In addition, both tracks will require a core of business courses designed to provide graduates with a basic understanding of the practice of public relations in the business management environment. The Master of Public Relations is an interdisciplinary program of 34.5 credit hours that will be housed in the Indiana University School of Journalism at IUPUI. This track is designed to prepare public relations professionals for positions in the rapidly growing fields of health care and life sciences - especially in Central Indiana.
While this curriculum includes a core of public relations and business courses, it also requires unique coursework focused on communication in the health care and life sciences fields. All students will be required to complete a core of public relations courses (12 credit hours) in the College of Journalism and the College of Liberal Arts Communication Studies (3 credit hours). The Master of Public Relations is a 34.5-hour interdisciplinary program that will be held within the IUPUI School of Journalism.
This major is designed to prepare public relations professionals for positions in the rapidly growing fields of healthcare and life sciences. Public Relations Management: The main purpose of this course is to provide you with a fundamental knowledge of organizational structures. J5xx Public Relations Elective (3 credit hours) (choose from 8 electives) Cxx Communication Studies Elective (3 credit hours) (elective from 8 electives).
Sample Curriculum: Public Relations Management in Health Care and Life Sciences (This scenario is based on a two-year traditional program.).
Describe form of recognition (type of certificate or degree and why, suggested CIP code, language to appear on diploma)
Dittmer, M.A., APR, currently an instructor and public relations program coordinator at the Indiana University School of Journalism in Indianapolis. These faculty will also be supported by graduate faculty from the Kelley School of Business and the Department of Communication Studies in the School of Liberal Arts for courses within their responsibility and scope. Catherine Dobris, Ph.D., associate professor, currently Graduate Program Director, Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis.
John Parrish-Sprowl, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis. Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis. Sandra Petronio, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis Dr.
Linda Bell, PhD, Professor, Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis. Kim White-Mills, Associate Professor, currently Chair, Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis. Elizabeth Goering, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis.
Ronal Sandwina, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis. Gail Whitchurch, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University and Purdue University Indianapolis. Jane Mallor, Ph.D., Eveleigh Professor of Business Administration Franklin Acito, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing Thomas Hustad, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing.
Steven Kreft, Ph.D., Clinical Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy Elham Mafi-Kreft, Ph.D., Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy John Maxwell, Ph.D., Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy Heejoon Kang, Ph.D., professor of business economics and public policy. Frona Powell, Ph.D., associate professor of business law. Lawrence Davidson, Ph.D., Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy Andreas Hauskrecht, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy. Ultimately, we will add one additional faculty position with expertise in public relations in the healthcare and/or health products/life sciences industries.
Describe other program strengths
No new faculty positions will be required to support this degree program for the first two years. No additional support is expected to be required to support this new program.
Program Rationale
Student Demand (Table 1: Enrollment and Completion Data)
There is a strong need for this program in the profession, and existing students have expressed strong initial demand for additional graduate-level graduate work. However, this program resides on the Muncie campus and has never been strongly supported by students. With an estimated 1,500 public relations professionals working in central Indiana, based on membership data from the Public Relations Society of America, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Association of Government Communicators, there is a significant opportunity to attract high-quality students who want to prepare for control and management positions.
In addition, the development of a specialized study curriculum in health and biological sciences will attract students from all over the country as we move to a distributed learning model.
Transferability
This trend appears to be continuing through the economic development efforts of the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. Johnson, 10 percent of Indiana's jobs are already in health care and life sciences, and 20 percent of the tax base is in those industries (Indianapolis Star, January 2, 2007). BioCrossroads reported (annual report) that Indiana is "a $13.6 billion global life sciences center and the state's primary engine of economic growth and job creation."
The "Critical Mass" report from the 2005 Indiana Health Industry Forum, indicates that there are 274,000 jobs in Indiana directly linked to the health and life sciences industry - nearly 10 percent of all jobs in the state. Indeed, the pharmaceutical industry already has a shortage of qualified public relations professionals, as reported in Medical Marketing & Media magazine in September 2004. Faced with an increasingly challenging communications environment, pharmaceutical companies are struggling to staff their PR departments amid of a shortage of experienced communicators with industry expertise.” That's according to Lisa Ryan, senior vice president and managing director of Hayman Associates, an executive search firm specializing in the communications business.
The focus of efforts in the curriculum and administration of the program will advance the level of knowledge, skills and abilities of our graduates to qualify them for both existing and new jobs in this sector.
Regional, state and national factors
In Ohio, Franklin University, a private institution in Columbus, Ohio, offers a graduate degree in Public Relations. There are no national or regional accreditation or professional licensing requirements for the practice of public relations. However, the Public Relations Society of America has recently created a set of guidelines for graduate education in public relations.
Significantly, the Commission recommended that “…graduate education in public relations should be an academic field of study. In addition, all major curriculum areas recommended by the Commission are represented in the proposed curriculum for this degree program.
Program Implementation and Evaluation/Assessment Implementation
With further development of the e-portfolio system, the school will be able to include this tool in its evaluation scheme. In addition, an expert public relations advisory committee will review the program twice a year for overall market effectiveness and curriculum detail. Finally, surveys will be issued to each graduate one, three, and five years after graduation to continue evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
What were the initial expectations for the thesis (target group, expected enrollment numbers, identified survival threshold, stakeholders, etc.). Faculty: What is the proportion of faculties in the specialty with terminal degrees, certification, years of experience in the specialty, scientific contributions. If the program is to be maintained or expanded, what are the potential faculty resources to recruit and retain.
Adaptability to Technology: To what extent has the specialty used technology to enhance learning and equip students with the technological skills necessary to function in today's practice environment. Equipment, resources (including software, library resources) and facilities: Are the physical resources and facilities required for the delivery of the specialty up to date and adequate. What is the performance of the faculty in the specialty – in terms of teaching effectiveness, research/scholarship related to the specialty, recognition of public service.
Whether the size, scope, and productivity of the program are sufficient for effective program implementation. Enrollments – what internal grants are appropriate for the program based on the number of enrolled students attracted to the major. What additional investment in new resources for the specialty would be necessary to maintain or increase the quality of the specialty.
What is the relationship (fit) between the mission of the school and the mission of this specialty.
Tabular Information: (attached) 1. Enrollment and Completion Data
