Courses
Public Relations - Corporate Communications-2025/2026
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| COMP-6041 | Design Principles in Digital Media 1 | 3 | ||
| This course is a blend of lecture and computer lab time. Students will learn the basics of designing on an Apple iMac computer using the Adobe Creative Cloud software (InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop). Assignments will be based off of skills learned in the lecture portion of the lab time and will be submitted to the instructor for evaluation." | ||||
| COMP-6048 | Digital Marketing & Web Design | 3 | ||
| Students will learn basic web page design principles as well as methods of using the web to market and communicate to target audiences. Students will design and publish web pages, using HTML and content management programs. This course prepares the students for a wide range of communication applications of new web technologies. | ||||
| CORP-6006 | Trends & Technologies in PR | 3 | ||
| Various PR trends and technologies are studied in this course, with an emphasis on social media planning and analytics from an organizational perspective. Individual and team research projects will result in an understanding of target demographics and how to engage them online. | ||||
| CORP-6009 | Professional Presentation Skills | 3 | ||
| Presentation skills are essential soft skills that are used every day whether speaking one-on-one, to a group of five people, or 500. Effective and professional presentation skills can make individuals stand apart based on comfort level, delivery style and how messages are tailored for an audience. Topics in this course include dealing with presentation anxiety, creating informative and persuasive presentations, using appropriate body language and gestures and understanding cross-cultural communication. The course also covers effective facilitation skills and how to facilitate meetings and small group activities. | ||||
| PBRL-6014 | Professional Practice & Ethics | 3 | ||
| This course is designed to help students prepare for their field placements and eventual employment by examining professional workplace conduct, practices, and ethics. Participants will examine the importance of professional practices as required in workplace situations, and will also consider the need for ethical standards in business, public relations and the media. Students will be encouraged to develop high standards of personal and professional ethics and practice. The course explores current workplace standards of behaviour and examines ethical challenges drawn from current events in the corporate, political and non-profit sectors. Issues related to team work, conflict resolution, leadership, and cross-cultural communication will also be explored. | ||||
| PBRL-6016 | Strategic Public Relations | 3 | ||
| This course lays the foundation for studies in public relations. A brief history of PR will be covered before looking at publics, PR planning and research, organizing special events, along with other facets of PR. A case study method combined with assignments and guest lectures will be used. | ||||
| COMM-6038 | Visual Communication & Design | 3 | ||
| This course will teach students the basic elements for various elements of visual communication that PR and communication professionals may incorporate into a campaign including photography, and video interactive websites. | ||||
| Level 1 Add'l Reqmt | ||||
| Take the following Mandatory Course (Minimum Grade of C): | ||||
| PBRL-6003 | Writing for Public Relations | 3 | ||
| This course introduces students to various writing situations encountered by professionals working in public relations. Participants will review the basics of writing, editing, interviewing, and summarizing. Special emphasis is placed on reviewing and refining basic syntax skills. Participants will produce a number of written assignments using industry standard style and format. | ||||
| Level 2 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| COMP-6043 | Design Principles in Digital Media 2 | 3 | ||
| This course has been designed to advance working skills of InDesign learned in the first semester. It will expand design talent and increase personal productivity with this powerful electronic pre-print & digital media tool. Working with text and colour in detail, setting defaults, working with the program utilities and time saving tips will all be covered. Students will have a firm understanding of typesetting terminology and be capable of preparing materials for professional printing tasks on a number of projects. | ||||
| PBRL-6017 | Integrated Marketing & Communications | 3 | ||
| This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to gain an understanding about the fundamentals of integrated marketing communications. Upon completion of this course, students should be knowledgeable about key practices used within the marketing communications industry and their various benefits. Topics covered in this course include integrated marketing communication (IMC), branding, advertising, event marketing and sponsorship, celebrity endorsements, product placement, public relations, on-line and interactive communications and personal selling. Additionally, the course will explore ethical issues and social perspectives of marketing such as gender in advertising/media, and celebrities as role models. Classes will include a combination of lecture, discussion and experiential learning, such as case studies. | ||||
| PBRL-6013 | Specializations in PR | 3 | ||
| Students will build on the content of PBRL-6011 and discuss areas of specialty in public relations. Topics of study include internal communications, employee communications, communication audits, public affairs and community relations. Creation of communication and public relations plans will give students application of public relations and re-inforce the framework of public relations learned in PBRL 6011 Strategic Public Relations. | ||||
| PBRL-6018 | Media Relations & Crisis Communications | 3 | ||
| Effective media relations are an essential skill for any public relations professional. This course looks at key elements of media relations from media relations planning and how to develop and foster positive working relationships with media, to dealing with media during good news events or in crisis situations. | ||||
| FLDP-6010 | Field Placement | 7 | ||
| This self-directed course is the culmination of the program, enabling students to pull together many of the skills learned as they participate in a field placement. Students will present their findings, experiences and work projects to the class in written and visual formats. A learning contract, reports and reflective writing pieces will be created by the students as the semester unfolds. Students will also prepare a professional portfolio that demonstrates their work over the two-semester program. | ||||
| Level 2 Add'l Reqmt | ||||
| Take the following Mandatory Course (Minimum Grade of C): | ||||
| PBRL-6019 | Writing for Public Relations 2 | 3 | ||
| Effective writing skills are essential in any career but especially in a communications or PR related position. Building on the Writing for Public Relations course in first semester, students gain more experience writing for various audiences and creating practical, written communications. This course will provide an opportunity for students to add to their professional portfolio and further enhance their writing skills. | ||||
| Program Residency | ||||
| Students Must Complete a Minimum of 12 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the Program Residency requirement and graduate from this program. | ||||