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Virtual Chat Highlights School of Communication Graduate Programs

Earn a Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising

Integrated marketing. Branding and identity design. Social media. Research. Managing creative people. This is the realm of the specialist in public relations and advertising.

Students in the 36-credit Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising will learn the latest theory and practices in creating messages that influence the public on behalf of corporations, government, education and non-profit organizations.

Learn from Faculty with Real-World Experience, Create a Professional Portfolio

Expert faculty who teach in the program include current and former advertising and public relations practitioners and managers, graphic designers and social media gurus, as well as experienced researchers and theorists.

Students will create real-world examples for their portfolio by working with Wood Street Communications - Point Park's integrated marketing communication initiative - serving nonprofits throughout the region.

Pictured is Tom Loftus from VisitPITTSBURGH. Photo | Hannah Johnston

Tom Loftus, chief marketing officer at VisitPITTSBURGH, presented "How Being Crazy Creative Can Make Your Campaign a Winner" to Point Park students.

Course Offerings

Students in the M.A. in public relations and advertising program will thrive in a supportive environment of challenging courses, experienced faculty and small class sizes. Our evening classes to accomodate busy students include:

  • Writing for Public Relations
  • Social Media
  • Social Media Crisis & Strategic Communications
  • Advertising/PR Research
  • Principles of PR/Advertising
  • Integrated Marketing
  • Communication Theory
  • Communication Law & Regulation
  • Media Ethics & Responsibilities
  • Applied Mass Communication Research Methods

M.A. Program Structure

Students may choose to select electives from a wide range of courses or pursue one of two specific tracks.

Professional Track

Students who choose the public relations and advertising professional track undertake independent study under the guidance of one or more faculty mentors. Students may select directed readings, directed research, or they may choose to develop a project that demonstrates their skills in public relations and advertising.

Thesis Track

The public relations and advertising thesis track option provides the opportunity for students to take additional courses to prepare for admission to a Ph.D. program.

Faculty bring industry experience to the classroom

School of Communication faculty members are proven professionals with connections to top media and communication organizations.

Meet the faculty
Pictured is Camille Downing.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Camille Downing, M.A.
  • President of Downing Communications, a communications consultancy that specializes in non-profit public relations and marketing
  • Is a board member for PRSA Pittsburgh, serving as its student liaison, and a board member and leader for IABC at the local, regional and international level
  • Associate professor, part-time, for 16 years at Point Park teaching public relations, social media crisis communications, nonprofit public relations, PR writing and integrated marketing communications courses
  • Adviser, PRSSA
Pictured is Jenna Lo Castro. Photo | Nick Koehler
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Jenna Lo Castro, Ph.D.
  • Professional experience in advertising, newspaper and magazine industries
  • Teaches public relations, advertising and integrated marketing communication classes
  • Adviser, Ad Fed

News & Features

School of Communication Announces New Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 “The M.A. in PR and advertising at Point Park has a very strong emphasis on hands-on learning,” said Camille Downing, M.A., lecturer. “We bring in real-world clients for many of our projects and we connect our students with a strong network of professionals in the field to guide them through their studies and prepare them for the next stage of their career.”
Miles Ritenour '10
Monday, February 24, 2020 Internships, professors provide path to career success for alumnus Miles Ritenour, director of marketing communications, Bud Light – Anheuser-Busch.
From Point Park University to Havas PR: Alumni Work for One of the World's Largest Communications Groups
Thursday, May 24, 2018 Alumni Stacey Simon and Kariann Mano discuss their careers at Havas PR Pittsburgh and how their Point Park University experience prepared them for their roles.