Degree Requirements Notes
- A minimum of 128 credits is required for graduation.
- Students must also complete all BU Hub general education requirements
- No one-credit courses, PDP courses, or ROTC courses can count toward graduation.
- Public Relations students are limited to four total credits of internship domestically through a departmental internship coordinator and an additional four credits through a Boston University Study Abroad Program. No more than eight credits of Public Relations internship can count toward the degree. Only four credits of internship can count toward the Public Relations Program Requirements, the other four credits will count as general electives.
- Only eight credits of each of the following courses can count toward the 128 required for a degree: COM CM 471, COM CM 473/COM CM 475, COM CM 474.
- Please note that students cannot double major or minor between Advertising, Media Science, and Public Relations, due to shared department requirements.
- A maximum of 52 credits (typically equivalent to 13 BU courses) from the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations (including CO 201, but excluding CO 101 and CO 575) can be taken on the Charles River Campus.
College Requirements
(4 total credits required plus CO 575)
COM CO 101: The World of Communication: The Human Storyteller
4 credits
Undergraduate Corequisites: Students must have taken or be taking CAS WR120 or equivalent while ta king COM CO101. - Introduces students to many fundamental principles of communication. Students also learn about the intertwined nature of communication professions as they explore the major fields of study in communication. Guest lectures from various industries inform students of potential future career paths. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Digital/Multimedia Expression.
COM CO 575: Communication Professional Experience
Department Requirements
(16 total credits required)
COM CO 201: Introduction to Communication Writing
4 credits
The College of Communication’s core undergraduate writing course. Students refresh their grammatical and stylistic skills and apply those skills to professional writing assignments. Prepares students to write with clarity, conciseness, precision, and accuracy for the communication fields. This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Research and Information Literacy.
COM CM 180: Understanding Media
4 credits
During the semester, Understanding Media course will trace the development, survey the literature, and explore the impact of media--whether traditional, interactive, social or mobile--examining conceptual, theoretical, and practical aspects of today's global media environment. The course will also review the factors that have shaped the nature of contemporary media, including their content, uses, functions, and audiences. Understanding Media provides students with a broad understanding of the social and psychological impact of mediated communication and empowers students to think originally and critically about how media technologies evolve, function, advance, and shape society, industry, and professional practices. It makes dynamic connections between theoretical frameworks, everyday life, and industry practices in a manner that can engage undergraduate students in Advertising, Media Science, and Public Relations and can inform them of the significance of using strategic approaches to constructing, disseminating, and evaluating media initiatives and media messages. 4 cr. Either sem.
COM CM 321: Communication Research Methods
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM CM180 - CM321 Communication Research Methods is an introduction to the social scientific method of inquiry and the fundamental concepts and processes of social scientific methods that are used in media science, advertising, and public relations. Assorted research methods are covered, including both quantitative and qualitative. Also included are literature review, research design, research execution, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and reporting of findings.
COM CM 331: Writing for Communication
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: CO201 AND First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120). - Intensive exposure to some of the basic writing formats in the communications profession: news releases, letters, features, and profiles. Lead writing, editing, and techniques of interviewing. Extensive writing and rewriting. Develops basic writing skills for different audiences. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Writing-Intensive Course.
Public Relations Core
(12 total credits required)
COM CM 215: Principles and Practices of Public Relations
4 credits
An introduction to the field of public relations: its theoretical origins, scope, and principles. Discussion focuses on researching problems, setting objectives, identifying audiences, designing messages, choosing communication channels, and evaluating results for all types of organizations. Ethical decision making, on-line communication, and career opportunities are also analyzed case studies in the field. The format is a combination of informal lecture and small-group discussion, case analysis, and guest lecture. Open the freshmen. 4 cr. Either sem.
COM CM 441: Media Strategies and Management
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM215 & COMCM331) - Students study planning, implementing, managing, and measuring earned media and influencer strategies, as well as integrating earned media into an overall Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned (PESO) campaign. Involves lectures, in-class discussions, video cases, mock scenarios, and individual take-home cases.
