The Public Relations and Corporate Communications program prepares global communication leaders to thrive in a fast changing world by equipping students with the skills needed to respond ethically and confidently to any communications challenge.

Courses emphasize strategic planning to address critical business objectives and the development of hard metrics to measure success. Students learn to think strategically, present creative ideas, gain a global perspective on communications and public relations, develop clear and concise writing skills, and become leaders in the digital world.

Students are a part of a community of passionate communication professionals who are personally invested in their colleagues' success. Student committees, fellowships, and real-world client challenges provide our students with multiple opportunities to be engaged in dynamic networks.

Learning Goals

Clear Writing: Program graduates have the ability to write clear, concise, action-oriented language for a range of communications situations. Their writing also resonates with target audiences.

Strategic Thinking: Students internalize the Georgetown Framework for Strategic Planning and apply it to challenges throughout their time in the program. Application of the framework reflects individual student critical thinking skills, strategic decision making, and creativity. Students also learn how to convey their strategic ideas verbally and in writing. 

Responsible Communication: Graduates are committed to consistently evaluating and applying their personal code of ethics, which is built on a foundation of ethical paradigms, professional codes of conduct, and best practices. Students go beyond basic ethical considerations to authentically use their skills and talents to positively impact the world. 

Practical Evaluation: Students learn about research techniques and can select the most appropriate method, given the situation, their budget and time line. Program graduates also understand the role of research in developing creative insights. 

The concentration in Public Relations and Corporate Communications offers two options for individuals looking to advance their career and knowledge within the field, a Masters program (MPS) and an Advanced Professional Certificate (APC).

Assessment of student learning in the program includes:

Ethics: The ethics curriculum requires students to explore their values, the origination of their beliefs, and how both impact their decision making. Students review major philosophers, professional codes of ethics, and contemporary industry case studies. Based on this experience, students create a personal code of ethics, which they use to practically evaluate ethical dilemmas in their professional lives. Students revisit their personal code in capstone when faced with an ethical challenge. Throughout the program, students practice decision making and analyze complex situations, so they can draw upon clear examples during future professional contexts. 

Strategy: Students are introduced to strategy in a new student boot camp, then revisit the concept in the Elements of Communications Planning course. Within the class, students learn the Georgetown Framework for Strategic Planning and express their learning by creating an individual plan and responding to multiple challenges throughout the semester. While the model is based on rigorous academic models, it allows for personal adaptation based on the students' experience and professional specialization. The value of strategic communication is reflected and assessed in all program courses. Students revisit strategy in capstone, while working on a real-world communications challenge for a client. 

Capstone: During this final course, students must apply the comprehensive skills they have built throughout the program. After identifying and securing a company or organization of their choosing, students respond to a communication issue by creating a well-researched, insightful, creative, strategic plan that exemplifies their development as communications professionals. Students choose clients based on their personal interests or aimed at continuing the social impact mission of the program. Multiple forms of assessment, including quick fire challenges, written projects, an ethical response paper, final plan, and a strategy pitch, review each student's level of competency in all program learning goals. By pairing alumni instructors with capstone students, the program ensures multiple levels of support and advice throughout the course, to be sure all graduates leave confident in their skills.

Curriculum Description

Masters candidates choose eight 3-credit courses in addition to an ethics core course and a capstone course for a total of ten courses to complete the degree.  A minimum GPA of 3.000 is required in 30 credits in order to be eligible for graduation. 

Advanced Professional Certificate students select five 3-credit courses within their area of interest in order to complete the certificate. Whether selecting the MPS or the APC, the applied curriculum prepares students for leadership roles across sectors.

Courses emphasize strategic planning to address critical business objectives and the development of hard metrics to measure success. The curriculum not only teaches best practices, but also asks students to apply their learning through real world projects. We understand the benefit of immediately utilizing knowledge gained in the classroom. Students learn to think strategically, gain a global perspective on communications and public relations, develop clear and concise writing skills, and become leaders in the digital world.

