The University of Florida’s online master’s with a concentration in Public Relations is the first and only online master’s program to earn the Certification in Education for Academic Programs in Public Relations (CEPR) designation  from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). To earn this designation, a thorough certification review process was conducted by two PRSA members, a full-time educator and an APR-credentialed practicing professional who examine the school’s curriculum, resources, facilities and university support of it’s program.

University of Florida Online Master’s in Public Relations

The online Master of Arts in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations includes 36 credit hours— 33 hours of coursework plus three final credits in the capstone course.

While the study and application of public relations is structured around the process of strategic communication, this rapidly growing field incorporates elements of copywriting, graphic design and business to design plans for brand awareness that will help any organization stand out. By crafting deliberate, planned and sustained public relations campaigns, you can build mutual goodwill with your audience while sharing the right information to meet your client’s goals.

At UF CJC Online, we will teach you how to study, cultivate and maintain different types of professional relationships to manage information. How information flows, how it’s accessed, how it’s written and how it’s presented can all mean the difference between a brand or campaign that meets with success or one that never gets off the ground.

The art and science of any strong public relations strategy is grounded in best business practices that are stakeholder-focused, an understanding of social media, the ability to create and manage content and the practice of implementing overall communication strategy. At UF CJC Online, we will teach you to approach public relations like a strategic conversation where you control the narrative to get the results your client needs.

Quick Facts

36 credit hours
100% online via recorded lectures & live office hours
Fall Semester starts in August
Spring Semester starts in January
Summer Semester starts in May

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester
Priority Deadline: April 1
Final Deadline: June 1
Spring Semester October 1
Summer Semester February 1

# 1

Public University

Wall Street Journal 2023

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Unique Learning Experience

UF CJC Online programs are designed for students who crave:

  • Courses that challenge them to grow as communicators through hands-on assignments where they receive detailed constructive feedback from peers and instructors
  • The flexibility of online courses where pre-recorded lectures and live online meetings allow students to engage with their courses from anywhere in the world
  • Networking opportunities with peers, alumni, instructors, and guest lecturers
  • Professional growth and advancement opportunities
  • Creative storytelling skills
  • A transformative student-centered learning experience
  • Personalized attention from highly engaged faculty
  • An affordable and respected graduate degree from a top-10 public university

A career in Public Relations can truly take you anywhere you want to go, in business, advocacy, government, higher education and virtually every career field you can name. Some well-known options for a career in this field are working in advertising and marketing, as an Account Executive, or as a Publicist, Spokesperson, or Public Information Officer for a business, agency or organization. 

The opportunities to work in this growing field are exciting and endless, as you can also work in the editorial, content creation and copywriting space, in event planning, market research, investor relations, fundraising or direct marketing. You will also be positioned to go into business for yourself as the head of your own firm.

Specific positions you may qualify for upon graduation include:

  • Crisis Management Agent
  • Communications Coordinator
  • Event Coordinator
  • Global Communications Manager
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Media Relations Manager
  • Public Relations Director

Tuition and Fees:
$585.75 per credit hour
Total Cost: $21,087
36 Credit Hours
100% Fully Online 

Application Deadlines: 
Fall Semester: April 1
Spring Semester: October 1
Summer Semester: February 1

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Public Relations Program Information

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