COM CM 442: Business Fundamentals for Public Relations
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM CM215 - This course provides a foundation in business skills for public relations. Through readings and discussions, in-class exercises, guest speakers and a final team project, students will gain a strong foundation in the major concepts and issues at the intersection of business and public relations. The course will sharpen students' business acumen through increasing their business and financial literacy on topics such as public company reporting, reading financial statements, and the basics of S.E.C. filings.
hard code CM 442 Business Fundamentals for Public Relations
Public Relations Program Requirements
(16 total credits required)
COM CM 211: Professional Presentation
4 credits
Students will learn the essentials of effective presentation, from preparation, audience analysis, and content development to critical thinking when presenting. Students will incorporate theories and skills of effective communication in a variety of contexts (e.g., common business and social settings). Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Oral and/or Signed Communication. 4 cr. Either sem.
COM CM 313: Corporate Communication
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: CM215 - Explores the trends and issues affecting corporations, crisis management, public affairs communication, consumer affairs, employee relations, environmental problems, and issues of multinationals. Uses case studies.
COM CM 412: Advertising Strategy & Consumer Insights
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COMCM217 - Explores how to arrive at consumer insights that lead to better advertising and promotion. The course focuses on the set of skills necessary to create breakthrough advertising, including qualitative research, observation, interviewing skills, mapping, and presentation tools. Students learn to write effective, creative briefs.
COM CM 443: Digital Media and PR
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM CM215 - Explores the effects of new media on the fundamental theories, models, and practices of public relations. Studies how websites, blogs, citizen journalism, social media, direct-to-consumer communication, podcasting, viral marketing, and other technology-enabled changes are affecting interpersonal, small group, and mass media relationships. Also covers and uses the interactive tools that are re-defining the practice of public relations. The course combines lecture, discussion, guest speakers, case study, and research to help students uncover and appreciate the power and potential of interactive media.
COM CM 471: Communication Internship
Var credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM331) AND for Advertising: COMCM217; Public Relations: COMCM215; Media Science: one COMCM280, COMCM434, COMCM481, COMCM535, or COMCM539Students enrolled in CM 471 can earn credits for completing internships they secure at advertising, public relations and integrated marketing communication agencies; communication or public affairs departments of companies, nonprofit organizations, and government entities; corporate sales or nonprofit fundraising departments; and communication-related functions at media companies. Two-credit students must work a minimum of 100 hours during the semester in which they are enrolled in CM 471. Four-credit students must work a minimum of 200 hours during the semester in which they are enrolled in CM 471 and their internship role must be with a non-Boston University entity. Virtual or hybrid internships may qualify for academic credit. It is allowable to receive academic credit and be paid for your internship. Undergraduate students are limited to four total CM 471 credits via the departmental internship coordinator, and an additional four credits through a Boston University Study Abroad Program. The assigned supervisor at the internship oversees student work. Students complete a detailed end-of-semester internship report, and the internship supervisor provides a thorough evaluation. Register for 2 or 4 units.
COM CM 481: Media Law and Policy
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. - Study of the laws that apply to communication practitioners. Topics covered include the First Amendment, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright, regulation of advertising, obscenity, and indecency, and the emerging field of cyberspace law. Sophomore standing.
COM CM 513: Investor Relations
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM215) - Graduate Prerequisites: (COMCM701) - Students examine the challenges of marketing a company to the financial community. The course is broken down into three areas: the development of IR as a profession; the tools of the trade, such as bonds and stocks; and the field's communication techniques. Students prepare case analyses as a way of understanding various SEC disclosure requirements, communication with analysts and the media, and financial marketing techniques.
COM CM 519: Interactive Marketing Strategy
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM215 OR COMCM217) - Graduate Prerequisites: (COMCM701 OR COMCM708) - Students study how interactive marketing strategy integrates communication objectives with consumer insight and digital execution. How social, digital and experiential media are used to achieve branding, engagement and behavioral goals for organizations in a wide range of business categories. The impact of interactive marketing strategy on the advertising and public relations sectors.4 credits.