Students pursue a course of study based on the following areas:

Public Relations
Corporate Communications
Integrated Marketing Communications
Digital Communications
Social Impact Communications

Master of Professional Studies
MPS candidates choose eight 3-credit courses in addition to an ethics core course and a capstone course. Many reach beyond their chosen area of study, and even to another concentration, in order to create a well-rounded, multidisciplinary curriculum that meets their needs and goals.

Courses are continuously updated to reflect current trends within the industry.

Required Courses (For the masters program)

Conversations about Ethics (1st or 2nd Semester)
Capstone (Final Course)

Choose eight of the following fundamental or track courses. You are not required to choose a track. These are suggestions to help with planning.

Core Courses
MPPR-600: Presentation Skills
MPPR-605: PR Case Studies
MPPR-700: PR Writing
MPPR-710: Media Relations & Messaging
MPPR-740: Strategic Communications Planning
MPPR-750: The Intersection of Offline and Online PR
MPPR-775: In-Depth Interviews and Focus Groups
MPPR-845: Communications Challenges in a Changing World
MPPR-870: Communications Research

Corporate Communications
MPPR-710: Media Relations & Messaging
MPPR-730: Corporate Communications
MPPR-765: Live Branded Media
MPPR-780: Grassroots Communications
MPPR-795: Public Affairs & Government Relations
MPPR-810: Crisis Communications
MPPR-830: Advanced Corporate Communications
MPPR-835: Employee Engagement and Internal Communications
MPPR-836: Leadership in Communication
MPPR-845: Communications Challenges in a Changing World
MPPR-865: Global Communication in Social Media
MPPR-885: Speech Writing

Public Relations
MPPR-600: Presentation Skills
MPPR-605: PR Case Studies
MPPR-700: PR Writing
MPPR-710: Media Relations & Messaging
MPPR-750: The Intersection of Offline and Online PR
MPPR-795: Public Affairs & Government Relations
MPPR-805: Persuasive Writing
MPPR-810: Crisis Communications
MPPR-836: Leadership in Communication
MPPR-885: Speech Writing

Integrated Marketing Communications
MPPR-760: Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC)
MPPR-765: Live Branded Media
MPPR-775: In-Depth Interviews and Focus Groups
MPPR-835: Employee Engagement and Internal Communications
MPPR-836: Leadership in Communication
MPPR-886: Corporate Influences on Cause Communications
MPPR-890: Brand and Creative Strategy 


Digital Communications
MPPR-705: Content Creation Management: Digital Storytelling
MPPR-755: Digital Communication Strategy
MPPR-785: Social Media for Social Causes
MPPR-850: Social Media
MPPR-855: Digital Campaigns
MPPR-860: Advanced Digital Communication Strategies
MPPR-865: Global Communication in Social Media
MPPR-880: SEO/Search Engine Strategy

Social Impact
MPPR-780: Grassroots Communications
MPPR-785: Social Media for Social Causes
MPPR-825: Communication for International Development
MPPR-865: Global Communication in Social Media
MPPR-875: Environmental Communications
MPPR-885: Speech Writing
MPPR-900: Cause Consulting: Strategic Communications Planning
MPPR-910: Cause Consulting II: Implementing Communications Plans 

Required Course Descriptions:

Conversations About Ethics
Every working day, PR professionals face ethical challenges that impact both personal and organizational integrity. In recognition of the overarching importance of sound ethical judgment in these fields, Georgetown MPS students start their program with a required core course in applied ethics. With its centuries-old Jesuit tradition, Georgetown is uniquely qualified to teach the application of ethical principles and decision making in the real world of sensitive information, conflicting agendas, organizational objectives, corporate financial demands, and a host of other pressures faced by communications professionals. Students are shown how to elevate their standards, integrate them into their professional and personal lives, and then hold themselves accountable.

The Capstone Course
The culmination of the program is the capstone course, where students synthesize their accumulated learning to produce a significant project tied to the industry. The capstone is a work experience with a substantial academic component and offers students an opportunity to apply their new skills in a supportive learning environment.