A new West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism major will provide students the professional skills needed in today’s integrated communications industry.

Set to launch in Fall 2013, new students interested in advertising and public relations will enroll in the School’s new Strategic Communications major. The program will teach students how to develop and produce persuasive messages and integrated communications campaigns that employ both public relations and advertising tactics.

Developed in response to the changing industry, the new major will provide students with a breadth of knowledge in strategic communications practices and prepare them to work across media platforms. In addition to learning these broader skills, students in the new major will select an area of emphasis – advertising or public relations – and be able to specialize in particular areas of interest, such as social media strategy, advertising design, event planning, or publicity and promotion.

“We developed the Strategic Communications major to reflect changes in the communications industry and to prepare students with the professional skills and the ability to think strategically across media platforms,” said School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed. “Students in the program will learn how to work in an integrated communications environment while specializing in their area of interest.”

Throughout the new integrated program, students will build skills in writing, research, graphic design, direct marketing, media planning, and campaign development and management. The program will allow students to plan and produce integrated communications campaigns for actual clients to gain the real-world experience that helps students get jobs when they graduate. The Strategic Communications major will provide graduates with marketable skills they can apply to a variety of careers in healthcare, sports, politics, entertainment and more.

The new program will replace the former Advertising and Public Relations majors at the School of Journalism and only apply to students entering the School in Fall 2013. For more information about the new major, visit the School of Journalism website.

-WVU-

kw/04/17/13

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CONTACT: Kimberly Walker, School of Journalism
304-293-5726