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.
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
