Credential in Public Relations

The Department of Communication offers a credential in public relations based out of the Stamford Campus, though online courses in Winter and Summer make the credential available to all UConn students. Students in this credential program are prepared for a career in public relations. The program emphasizes:

  • Utilizing public relations theory and applied research to inform decision-making
  • Writing press releases, social media content, and other strategic messaging
  • Crafting media relations strategies and pitching media
  • Creating campaigns that combine several strategies and tactics
  • Making strategic decisions balancing the interests of multiple publics
  • Working as an ethical professional

Courses
In order to complete the credential, students must complete at least 4 of the following courses, though aspiring  professionals are encouraged to take as many as possible:

  • COMM 2010Q Applied Research Methods
  • COMM 2100 Professional Communication
  • COMM 3530 Public Relations
  • COMM 4510 Comm. Campaigns & Applied Research
  • COMM 4530w Public Relations Writing
  • COMM 4540 Crisis Communication
  • COMM 4981 Internship (must be public relations focused)

Instructors
Faculty that most frequently teach public relations courses have experience in public relations scholarship and/or practice. They include:

 

Tyler G. Page, Assistant Professor – Tyler is a former practitioner turned academic. He was the
first PR person at survey-giant Qualtrics. He went on to become a corporate vice president before
returning to the University of Maryland to get his Ph.D. His research emphasizes crisis
communication, the nature of public relations, and public relations history.

Courses: 2010Q, 2100, 3530, 4510

 

 

Cen "April" Yue, Assistant Professor – April's research interests focus on internal public relations, leadership communication, organizational change management, corporate social responsibility, and relationship management. April also serves as the research lead for the Organizational Communication Research Center at the Institute for Public Relations.

Courses: 2000Q, 3530, 4510

Chris Licata, Adjunct Professor – Chris is a senior PR professional currently working in professional services, but with a deep background in local Connecticut and national politics as well as for a mid-size national public relations firm. He specializes in strategic and crisis communications, as well as tech and business transformation PR.

Courses: 4540

Jake Black, Adjunct Professor –Jake Black has been a professional writer for more than 20 years. His credits include works for DC Comics, Marvel, WWE, TMNT, Supergirl, and many more. He is currently a writer-producer for the Star Trek franchise on Paramount+. He is a fourteen-year cancer survivor. He shares his life with his wife, son, and twin daughters. 

Courses: 4530W

 

 

Carolyn A. Lin, Professor – Carolyn’s research and teaching interests focus on strategic, risk and science communication in the contexts of marketing, public health, climate change, public opinion, intercultural competence, and human-computer interaction. 

Courses: 3530, 4510

Contact Us
For more information, you can contact Dr. Tyler Page at tyler.page@uconn.edu