BA (Hons) in Public Relations and Media

Code

SE409

Location

Carlow

Campus

Kilkenny Road

Level Level 8
Duration 4 Years
CAO Points 244
Credits 240
International Applicants View details
Fees View details

What is the Course about?

This course provides graduates with the knowledge and skills to step into an exciting communications career.Public Relations (PR) helps maintain lines of communications between an organisation and its publics. The BA (Hons) Public Relations and Media shows students how to work as thoughtful professionals, using personal skills and media technologies to influence and persuade audiences and publics. Media' is a collective term for the platforms used to send messages to mass audiences. Media is recognised as a powerful messenger in all our lives that tells us what and how to think about local and global events. We need and use media to help us communicate who we are to the world.

Course Structure

The course runs over a four-year period and contains a mix of practical and theoretical media and PR subjects.

Is this course for you?

Do you have the following skills and interests?

Great interpersonal skills
An ability to write and tell stories
An interest in media and business - celebrities, politics, investigations, crises, local and global events
A hands-on approach to creating content - photography, video editing, media writing, digital design, podcasting and journalism
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Experience working with social media - Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter etc.

Special Features:

Industry level skills to work in media or public relations
Modern television and radio studios
Highly qualified and experienced lecturers and staff
Excellent employment opportunities in media, public relations and creative industries

Year 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
Professional Writing and Research in the Digital Age (M)	Theories and Best Ethical Practice in Public Relations (M)
An Introduction and History of Public Relations (M)	Introduction to Media Studies 2 (M)
Introduction to Media Studies 1 (M)	Management (M)
Introduction to Digital Marketing (M)	Social Media Marketing (M)
Information Technology (M)	Social Psychology (M)

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

Year 2

Semester 3	Semester 4
Public Relations Research and Evaluation (M)	Creative Radio and Storytelling (M)
Creative Video (M)	Specialist Areas in Public Relations (M)
Fundamentals of Media and PR Law 1 (M)	Fundamentals of Media and PR Law 2 (M)
Visual Language and Communications (M)	IT and New Media (M)
Fundamentals of Marketing (M)	Contemporary Marketing Practice (M)

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

Year 3

Semester 5	Semester 6
Networking in Public Relations (M)	Work Placement (E)
New Media Ethics (M)	Corporate Social Responsibility (E)
Journalism (M)	Strategic Service and CX Excellence (E)
Contemporary Communication Design (M)	PR and Media Internship Project (E)
Content Writing (M)	Study Semester Abroad (E)
	New Product Innovation (E)

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

Year 4

Semester 7	Semester 8
Podcasting and Multi-Screen Production (M)	Lead Portfolio (M)
PR Campaign Project (M)	Dissertation (M)
Contemporary Irish Literature (M)	Media & Society (M)
Digital Marketing (M)	Ireland on Screen (M)
Event Management (M)	Digital Marketing Planning (M)

M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject

What are the minimum entry requirements?

2H5 & 4O6/H7

What follow-on study opportunities are available?

Graduates of the Public Relations and Media Level 8 degree course have the option to progress to postgraduate studies at masters level within SETU Carlow or elsewhere.

What exemptions will I receive?

Notes

What will I be able to do when I finish the course?

Given the growing influence of the media and PR industries, the job opportunities in the sector are many and varied. Graduates are working in traditional media such as radio and TV; others are working as executives in media marketing careers and at advanced levels in the public relations departments of blue chip' companies and organisations.

Graduates are particularly skilled at corporate communications tasks such as web content development, crafting press releases, creating video and audio artefacts, and the management of internal and external communications.