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Abstract
Public relations is well known for its adaptability through continual change, and as a result, public relations master’s programs have been re-conceptualized to remain rigorous and competitive. To further assess both the state and changes of these programs, 20 in-depth interviews were conducted with administrators of public relations master’s programs. Findings highlighted that although many programs have evolved their curricula to meet industry demands toward a more interdisciplinary identity, there are still programs that still model recommendations from the Commission on Public Relations Education (CPRE). These findings could be used to better ground the discipline by ensuring a stronger cohesiveness within public relations master’s education.
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Author Biographies
Rowena L. Briones, PhD, is an assistant professor of public relations at the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Hongmei Shen, PhD, APR, is associate professor in the School of Journalism and Media Studies and area coordinator of the public relations program.
Candace Parrish is a doctoral candidate in the interdisciplinary Media, Art, and Text program at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Elizabeth L. Toth, PhD, is a professor of public relations in the Department of Communication of the University of Maryland, College Park.
Maria Russell is professor of public relations at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University.
