Build Brands, Shape Messages and Reach Audiences

At Emmanuel, the advertising & public relations minor gives you the strategic, creative and analytical skills to communicate with audiences and build effective campaigns. You'll explore how advertising and public relations work across today's media landscape while learning to research audiences, develop messages and put communication strategies into action.

Through coursework in advertising, public relations, media and research, you'll build practical skills in writing, message creation and digital communication. You can shape the minor around your interests with courses in areas such as multimedia storytelling, social media, graphic design, consumer behavior and digital marketing, preparing you for entry-level opportunities in advertising, public relations and related strategic communication fields.

 

Areas of Interest
English, Writing & Communication

The Curriculum

View the 2025-2026 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for a minor in Advertising & Public Relations 

Required Courses (1-4):

  1. COMM1502 Media and Society 
  2. COMM2523 Advertising & Culture (pre-req COMM1502) 
  3. COMM2521 Public Relations & Persuasion (pre-req COMM1502) 

Choose one Methods Course (4):

  • COMM2515 Research Methods (pre-req COMM1502)
  • MKTG3110 Marketing Research (pre-reqs MATH1118, MGMT1101 & MKTG2200) 

Choose two the following electives (5-6) (at least one must be at the 3000-level):

  • ART1407 Visual Languate Design & Communications
  • ART3402 Interactive Design (pre-req ART1407) 
  • ART3432 Package & Publication Design (pre-req ART1407) 
  • COMM2510 Professional Communication 
  • COMM3501 Multimedia Storytelling (pre-req COMM1502 or ENGL1205) 
  • COMM3708 Digital Culture & Social Media (pre-req COMM1502) 
  • MKTG2200 Principles of Marketing (pre-req MGMT1101) 
  • MKTG2500 Consumer Behavior (pre-req MGMT1101) 
  • MKTG3322 Digital Marketing (pre-reqs MGMT1101 & MKTG2200) 
  • MKTG3501 Advertising and Promotion (pre-reqs MGMT1101 & MKTG2200) 
  • MKTG3522 Social Media Marketing (pre-reqs MGMT1101, MKTG2200 & MKTG3322) 

The minor in advertising and public relations will provide students with an applied focus in strategic communication in the school of humanities and social sciences that will complement their major, including, but not limited to marketing, business, communication, writing, editing & publishing, graphic design, and political science, etc. 

The program aims to provide students with foundational knowledge of socially conscious strategic communication theory, an understanding of research in the field(s), and practical skills (writing, message creation, using relevant digital tools) in both advertising and public relations. Students will be prepared for entry-level roles in advertising, public relations and related fields in strategic communications. 

What can I do with a minor in advertising & public relations?

A minor in advertising & public relations can prepare you to communicate with audiences, develop compelling messages and help organizations build and manage their brands. It's also a versatile complement to majors in communication, marketing, business, writing, graphic design, political science and other fields where strategic communication skills are valuable. 

Career paths in advertising, public relations and strategic communication include:

  • Public Relations Specialist: Develop communications that build awareness, strengthen an organization's reputation and engage key audiences across media channels.
  • Advertising Account Coordinator: Help manage advertising campaigns by coordinating projects, communicating with clients and working with creative and strategy teams.
  • Social Media Specialist: Create and manage social content, engage online communities and use audience insights to help shape an organization's social media strategy.
  • Communications Specialist: Develop written and digital content for organizations across channels, from websites and email to media materials and internal communications.
  • Digital Marketing Specialist: Support digital campaigns across channels such as social media, email, websites and digital advertising, using audience and performance data to improve results.
  • Media Relations Coordinator: Help organizations communicate with journalists and news outlets by developing story ideas, preparing media materials and coordinating interview and publicity opportunities.
  • Content Strategist: Plan and develop content that connects an organization's goals with the needs and interests of its audiences.

Emmanuel's advertising & public relations minor combines communication theory with practical skills in research, writing, message creation and digital tools. Electives in areas such as multimedia storytelling, social media, design, consumer behavior and digital marketing allow you to develop skills that align with your interests and career goals.