Master's Degree in Public Relations

Our master’s degree in public relations prepares you for either the professional media environment, career advancement or a path toward doctoral study. Our program has a longstanding reputation for producing exceptional Public Relations leaders and scholars. We do not require the GRE to qualify for admission to the master’s in PR program, which gives a clear on-ramp to mid-career professionals.

Our curriculum is built for new and experienced professionals from all fields, especially those seeking to diversify their communication and business experiences. The skills you will gain are the same highly sought-after skills employers area looking for in job candidates: social media analytics, entrepreneurship, evaluation techniques, reputation management and more. The public relations master’s program is also great for students interested in careers as public affairs or media relations managers, business leaders, communication or event coordinators, media or market research analysts, public relations directors or professors.

Our award-winning faculty are agile and adaptive, embracing a fast-changing media landscape that pushes innovation and entrepreneurial learning. In addition to the individual attention you receive from faculty, you also get focused, one-on-one advising sessions each semester to ensure you're hitting your goals. curriculum incorporates empathy and self-awareness to help you recognize bias and stay grounded in ethics throughout your career. It prepares you to be a critical thinker and collaborator, a leader with digital proficiency, and an agile communications professional.

The PRMA program at Ball State was critical in teaching me the research and critical thinking skills I used in my daily life as an integrated communications professional in the largest PR agencies and corporations in the world. Ball State’s PR program is highly regarded in the industry, and has opened countless doors for me throughout my career.

—Matt Kelly, Senior Vice President, Chicago Market Digital Lead at BCW Global
Master’s in Public Relations, 2010 

Program Contacts

• YoungAh Lee, Program Director and Associate Professor of Journalism
• Jeremy Johnson, Student Success Specialist

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Take the Next Step

If you’d like to learn more about our Master's in Public Relations, complete our online form or contact us for more information. And if you’re ready to apply, review our admission requirements and complete our online application.

Spotlights

• Ball State Public Relations team wins 3rd place in the national Arthur W. Page Society 2020 Case Study Competition
• Should You Do a Woke Campaign or Not?
• PR Degree is a Boost to Kearns’ Freelance Business
• Director of PR Grad Program Finds Relationship Built with Students Most Rewarding
• Though Many Miles from Campus, Student Senses Professors’ Attention

Graduate Assistantships

Need help paying for your graduate work in public relations? Our school is committed to providing practical, hands-on opportunities through graduate assistantships.

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