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Which San Francisco Schools Have Public Relations Programs?

Learn about public relations programs in San Francisco, CA. See program options, degree requirements and classes, and get career outlook info for the region. Schools offering Public Relations degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Career Info for Public Relations (PR) Professionals near San Francisco, CA

An employer will generally require a PR specialist or a PR manager to hold at least a bachelor's degree. These professionals are typically tasked with helping companies effectively communicate with consumers and the media. Workers are also tasked with developing a corporation's image, writing executive speeches, assisting with fundraiser events and evaluating promotion programs.

If you intend on working in a management position, you may need to earn a few years of experience in lower level positions first. Director positions may require candidates to have up to 10 years of PR experience. If you're a PR manager and interested in demonstrating your abilities, you can enter in a certification program offered by the Public Relations Society of America. The International Association of Business Communicators also offers a professional credential.

Career Outlook and Salary Info for PR Professionals near San Francisco, CA

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), PR specialists and managers were expected to see a faster-than-average job growth of about 21% nationwide between 2010 and 2020 (www.bls.gov). As of May 2011, the BLS estimated that PR specialists in the San Francisco area earned a mean annual salary of about $81,000. In that same year, PR managers in the San Francisco area were estimated by the BLS to have earned a mean annual salary of about $130,000. Both of these figures were about $20,000 higher than the mean annual salaries for these positions at the national level in May 2011, according to the BLS.

PR Bachelor's Degree Programs near San Francisco, CA

California State University-East Bay

  • Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
  • Specialized Areas: Advertising and Public Relations
  • Program Length: 4 years, full-time
  • Tuition: $23,772 per year for CA residents; $34,932 per year for non-residents (cost for 2011-2012; includes all estimated student expenses, including room, board, books and supplies)
  • School Type: 4-year, public; about 10,000 undergraduate and 2,600 graduate students
  • Address: 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94542
  • Phone: (510) 885-3000

California State University-East Bay is located across the San Francisco Bay from San Francisco, CA. The business administration portion of this program can include courses covering microeconomics, macroeconomics, organizational behavior, marketing, ethics, business law and international business. The adverting and PR option offers courses pertaining to advertising management, product services, promotions, database marketing, media planning, consumer behavior and market research.

Patten University

  • Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management
  • Specialized Areas: Public relations
  • Program Length: 4 years, full-time
  • Tuition: $24,718 per year (cost for 2011-2012; includes all estimated student expenses, including room, board, books and supplies)
  • School Type: 4-year, private; about 1,100 undergraduate and 50 graduate students
  • Address: 2433 Coolidge Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601
  • Phone: (877) 472-8836

The main function of this program is to train you for leadership with an organization or business. In addition to general education courses, you may be trained in accounting techniques, mentoring, conflict management, project management, strategic planning and various types of finance. This program may also cover additional topics in mass communications, business communications, resource management, international business and economics.

University of San Francisco

  • Program Name: Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
  • Specialized Areas: Public relations
  • Program Length: 4 years, full-time
  • Tuition: $54,774 per year (cost for 2011-2012; includes all estimated student expenses, including room, board, books and supplies)
  • Requirements: Personal essay
  • School Type: 4-year, private; about 5,800 undergraduate and 3,700 graduate students
  • Address: 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
  • Phone: (415) 422-5555

The communication studies bachelor's degree program offered at the University of San Francisco may provide training in intercultural communications, social interaction, social change, qualitative methods and quantitative methods. The PR specialization offers additional courses in everyday communications, advertising ethics and law, public relations campaigns and research methods. Before you graduate, you have the option to earn hands-on experience through an internship.

PR Master's Degree Program near San Francisco, CA

Golden Gate University-San Francisco

  • Program Name: Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Specialized Areas: Public relations
  • Program Length: 2 years, full-time
  • Tuition: $14,580 per year (cost for 2011-2012; fees included)
  • Prerequisites: Bachelor's degree in related field
  • Requirements: Personal statement is optional; GRE scores may be required upon request
  • School Type: 4-year, private; about 420 undergraduate and 3,400 graduate students
  • Address: 536 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-2968
  • Phone: (415) 442-7800

Golden Gate University-San Francisco can be found in the heart of downtown San Francisco, CA. The main portion of this program aims to train you in marketing strategies, sales management, price efficiency, adapting to consumer behavior, teamwork and sales promotions. The PR concentration provides training in media writing, media relations, consumer affairs, project design, project execution and government relations.

To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:

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