The Top Public Relations MBA
Online Programs

In today’s world, information can reach the public in a matter of minutes through Internet sites and new social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Businesses and other organizations regularly look to these platforms to increase exposure to audiences and convey information at a low cost. However, because organizations lack direct control over these communication outlets, they must also make sure to respond to rumors, both true and false, in order to protect their reputations. Students that graduate with an online Master of Business Administration in Public Relations are uniquely suited to help organizations manage their brands, respond to public information and communicate with their audiences using these new technologies.

The best online MBA in public relations schools offer students the opportunity to pursue a curriculum that combines business and public relations studies. In programs with top online public relations MBA rankings, students will build their confidence in public speaking, learn best practices for interpersonal and mass communication and gain a strong foundation in core business topics.  After graduating from a public relations MBA online program, students will be ready for management positions in public relations, advertising, marketing and communication.

How can I tell if an online MBA public relations degree is right for me?

Accredited online Master of Business Administration in Public Relations programs are perfect for students that are interested in social media, communication, brand management and marketing.

Many online MBA public relations students also have the following characteristics:

• A flair for communicating with persons outside organization
• A propensity for selling or influencing others
• A skill for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• An ability for getting information
• A capability for thinking creatively

How long does it take to earn an MBA online public relations degree?

Earning a public relations MBA degree online is comparable to earning any other similar degree. To earn this degree it on average requires 2 years of full-time study. However, part-time or accelerated programs are offered by some colleges to allow students to earn the program in a more convenient manner.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA public relations schools online?

Prior to gaining admission in online MBA public relations programs, business schools generally require students to have an undergraduate degree. An undergraduate degree in areas including communications, business administration, business, and professional writing may be preferred by some schools that have an MBA public relations online program.

In addition to requiring students to have a bachelor’s degree, many online MBA in public relations programs base admission on the following criteria:

• Personal interviews
• Essays
• Academic transcripts
• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)

What courses will I take in public relations MBA programs online?

Students usually spend the first year of their online MBA public relations programs taking courses that cover a wide range of business topics in order to give them a strong foundation in business operations. The first year of courses in the best online MBA programs typically consist of managerial accounting, marketing, business law, finance and management.

The second part of a public relations MBA online program directs student focus to communication courses.  For example, the curriculum offered by some online public relations MBA schools includes courses in public relations, public speaking, organizational communication, mass media strategy and communication skills.

Often students enrolled in online public relations MBA programs do an internship during the course of their studies. These internships can prove very beneficial. Through them, students get a chance to put their learning into practical use. They also often make good business contacts.

What are the best online MBA in public relations books I should consider reading?

For students wanting to pursue public relations MBA careers, some on point books are:

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie) – Required reading in many MBA public relations online programs, this book describes effective methods to express ideas, lead others and spur enthusiasm in people.

2. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (Malcolm Gladwell) – Using historical examples, this book explains how trends reach the so-called tipping point, that moment when an idea starts to quickly spread powered by its own momentum.

3. Thank You for Smoking: A Novel (Christopher Buckley) – This satirical look at the public relations profession depicts Nick Naylor, a spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies, spinning research about the dangers of smoking as an unfair attack on the innocent tobacco industry.

4. Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime (John Heilemann & Mark Halperin) – Two reporters offer revelations about the 2008 U.S. presidential elections, providing an interesting look at the power of public relations in a political setting.

5. Can We Do That?! Outrageous PR Stunts that Work—And Why Your Company Needs Them (Peter Shankman) –This entertaining book describes a variety of actual public relations stunts used by businesses in the past to achieve quick publicity and analyzes why some were successful and others failed to gain traction.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue public relations MBA jobs?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the public relations industry accounts for 320,000 jobs. MBA online public relations graduates can choose from many public relations positions as well as several related career paths. The following are a few occupational options including the average public relations MBA salary for each:

• Public Relations Manager – $57,550
• Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Managers- $108,260
• Corporate Relations Specialist – $66,000
• Social Media Manager – $62,000

The BLS predicts very high employment growth of 21% over the next decade for graduates of public relations MBA schools online. As organizations of all kinds struggle to manage public opinion and the flow of information, public relations experts are increasingly needed to communicate with target audiences effectively, helping to minimize problems and maximize opportunities.

Many employers prefer graduates who have earned their degrees from a program that has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB accredited public relations MBA programs are thought to provide students with a quality education.