COM CM 522: Managing Corporate Crises
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM215) - Graduate Prerequisites: (COMCM701) - Students learn about the strategy and tactics associated with effectively preventing, preparing for, managing, and responding to a variety of crisis scenarios that stretch an organization's vital relationships and resources. The course will focus on the options and opportunities available to communication professionals and leaders as they manage a wide range of crisis scenarios. Students will be instructed on how to navigate and provide executive counsel before, during, and after a crisis, while also preparing detailed crisis plans. The course includes lectures, in-class discussions, guest speakers, case examples, and crisis simulations. Students will be challenged to investigate and gain a command of the critical thinking skills, tools and strategies required for successful crisis management and communication in 21st century corporate, non- profit, and government settings.
COM CM 524: Public Relations Career Management
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: COM CM215; Senior in the Public Relations track/major. - Graduate Prerequisites: (COMCM701) COM CM701 - This unique course provides students with a practical and theoretical overview of various principles of public relations career management. This class explores opportunities and requirements for work in the public relations industry. Through visits by leading industry professionals, readings and case studies, students who are about to set out on their PR careers (or reenter them) will receive a comprehensive view of the many paths open to them. Whether it is on a corporate communications staff, the agency track, in social/digital/analytics, taking an entrepreneurial direction, in content development, sports and entertainment or change communication, students will learn about the competencies required in each, begin to formulate their career objectives and build plans for getting there. More broadly, through in-class lectures and discussions, students also will explore the skills sets and characteristics necessary for success in the rapidly changing world of contemporary PR, as well as the differing work environments and cultures that are out there so that they can begin to assess the ones that might be a fit for them. 4 cr. 1st sem.
COM CM 525: Public Relations Ethics
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: CM215 or CM701 - This course will acquaint students with ethical standards and expectations society has for public relations practitioners. Through the study of case studies and other readings it will prepare students so they can adequately wrestle with ethical complexities, dilemmas and ambiguities so as to form personal ethical underpinnings for their future careers. 4 credits. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Ethical Reasoning.
COM CM 535: Political Campaigns
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. - Critical evaluation of political campaign strategies and tactics within the sociopolitical environment. The roles of campaign managers, media consultants, pollsters, press secretaries, and field operatives are studied. Analysis of the impact of press coverage, political advertising, and candidate debates on the electorate. 4 cr. Either sem.
COM CM 539: Health Campaigns
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Sophomore standing. - Health Campaigns involves the principles and practices of designing media campaigns to promote health behavior change, whether related to smoking and alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, physical activity and diet, condom use, public safety, and environmental issues. It centers on how health organizations and initiatives can achieve their goals for population-based health behavior change by strategically creating, distributing, and evaluating media campaigns and media messages. At the nexus of communication and public health, this course uses theory and persuasive elements as a basis for designing and implementing health media campaigns and media messages via different media, including traditional media, new media, and social media. With this foundation, students are tasked to evaluate extant health media campaigns and campaign messages and design their own original health media campaigns and campaign messages.
COM CM 555: Advanced Media Writing
4 credits
Undergraduate Prerequisites: (COMCM331) - Graduate Prerequisites: (COMCM707 OR COMCM703) - In-depth focus on promotional, client-based writing. Course includes developing story ideas and angles; writing off- and on-line feature stories and slide shows for trade, business, and special-interest market as well as researching and writing a treatment/script video package with accompanying brochure. Also includes numerous multimedia workshops. 4 cr. Either sem.
SHA HF 375 Special Event Planning & Operations
4 credits
This course provides an introduction to the methods and techniques utilized in planning, organizing, promoting and delivering of businesses and social events, and the role events play in generating a tourist and business market. Information will be presented that will allow the student to gain general knowledge of planning events.