About the Program

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 cumulative GPA of 3.00 (solid "B") is required of all students for good standing and to be eligible for graduation.  
 
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.

Curriculum

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

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

Students are not enrolled in a specific track but rather use the tracks to guide their individual path based on professional interests.  Many reach beyond their chosen area of study into another track in order to create a well-rounded, multidisciplinary curriculum that meets their needs and goals.  For example, students should enroll in a core course to strengthen their strategic thinking skills, a writing course to develop a strong foundation in public relations writing, and a digital course to become competitive in the current industry. 

Required courses for every student MPS student (not for APC students)

MPPR-500: Conversations about Ethics (Recommend in the first or second semester)

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.

MPPR-950: Capstone (Final 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. 

Beyond the ethics and capstone courses students select eight courses from the following tracks.

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

MPPR-886: Corporate Influences on Cause Communications

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

MPPR-886: Corporate Influences on Cause Communications

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-886: Corporate Influences on Cause Communications

MPPR-890: Brand and Creative Strategy

MPPR-836: Leadership in Communication

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-886: Corporate Influences on Cause Communications

MPPR-900: Cause Consulting: Strategic Communications Planning

MPPR-910: Cause Consulting II: Implementing Communications Plans