Breaking into Public Relations with an MBA Degree
By Karen Lawson
MBA-business-schools Columnist
You’ve attended meetings too numerous to count, spent long hours developing, producing, and presenting projects, and you want more. You’ve seen press secretaries, media representatives, and others who never waver under pressure. You want to join them, but how do you get the edge in the competitive world of media relations? An MBA degree can help you achieve your goals.
Your MBA Degree Provides Strong Business Background
Public relations positions are much in demand, and you’ll need an extra edge to land your dream job. The job market for public relations and media specialists is projected to grow faster than average through 2014, but it is a very competitive field. Increased demand for corporate accountability is causing corporations to focus on public relations. Large organizations count on their media relations people to project a strong image of good corporate citizenship to their stockholders and the public.
Multi-Faceted MBA Degree Coursework
An MBA degree, especially when combined with your business experience, provides a wide range of knowledge and background. Not only must public relations representatives be able to communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing, but they must also understand the mission, inner workings, and policies of the organizations they represent. Your MBA program may include:
- Theory and Practice of Public Relations
- Courses in journalism, writing and public speaking
- Design, Administration and Interpretation of Public Surveys
- Organizational Management and Psychology
- Computer Graphics, Desktop Publishing
Launching a Media Relations Career with an MBA Degree
In addition to the coursework above, you may study psychology, social sciences, and cultural diversity for a media relations career. Fluency in a foreign language can be an asset in large urban areas. If you are dynamic, creative, and have strong analytical and problem solving skills, an MBA degree can help you enter or advance in the exciting field of corporate media relations. If you don’t have time for a traditional course of study, many schools offer MBA degrees through online programs. Get started today, and you can soon earn your fifteen minutes of fame.
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About the Author
Karen Lawson spent more than twenty years in corporate America before becoming a freelance writer. She earned and MA degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.
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