ChairAmy Thurlow, APR, BPR (MSVU), MA (SMU), PhD (SMU), Assistant Professor
The Public Relations Program is designed to answer the need for university-educated public relations professionals in Canada. Students receive instruction in a variety of liberal arts subjects, communication techniques, public relations theories, practices and management. Graduates are qualified to take up positions in public relations, public affairs and information services in business, government, media, educational and non-profit institutions and consulting firms.
Selected courses are available via distance learning.
All students must seek academic advising once admitted to the program. The public relations department has a prescribed sequence of courses that must be followed.
Note: Students enroled in the Bachelor of Public Relations prior to September 2001 should consult with the department regarding the requirements for completion of their program.
Admission Requirements
Enrolment in this program is limited and selection is based on suitable academic background and achievement.
Transfer Requirements
1. Nova Scotia grade XII (senior matriculation) university preparatory diploma or equivalent;
2. grade XII academic or advanced mathematics and English or a university equivalent;
3. an overall average well above the minimum requirements of 65 percent (GPA of 2.0) with no mark
below 60 percent (D).
Special Studies
Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses in a 23 unit degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.
Course Failure
If a student fails a Public Relations course twice, she or he will be dismissed from the Public Relations program.
Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Public Relations (Co-operative Education) program is designed as a full-time study program. Co-operative education requires a student to be enroled full-time before and after each co-op term. Full-time enrolment is defined as 1.5 units per semester. A student who commences the program on a part-time basis must be prepared to enrol full-time (1.5 units per semester) the semester prior to her/his first co-op term and must complete the program as a full-time student. Students are expected to maintain a portfolio of work completed during the public relations degree program.
| Students must successfully complete 23 units with the following requirements: |
| ❏ | three compulsory co-op terms |
| ❏ | obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in 8.0 units of required coursework including all required PBRL courses Note: Co-operative education work term courses (PBRL 1188, 2288 and 3388) cannot be counted in the calculation of the GPA |
| ❏ | meet all requirements for the co-operative education program |
| ❏ | students may complete a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units |
| Required Courses (16.5 units) |
| ❏ | BUSI 1112 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | BUSI 2230 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | ECON 1101 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | ECON 1102 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | MATH 2208 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 1010 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 1188 | 1.0 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 2012 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 2013 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 2014 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 2015 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 2288 | 1.0 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 3012 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 3013 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 3014 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 3016 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | COMM 3017 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 3022 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 3388 | 1.0 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 4014 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 4015 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 4019 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 4101 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 4107 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PBRL 2211/COMM 2211 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PSYC 1110 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | PSYC 1120 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | SOAN 1101 or (SOAN 1102 and 1103) | 1.0 unit |
| ❏ | WRIT 1120 | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | 1.5 units of ENGL, at least 1.0 unit of which must
be at the 2000 level or above
Note: ENGL/WRIT 2220 and all other WRIT courses
may not be counted toward the English requirement. | 1.5 units |
| ❏ | 1.0 unit of Modern Language
(e.g. French, Spanish, or German) | 1.0 unit |
| ❏ | 0.5 unit of Women's Studies
(Women’s Studies or Women’s Emphasis course) | 0.5 unit |
| ❏ | 1.5 units of Professional electives at the 2000
level or above
(e.g. PBRL, BUSI, INTE, FSGN) Note: BUSI/THMT 2202
may not be used to meet this requirement. WRIT 2222
may be counted in lieu of a professional elective. | 1.5 units |
| ❏ | 2.0 units of electives | 2.0 units |
Co-operative Education
Mount Saint Vincent University offers a 23 unit Bachelor of Public Relations degree with compulsory co-operative education. The Bachelor of Public Relations (Co-operative Education) degree is accredited by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE).
Co-operative education is a process in which employers and educators co-operate in the education of students by formally integrating the student’s academic program with related work experience. All students must complete three alternate co-op terms off-campus with government agencies, non-profit institutions and corporations. Studies show that co-operative education enhances the student’s academic performance and facilitates the student’s transition to the workplace upon graduation.
The co-operative education component involves a sequencing of normal academic semesters and co-op terms. Students complete the normal academic sequence for their first 10 units if entering the Bachelor of Public Relations Co-operative Education degree directly from high school. Students admitted to the Bachelor of Public Relations Co-operative Education degree with sufficient transfer credits complete the normal academic sequence for their first 5.0 units. For the second half of the program, there is an alternation of co-op terms and academic semesters.
The following schedule depicts the typical Bachelor of Public Relations Co-operative Education program:
|
| 1 | Academic Term 1 | Academic Term 2 | Free |
| 2 | Academic Term 3 | Academic Term 4 | Co-op Term 1 |
| 3 | Academic Term 5 | Co-op Term 2 | Academic Term 6 |
| 4 | Co-op Term 3 | Academic Term 7 | Academic Term 8 |
Program Standards
Students entering the program with considerable professional public relations work experience may use the current university regulations regarding Challenge for Credit. Once admitted to the program, students considering this option must consult the academic department to determine eligibility.
Before the first co-op work term, students must meet these prerequisites:
- a 2.0 CGPA at the end of the academic semester prior to the job search*
- normally completion of 10 units
- successful completion of PBRL 2013, 2014, 2015, and 3012
*Students who do not meet the 2.0 CGPA requirements for co-operative education but have more than 7.5 units of transfer credits, or grades from courses completed more than five years ago, may request an individual review of their transcripts by the Department Chair who may approve admission.
There are three possible grades for co-op terms:
- P Pass. Student continues academic study.
- NCR No credit, repeat. Normally, a student may receive only one NCR grade and remain in the degree program.
- F Fail. A failing grade in a co-op term results in dismissal from the program.
For additional information, refer to the co-operative education program.
Professional Concentration in French
Public Relations students have the opportunity to pursue a 3.0 unit concentration in French. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ 3.0 units of French language courses (excluding FREN 1101 and 1102)
Professional Concentration in Spanish
Public Relations students have the opportunity to pursue a 3.0 unit concentration in Spanish. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ SPAN 1101, 1102, 2201, 2202, 3301 and 3302
Students completing SPAN 2202 may write the internationally recognized Spanish examination prepared by the Spanish Ministry of Education and receive the Initial Certificate (Certificado Inicial). Students completing SPAN 3302 may write the Spanish examination prepared by the Spanish Ministry of Education and receive the Basic Diploma (Diploma Basico).