UC Blue Ash College

Communication : Public Relations

AA

Why study Communication : Public Relations?

The Public Relations track of UCBA’s Communication program offers opportunities for team-based projects, internships, and active learning experiences. Students are trained to think critically, create strategic audience-centered messages, and develop their oral and written communication skills. Students learn about issues of voice, identity, public participation, and advocacy/leadership across communication domains including interpersonal, organizational, political, rhetorical, environmental, health, and mediated communication. This program equips students with the foundational skills and knowledge to move on to and successfully complete a 4-year degree in Public Relations or Communication. 

Admission Requirements

Open Admissions: The program is open to all students with a high school diploma from an accredited high school or GED and the desire to succeed in college. Although admission is open, students accepted into the program must meet the academic standards of the program to graduate and to advance to upper levels of study. High school students who are considering UC Blue Ash College should take either the SAT or ACT test for guidance and counseling.

Successful Public Relations students are aware of their communication environment and adapt their communication to create strategic audience-centered messages. Public Relations students will hone their oral and written communication skills and apply them across a variety of communication domains including interpersonal, organizational, political, rhetorical, environmental, health and mediated communication. Public Relations is a good major for students who are interested in working with people and groups in a variety of capacities, e.g., writing press releases, planning events, acting as a spokesperson, designing media campaign, creating graphics.

This program track is designed for students who plan to transition to a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. Graduates with a BA in Public Relations are prepared for careers in community relations, corporate communication, employee/member relations, government relations, integrated marketing communication, strategic communication, and other PR-allied fields.

For advising contact information, please visit the college's advising webpage.

Obtaining the associate degree in communication from UC Blue Ash College allows a student to meet the general education requirements and some of the Public Relations and Communication requirements for the Public Relations bachelor's degree offered by UC's College of Arts and Sciences in a friendly, teaching-oriented atmosphere with small class sizes and individual attention.

In addition to fulfilling program course requirements, including general education, students must have at least an overall 2.0 cumulative grade point average and meet the residency requirement of 20 semester hours completed at UC.

Students must complete an application for degree, usually the term before they expect to graduate. Students should see their advisor for specific information well in advance of their final term.

UC Blue Ash College has an open admission policy (although some programs within the college are selective admissions.) Students admitted to the college must show proof of high school graduation or successful completion of the General Education Development (GED) exam. Submission of standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) is recommended but not required. Transfer students must also supply official transcripts from each previously attended institution. Credits are accepted from any institution currently accredited by any of the six regional accrediting agencies.

Credits transferred from another institution may not fulfill specific requirements for the degree.  An official evaluation of transfer credit from other colleges will be processed after the student’s file is complete.

For current UC students who wish to transfer from one UC program to another:   

  • Fill out an Application for Change in College and Program
  • Submit the completed form to the college which offers the program into which you want to transition.

To transition to the bachelors degree in communication through the UC College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), students must meet the guidelines established by A&S. Students can find this information online or by contacting the A&S Department of Communication.

International students wishing to apply to UCBA can find information here.

Application Deadlines

UC Blue Ash College admits students each term, so students can begin fall, spring, and summer semesters. Please consult the UC Blue Ash Admissions page for specific application deadlines for each term.

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

Dr. Amber Peplow
9555 Plainfield Road
Cincinnati, OH 45236
(513) 936-1749
amber.peplow@uc.edu

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Program Code: 28ASC-COMM-AA-COMM-PR