Public Relations Degree? 

Some schools may indeed offer a degree program that is focused specifically on the field of public relations. However, a PR-specific degree isn’t actually required for this career, and in fact, many PR professionals instead have a related degree, such as a communications degree or even a degree in business or social science.¹ 

A degree that works well for aspiring PR specialists is one that teaches communication styles and techniques, persuasive speaking and writing, communication ethics and cultural competencies. A communications degree might also include a class or two specifically on the fundamentals of public relations and launching communication campaigns.

What Can You Do With a Public Relations Degree? 

Communication is at the core of all private and public organizations. Public relations specialists use spoken and written communication to protect an organization’s public image and promote their objectives. There are many different careers in public relations, but they all focus on building relationships between the organization and the public.

Most public relations experts work in office settings, and travel may be required when they need to be present at press conferences, meetings and community outreach initiatives. PR specialists may work for schools, government agencies, healthcare facilities, corporations and specialized PR firms.²

What Is the Difference Between PR and Marketing Professionals? 

The focus of public relations jobs is to protect and enhance the public reputation of a brand, whether that brand is for a business, government agency or individual, whereas marketers strive to both promote brand image and increase revenue. Public relations specialists and marketers both work toward a similar goal, but they go about their job in different ways.

Marketers produce sales material that airs on paid channels for public consumption. These include direct mailers, digital banners and guest blogs. In contrast, a PR expert focuses on enhancing public reputation through unpaid channels and social media platforms to help shape the image of their client. PR specialists communicate to the public through trusted sources such as reporters and broadcast journalists.

While marketers aim to drive immediate sales through targeted campaigns, PR experts take a more strategic approach to cultivate a long-term positive image for their clients. This involves crafting compelling narratives and fostering relationships with journalists, influencers, and other media outlets to secure coverage that resonates with the audience. By leveraging unpaid channels, such as press releases and social media engagements, PR specialists can create authentic connections that enhance credibility and trust. This difference in focus not only shapes how each discipline interacts with the public but also highlights the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to both marketing and public relations. How do you think the evolving digital landscape is impacting the relationship between marketing and PR strategies?

What Do People in PR Do? 

Before you can decide whether this career is the right one for you, it’s helpful to explore the question: What do people in PR do on a daily basis? PR professionals may perform a diverse range of tasks throughout their average day. This might begin with sifting through public responses to their clients on social media platforms and in the media. They might have meetings with their clients to discuss current and future concerns or to develop PR campaigns.

Other common tasks may include the following: 

• Coach clients on effective communication techniques to use during interviews, speeches and press conferences 
• Write press releases and distribute them to media channels 
• Fulfill information requests and answer questions from members of the media 
• Arrange interviews and write speeches for clients 
• Work closely with a company’s marketing department 
• Evaluate promotional and marketing programs to ensure alignment with the company’s desired public reputation

Benefits of a Career in Public Relations 

Not quite sure if a career in PR is really the right choice for you? Consider arranging a job shadowing opportunity to get an inside look at what goes on in the life of a PR specialist. You might also consider the following benefits of this type of career:

Career Versatility 

Versatility can be one of the benefits of pursuing this career path. The most common career path is to become a PR specialist. PR specialists are responsible for carefully curating the brand and public image of an organization, person or other entity. This is generally an entry-level role.

After gaining some work experience as a PR specialist, you might then choose to position yourself to pursue career advancement. A PR manager may execute some of the same job duties as a PR specialist but will also generally have supervisory duties and be responsible for the overall strategy and branding of their clients.

Other similar career possibilities to consider include the following:³

• Public relations manager 
• Public relations specialist 
• Editor 
• Technical writer 
• Writer and author 
• Media and communication worker

Positive Job Outlook 

The job outlook of a profession is always a key consideration when evaluating one’s career possibilities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates job growth rate for PR specialists to increase by 6% from 2023 to 2033, faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of 19,200 jobs in the field.⁴

Highly Sought-After Across Diverse Industries

As you can see, there are several career choices to consider when pursuing a public relations career path. It should also be noted that individuals with a communications or PR degree are needed in virtually every industry. Some students develop their future with an eye toward breaking into a specific industry.

For PR-inclined graduates, that list of possibilities can include the following:^2,4 

• Finance 
• Media 
• Education 
• Healthcare 
• Advertising and marketing

These are just a few industries where PR and communications specialists play a crucial role.

Meet Interesting People and Take on New Challenges 

On any given day, you might meet with clients, interact with social media commenters, write a speech for an executive or visit a TV studio to give a live interview. To sum up, no two days are exactly alike, and no two clients are, either. The diversity of clientele and variety of responsibilities can make this career ever-changing.

Examine Skills You Can Use in Your Personal Life 

If you choose to earn a communications degree, you’ll be taught skills you’ll undoubtedly find useful in your professional life. However, you may also find those skills are relevant to your personal life. For example, you’ll have opportunities to become an effective communicator who speaks and writes persuasively and applies proven strategies for conflict resolution. You will likely explore small group exchanges, public relations fundamentals, critical thinking skills and ethical decision-making. 

Pursue a Career in Public Relations at GCU 

Grand Canyon University is an ideal destination for students who aspire to pursue a career in public relations. The Bachelor of Arts in Communications provides an in-depth exploration of communication styles, leadership skills and the art of persuasion. Or choose from emphases in interpersonal communication and human relations, broadcasting and new media, or a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing for New Media.