Boost your people skills with a bachelor's degree in public relations

Nearly 300,000 professionals in the United States work in the public relations (PR) field. If you're interested in joining this exclusive club of trained marketing and public image managers, you're not alone. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an overall job growth of 24 percent in PR during the 2008-2018 decade. The 66,000 new openings will be competitive, and recruiters will favor job candidates that have completed a 4-year public relations degree. The online bachelor's degree in public relations offers the greatest opportunity among the programs to combine expert career training with your busy schedule.

Put your public relations degree to work

Public relations specialists create and maintain positive images with the media for corporations, non-profits and governmental agencies. You'll need a strong background in print, broadcast, and web communications, along with powerful communications skills and an aptitude to promote what's best about your employer. With a degree in public relations, you may be able to seek and accept positions with:

• Financial firms
• Retailers
• Technology companies
• Political agencies and elections campaigns
• Public interest groups

The BLS reports that opportunities should be best for college graduates who complete a bachelor's degree in public relations, journalism or another communications-related field and have held public relations internships or other pertinent experience.

Public relations degree: coursework, financial aid and potential earnings

Online bachelor's degree in public relations programs provide training in creating press releases, managing press conferences, conducting facility tours, arranging interviews, producing company brochures and communications, and courses in ethics, crisis management and audience development.

Like other online bachelor's degree programs, your PR program is delivered through flexible, 24/7 access. You'll benefit from streaming lectures, email and discussion threads, online research libraries, and chat rooms. Internships with public relations firms, businesses, or governmental agencies help you integrate your learning with practical experience that builds professional contacts and your resume.

Federal student aid in scholarships, grants and loans are available to qualified students at most online schools. With several years of professional experience along with your bachelor's degree in public relations, you can qualify for membership in the Public Relations Society of America, The International Association of Business Communicators, and other organizations that can add up in increased earnings.

In 2009, the BLS reports that the median annual wage for public relations specialists was $51,960, or $24.98 an hour. Specialists at the upper end of the earnings ladder took home $96,630 for the year. Industries that paid the most for public relations specialists in 2009 include:

• Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing: $120,420
• Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: $89,430
• Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers: $87,700
• Oil and Gas Extraction: $86,640

Top-paying states in the public relations sector were the District of Columbia, New York, Virginia, California, and Idaho, with the Washington D.C. metropolitan area paying a mean annual salary of $91,690 in 2009, according to the BLS. If you're still mulling over your writing or broadcasting career options, visit our section featuring Online Communication Arts Bachelor Degree Programs.

By completing your public relations degree, you may join the ranks of other highly trained professionals who love their careers.

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