Program: Public Relations - Strategic Social Media Concentration, (B.A.) - University of Memphis

Apr 03, 2025

UofM 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations, concentration in Strategic Social Media, equips students with the practical skills and critical knowledge that they need to use social media to deepen impact in any industry, including strategy development, digital analytics, paid and organic social campaigns, and audience research. Strategic Social Media concentration graduates typically work as social media managers, entrepreneurs, or as public relations professionals in government, corporate, nonprofit or agency settings.

University General Education Program (41 hours)

See University General Education Program for the General Education requirements.

College and Degree (B.A.) Requirements (6-9 hours)

The College and Bachelor of Arts requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements that are listed above.

Journalism and Strategic Media Core (18 hours)

JRSM 1700 - Intro to Media ** Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 1750 - Precision Language ** Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 2121 - Media Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 4700 - Media Law ** Credit Hours: (3)

Core Elective

Select one of the following (3 hours):
JRSM 4702 - Media, Diversity & Society ** Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 4704 - Issues in Sport and Media Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 4708 - Media Ethics Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 4716 - Media History Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 4720 - Presidents and the Press Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 4910 - Social Media and Society** Credit Hours: (3)

Internship or Practicum

Select one of the following (3 hours):
JRSM 4930 - Media Internship ** Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 4940 - Student Media Practicum Credit Hours: (1-3)

Public Relations Major Core (12 hours):

JRSM 3905 - Graphics for Strategic Media Credit Hours: (3)
JOUR 3526 - Multimedia Storytelling Credit Hours: (3)
PBRL 3400 - Intro to Public Relations Credit Hours: (3)
PBRL 3421 - Public Relations Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)

Strategic Social Media Concentration (18 hours)

ADVR 3324 - Creative Strategy Credit Hours: (3)
ADVR 3330 - Analytics & Evaluation Credit Hours: (3)
PBRL 3441 - Writing for Social Media Credit Hours: (3)
PBRL 4450 - Social Media Tactics/Analytics Credit Hours: (3)
ADVR/CRMM/JOUR/JRSM/PBRL Electives Credit Hours: (6)

Business courses (9 hours)

Required Fogelman College of Business & Economics courses:

MKTG 3010 - Principles of Marketing ** Credit Hours: (3)
MKTG 3340 - Principles of Social Media Marketing ** Credit Hours: (3)
MKTG 4630 - Social Media Strategies and Analytics Credit Hours: (3)

Electives

Completion of courses to bring the total to 120 semester hours.

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement

Typical 4-Year Public Relations – Strategic Social Media Concentration Sequence

Freshman Year

First Semester:
ENGL 1010 - English Composition** Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 1700 - Intro to Media ** Credit Hours: (3) **
JRSM 1750 - Precision Language ** Credit Hours: (3)
Foreign Language/B.A. Credit Hours: (3)
Social/Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours: (3) *
Second Semester:
ENGL 1020 - English Comp/Analysis** Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 2121 - Media Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 3905 - Graphics for Strategic Media Credit Hours: (3)
Foreign Language/B.A. Credit Hours: (3)
Humanities/Fine Arts Credit Hours: (3) *

Semester Totals 30 hrs

Sophomore Year

First Semester:
ENGL 2201 - Literary Heritage ** Credit Hours: (3) or ENGL 2202 - Lit Heritage: African-American **
PBRL 3400 - Intro to Public Relations Credit Hours: (3)
Non-JRSM elective (Minor) Credit Hours: (3)
Foreign Language/B.A. Credit Hours: (3)
History Credit Hours: (3) *
Second Semester:
PBRL 3421 - Public Relations Writing ** Credit Hours: (3)
Natural Science* Credit Hours: (4)
Foreign Language/BA Credit Hours: (3)
Math* Credit Hours: (3)
MKTG 3010 - Principles of Marketing ** Credit Hours: (3)

Semester Totals 31 hrs

Junior Year

First Semester:
JOUR 3526 - Multimedia Storytelling Credit Hours: (3)
PBRL 3441 - Writing for Social Media Credit Hours: (3)
MKTG 3340 - Principles of Social Media Marketing ** Credit Hours: (3)
Fine Arts* Credit Hours: (3)
Natural Science Credit Hours: (4) *
Second Semester:
ADVR/JOUR/JRSM/PBRL Elective Credit Hours: (3)
COMM 2381 - Oral Communication ** Credit Hours: (3)
History Credit Hours: (3)*
Non-JRSM Elective (Minor) Credit Hours: (3)
Non-JRSM Elective (Minor) Credit Hours: (3)

Semester Totals 31 hrs

Senior Year

First Semester:
ADVR 3324 - Creative Strategy Credit Hours: (3)
ADVR 3330 - Analytics & Evaluation Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 4700 - Media Law ** Credit Hours: (3)
MKTG 4630 - Social Media Strategies and Analytics Credit Hours: (3)
ADVR/JOUR/JRSM/PBRL Elective Credit Hours: (3)
Second Semester:
PBRL 4450 - Social Media Tactics/Analytics Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM Values Elective (JRSM 4702/4704/4708/4716/4720/4910) Credit Hours: (3)
JRSM 4930 - Media Internship ** Credit Hours: (3)
or
JRSM 4940 - Student Media Practicum Credit Hours: (1-3)
Non-JOUR Elective (Minor) Credit Hours: (3)

Semester Totals 28 hours

Total Hours: 120

Internship elective highly recommended last semester to enhance employability and complete minimum of 120 hours for degree.

Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement

**JRSM 1700 fulfills Social Science General Education Requirement

***Unless Fine Arts was taken in General Education humanities/Fine Arts, take Non-JOUR Elective (Minor)