I’m pretty sure I should Major in Marketing with an emphasis in Public Relations. I’m a highschool junior that is about to go for my AA at a local community college through dual enrollment. What are some pre-requisites I should be taking?
Ok..good answers so far but I really need help with what I should being doing for my AA because Im going to transfer to a state university when im done with it!!!
I don’t know how to find out what pre requisistes i need in order to transfer.
December 11th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Psychology would also be a good option if you are interested in PR. You could double-major (Marketing & Psychology) or get a minor in Psych.
You will also want to take communications courses.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:07 am
You may major in Public Relations or Communications. My sister majored in PR… she’s doing great.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
As far as your AA goes…find the colleges that you are interested in transfering to, then look at the specific program you are going in to and their degree requirements.
Generally, the AA is all the general education that each and every single degree requires you to fulfill. Once you see what classes are required for your degree in the 100 and 200 level, then you can see how many of them you can fulfill at the community college you are going to attend first.
It is likely that you will find few classes above the gen ed ones offered at the CC which would directly apply to the core classes of your major, but some times you get lucky.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
You should probably major in one of the following:
Public Relations
Basics
You’re always into what’s new and now, you’ve got a knack for organization and a flair for writing, and people always listen to what you have to say. If you’re all that, with a soft spot for glitz and glamour, welcome to the fast-paced, results-driven, done-yesterday world of PR.
According to Kent State University, public relations is “the strategic management of communication and relationships between organizations and their key publics.” In other words, public relations specialists control how organizations and their products or services are perceived by the public—and in turn, what image their paying clients (the organizations) portray. As a public relations major, you’ll learn about all the written, verbal, and visual elements that go into effective public relations. You’ll be prepped on how to write a press release and how to handle media attention on your client’s behalf. Your studies may also include forays into publishing newsletters, designing effective promotional ads, newswriting, broadcast media, and videography. Once you have a grasp on these basics, you’ll learn how to use them effectively to drive sales for your client and earn favor in the public eye. Knowing when to communicate what is essential in public relations. You’ll learn how to develop your information and messages, and how to make sure that information is portrayed in the best possible way to your targeted audience. The best PR pros will also know a little about event planning, product launches, public speaking, and damage control.
Public relations is in many ways an interdisciplinary major, and you’ll study elements from many other fields, including psychology, philosophy, languages, business, art, and many others. You’ll learn how to analyze public opinion and various research studies in order to determine what the public relations needs are for a certain organization. Problem solving and strategic planning abilities go a long way in the field, so hone them now. Oh, and there are ethical issues too, when it comes to “influencing” public opinion—you’ll want to maintain ethical business practices for the sake of your PR firm and your firm’s loyal clients.
Many programs require students to participate in an internship, which is a great way to see the world of PR from the inside, and some programs require students to choose a concentration, often in the business field. Be sure to research exactly what’s required as you determine what program is best for you.
Marketing
Basics
Between us, Marketing is the art and the science of getting people to buy stuff. More formally, it is the study of how to determine consumer needs and translate those needs into products and services and selling them locally, nationally, and globally. Either way, Marketing is a practical, career-oriented, and solidly pre-professional major that requires analytical skills, logic and creativity.
If you decide to major in Marketing, you’ll learn about the distribution of goods and services, consumer behavior, pricing policies, channels of retail and wholesale distribution, advertising, sales, research, and management. Other topics you are likely to encounter include market segmentation and targeting, effective customer service, new product development, and logistics.
Upon graduation, most Marketing majors usually find jobs in consulting, market research, and advertising. If you want to work in the Marketing department, though, you should expect to start in sales where you can really get to know a company’s products and its customers. In fact, starting in sales is frequently the best (and sometimes the only) way to ultimately get one of those coveted (not to mention high-paying, low stress) jobs in the Marketing department.
Mass Communication
Basics
We are bombarded with images and messages every day of our lives, from billboards towering over the highway, to television commercials, newspaper ads, leaflets, brochures, and radio advertising. These messages shape our culture and define our perceptions, influencing the way we think and look at almost everything from a candy bar to geopolitics.
Mass Communication majors investigate the role mass media has played, and continues to play, in American culture. They are analysts and historians, examining everything from 19th Century Harper’s political cartoons to the newest McDonald’s commercial. Given the enormous effect of the media on our daily lives, Mass Communication majors seek out how and why they reflect our social values. They also describe how public policy draws boundaries for Mass Communication, like the near-prohibition of ****** on broadcast television.
Mass Communication majors are sometimes also located within a broader communication major that more generally examines the ways in which information is created and distributed, whether through a television commercial or a personal e-mail.
Advertising
Basics
What with the gazillions of television channels, radio stations, Internet sites, and periodicals out there, there’s certainly no lack of media in the world. And, as everybody knows, the driving force behind nearly all media is ads. If you major in Advertising, you’ll become something of an expert in advertising principles, copywriting and layout, media campaigns, and media economics. You’ll also hone your writing, presentation, and problem-solving skills.
You’ll become a pretty good psychologist, too. You’ll learn how and why people make decisions and how to influence those decisions. Behind all the glitz and the cool slogans, Advertising is really about understanding what motivates people to buy a product, or use a service, or support a cause.
Advertising is an overwhelmingly project-oriented major. You’ll spend enormous chunks of time looking at ads, talking about them, and criticizing them. (By the way, and this stands to reason, if you don’t like to talk about ads already, you probably shouldn’t make them your life.) However, you’ll mostly learn about Advertising by doing Advertising. You’ll develop concepts and portfolios. You’ll swamp yourself in market research (maybe even for real firms). You’ll create sales presentations and come up with irresistible jingles designed to motivate your target audience. Most importantly, you’ll have internships. They are utterly indispensable. When recruiters come to campus, or employers are eyeballing you for that Big First Job, they’ll be a lot more interested in you if you have a few internships under your belt.
After graduation, most Advertising majors go to work for traditional Advertising agencies, media conglomerates, or marketing firms.
Business Communications
Basics
The successful conduct of business demands effective communication, and you can hone your skills and gain valuable new knowledge with a major in Business Communications. What’s the best way to communicate on the Internet? How do you effectively incorporate visual aids into a presentation? Answering these questions and many more will be part of your studies in Business Communications.
Speaking skills are of primary importance to a successful career in business. You’ll learn how to interview, make presentations, deliver a ceremonial speech, or explain a policy analysis. You’ll get practice in nonverbal communication, like visual aids, to underscore your points. You’ll analyze audiences in order to compose an appropriate speech for them. You’ll examine numerical data, such as survey results, and translate that data into helpful information. You’ll learn how to communicate policy changes to your employees and discover the best ways to use the Internet for the dissemination of information. You’ll learn how to communicate in a crisis and how to develop and maintain good public relations
You can apply most of what you learn in your Business Communications major to dealings with your own employees, co-workers, or the public. A major in Business Communications could greatly extend your career success.
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You should find out what classes you’ll be taking at your community college to get your A.A. and the best way to do that is to call your community college and talk with a counselor there. They will be able to put you on the right track since they will know what courses you’ll be able to take with your dual enrollment. Also just as an FYI, there are usually no pre-req’s for freshmen level classes. Your community college should be able to supply you with a list of courses you need to complete, both core and major related, in order to get your A.A.