Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations

at University of Findlay USA

Public relations professionals manage an organization’s most valuable assets - reputation and relationships.

With a degree in public relations from the University of Findlay you will be prepared work in corporations, PR agencies, nonprofit organizations or the government. Many are drawn to this field because there are many career opportunities and a variety of work. The constant evolution of technology and methods used to communicate keeps careers in this field exciting as well.

If you are interested in working in areas such as the media, community relations, marketing, event planning, management or health communication, a degree in public relations is right for you. Through our program, you will be equipped with a number of skills that employers are looking for such as:

• Speaking, writing and listening skills
• Computer literacy
• Interpersonal skills
• Teamwork
• Cultural sensitivity
• Analytical skills
• Adaptability
• Leadership skills
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving skills

Maybe you're interested in running social media for a company or creating marketing content for a nonprofit organization. We're here to help you figure out the best career path for you. Throughout coursework, job shadowing, visiting speakers and internships you will explore a variety of areas to learn what interests you.

Marketing is more than advertising and promotional items, it is about understanding, developing and promoting a brand.

Finding ways to make products and services shine in the spotlight can be exciting and challenging. Marketers work to increase brand engagement, sales and return on investments for the organizations that employ them. Learning to look at things from the customers’ points of view is extremely valuable for any business person in any organization. Regardless of what a company sells, whether it's a product or a service and no matter how big the business is, marketing is a vital business function.

Program Highlights

• Pairs well with other subjects - Our program is flexible and pairs well with a number of other subjects, allowing students to individualize their degree to best fit their career goals. Students pursuing the Marketing Emphasis have the opportunity to complement their degree with a minor or double-major in other areas of business which include finance, accounting, management, international business, graphic design, English, or communication.
• Valuable Internships - Internships are encouraged throughout the program in order to gain practical experience and professional networking.
• Work on real projects for real clients - With a strong focus on experiential learning, you will have opportunities to build up your resume by working on real projects for real clients.
• Develop valuable marketing skills - Develop a meaningful customer focus and strong business, communication, leadership, technology/software and digital marketing skills that will prepare you to pursue a successful career in any industry. Specifically, you will gain valuable skills in areas such as personal selling, sales force management, advertising and promotion, product design, marketing research, and customer service.

The criminal justice program at the University of Findlay will put you on the path to a successful and productive career. Graduates with a degree in criminal justice are prepared to pursue a number of careers in areas including, but not limited to:

• Fraud
• Juvenile justice
• Homeland security
• Corrections
• Law enforcement
• Legal Profession
• Probation
• Private Sector
• Governmental agencies

Many believe that a criminal justice bachelor's degree is about becoming a police officer, but there is a vast array of subfields that require the knowledge, skills and judgment that this program prepares you for.

Are you interested in focusing on fraud investigation and white collar crimes? Click here to learn about our criminal justice white-collar crime and fraud investigation major!
Criminal justice majors benefit from dedicated and caring faculty whose primary focus is on meeting your personal needs and career aspirations beyond obtaining your criminal justice degree through interactive instruction and personalized one-on-one advising.

With a comprehensive interdisciplinary curriculum design, you will be prepared for successful careers in many diverse areas of criminal justice including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice.

Strong collaborative ties with other academic departments such as Forensic science, Law & Liberal Arts, Political Science and Public Administration allowing you to pursue double majors or minors to complement your criminal justice education.

The Master of Occupational Therapy Weekend Program is a three-year program that consists of two and a half years of coursework and six months of full-time fieldwork. A new cohort begins each summer in June. The weekend program is intended for the adult learner who has completed a bachelor's degree. It is preferred, but not necessary, that a candidate has healthcare experience.

Animal science/science allows you to work with animals in a research and laboratory setting. Students learn the science behind industry practice and work in careers relating to research and testing. Animal science/science may be the path for you if your interests are:

• Structured research
• In-depth science based
• Graduate school preparation
• Conceptual vision  

Findlay's children's book illustration major provides a curriculum focused on skills specific to the field of illustration such as drawing, painting, printmaking, design and typography while also integrating coursework in children's literature.  Students work closely with art faculty and the Mazza Museum staff to gain knowledge of the publishing industry and develop their skills in sequential storytelling.

