Public Relations

A public relations practitioner can be a lot of different things to a lot of different people. They can be feeding media members new developments on a news story from a Fortune 500 company. They can be planning launch parties, press conferences and trade show exhibits. They can be managing the reputation for an A-list movie star. And they can be doing much, much more.

If you love working with people, as well as working with words, then PR might be the right fit for you. And there’s no better place to hone your craft than the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San José State University.
SJSU is home to the only accredited public relations degree program in Northern
California, and is recognized by one of the premier PR programs in the nation. The program was founded in 1949, making it one of the oldest PR programs in the country.

The full-time faculty members have earned doctorates and have considerable experience in the field. The campus is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, and our alumni make up some of the top PR executives in companies and firms in the surrounding area.

Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on writing and communication skills, as well as principles of public relations, case studies, new media technologies, strategic campaign planning, and a broad knowledge of the liberal arts and humanities. The result is an educational experience that stresses practical knowledge, which prepares our graduates step into a PR agency right after school.

Student organizations affiliated with the public relations program on campus include the Public Relations Student Society of America and Dwight, Bentel & Hall Communications. PRSSA is a nationally recognized student organization founded by its parent organization (PRSA) to cultivate a favorable and mutually advantageous relationship between students and professional public relations practitioners. Dwight, Bentel & Hall Communications is a student-run advertising and public relations agency on campus that represents local organizations, participates in national competitions and plans events for the school and local community. Students who are accepted to participate in DB&H Communications are able to apply knowledge gained in the classroom on real clients and real projects, gaining invaluable experience while still in school.