Program Highlights

• Students in the children's book illustration major enjoy access to the Mazza Museum, the most diverse collection of original artwork by children's book illustrators in the world. Students attend annual Mazza conferences, interact with nationally recognized award-winning illustrators, complete internships with the museum, and volunteer with monthly educational events.
• The Dudley and Mary Marks Lea Gallery provides opportunities for art management students to participate in the organization, preparation, and installation of shows. The Lea Gallery presents eight to ten exhibitions throughout the year, including works by students, faculty, and regional and national artists.  Students engage with exhibiting artists through gallery talks, classroom demonstrations, and public presentations.
• Children's book illustration majors have the opportunity to visit nationally-recognized museums and galleries through study trips abroad, annual art program trips to New York City and Chicago, and class trips to museums such as the Toledo Museum of Art and the Detroit Institute of Art.

The Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing (MARW) Program is a two-year (36 credit hour) face-to-face program that can be completed sooner if you choose to enroll in summer classes. Our program offers students the flexibility to take classes full or part-time and applications to our program are accepted year-round. So, you can enroll and begin taking classes in the fall, spring, or summer.

The courses that you will take to complete 36 hours include eight core classes, two elective classes, and two thesis capstone classes that culminate in the successful defense of either a traditional print or a webtext thesis project.

The program is more affordable than most state-schools at $535 per credit hour. The total cost of tuition for MARW program is $19,260. Graduate assistantship funding is available for teaching, research, and administrative duties and all MARW students who applied for positions received them.

All MARW students applying before May 1 each year are eligible for assistantship funding to teach College Writing I or II, Introduction to Technical Writing, Introduction to Speech, or Introduction to Digital Media. MARW students can also apply to tutor students in the Graduate Writing Center.

All of our MARW teaching and tutoring assistants are fully trained at a summer teaching orientation as well as weekly meetings with faculty mentors.

The Human Resource (HR) Management Emphasis at the University of Findlay provides students with the skills and experience needed to become successful in a variety of industries. You will learn how to design and implement effective HR management systems that handle employee selection, promotions, compensation, and benefits throughout the operation of any enterprise. HR management students learn additional aspects that are crucial to being effective in the human resources field such as the "stakeholder concept" which enables you to make informed decisions that are moral and ethical and relate to the corporate atmosphere.

Program Highlights

• Develop a critical and analytical thought process - Findlay prepares students for the challenges of the business world. By specializing in human resource management, you will work on practical, relevant projects that will not only help you better understand the challenges faced by those working in the area of human resources, but also help you prepare for success in your own job search and career development.
• Pairs well with other subjects - Our program is flexible and pairs well with a number of other subjects, allowing students to individualize their degree to best fit their career goals. Students pursuing the Human Research Management Emphasis have the opportunity to complement their degree with a minor or double-major in other areas of business which include finance, marketing, accounting, business management, and international business.
• Valuable Internships - Internships are encouraged throughout the program in order to gain practical experience and professional networking.
• Stay on track with faculty advisers - Each student is assigned a faculty adviser to help plan his or her curriculum, provide academic counseling and assist in career preparation.
• Interact with HR professionals- Through our community partners and faculty connections, you have opportunities to participate in human resource management activities with professionals at the local, state and national levels. This allows you to gain experience, additional skills and knowledge beyond the traditional classroom.

An emphasis in computer systems prepares students for careers as network administrators or software engineers.  Graduates will be able to provide expertise in the design, monitoring, and maintenance of organizational networks.

To complete a Computer Science degree with a Computer Systems Emphasis you must complete six computer systems emphasis courses in addition to the computer science core courses.

The political science major at the University of Findlay will expose you to the many areas of study within the political science realm. This major offers you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the major subfields of the discipline.

Political science graduates follow a variety of career paths. For some, our political science major is a stepping stone for law or graduate school. Majoring in political science sets the stage for careers in areas such as:

• Foreign affairs
• National security agencies
• Policy analysis
• City management
• Political positions
• Government careers

The major objective of the program is to provide you with exposure to the many areas of study within the political science realm so that you are prepared to make knowledgeable decisions regarding future career and academic choices. You may also choose to minor in either political science or public administration.

Our program introduces you to the subjects of:     

• American politics
• Comparative politics
• International relations
• Political theory
• Public administration

You will have the opportunity to gain further specialization in one of the areas listed above through advanced course work and directed study with a political science instructor. Also, with one-on-one advising and dedicated faculty, you will receive consistent mentorship and guidance to help you reach your career goals.

Our program has an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to prepare students for successful careers in many diverse areas of political science including business, law, risk management, real estate and civil rights. Many students also choose to develop an individualized program by double-majoring with a complimenting area of study such as business, criminal justice and pre-law. Political science is also offered as a minor.