Undergraduate Public Relations and Advertising

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With our stories and messages carrying greater influence than ever before, you will develop the expert writing, production, and strategic-planning skills needed to advocate on behalf of a person, brand or organization.

Today, we not only have the capability, but the imperative, to make our voices heard. At USC Annenberg, you will learn how to craft comprehensive public relations campaigns grounded in innovative multi-platform content and audience insight mining. Our position in the media capital of Los Angeles provides the perfect setting for you to analyze campaign outcomes, to conduct original industry research and to apply the theories you learn in the classroom as you prepare for career opportunities that can span business, marketing, advertising, entertainment, technology, healthcare, advocacy, and beyond.

By the numbers

public relations and advertising courses We offer 39 undergraduate courses that allow you to create a personalized program of study in public relations and advertising.

We offer 39 undergraduate courses that allow you to create a personalized program of study in public relations and advertising.

public relations facultyOur undergraduate public relations and advertising faculty bring their expertise from working in the field to lessons in class.

Our undergraduate public relations and advertising faculty bring their expertise from working in the field to lessons in class.

270

students 270 of our undergraduate students are pursuing an academic major in public relations and advertising.

270 of our undergraduate students are pursuing an academic major in public relations and advertising.

100% %

of our Class of 2023 employed within 12 months of graduationOur recent graduates have gone on to distinguished careers with employers such as Apple, Golin, Weber Shandwick, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Microsoft.

Our recent graduates have gone on to distinguished careers with employers such as Apple, Golin, Weber Shandwick, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Microsoft.

Student, alumni and faculty work

Melanie Cherry (left), associate director of the Public Relations and Advertising (BA) program, accepts award

Best of the best

USC Annenberg Public Relations named top program in U.S. by PRWeek.

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Exploring endless possibilities

As a USC Annenberg Ambassador, public relations major Joyce Gao helps Trojans learn what it’s like to study, learn and play at USC.

Jonathan D’Aguilar stands in front of the Media Wall smiling.

Crafting multimedia campaigns for music, health policy, and more

Progressive degree student Jonathan D’Aguilar creates a diverse portfolio of work, including his own music brand and a health policy campaign for the USC Schaeffer Center.

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A new playbook on influencer relations

Professor Rob Kozinets’ Influencers and Creators: Business Culture and Practices serves as the primary textbook for his PR 426: Influencer Relations course.

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An insider’s view

Explore potential career paths in communications, PR and media through immersive Maymester programs in cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

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Linking selfless service with PR studies

With over 500K followers across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, Julia Ma hopes to further her reach through studying PR.

Build your audience insight and content creation skills

Our state-of-the-art Media Center and Digital Lounge allow you to gain hands-on experience while acquiring the advanced multimedia and analytical skills necessary to tell stories while measuring impact across platforms. Through the center’s Digital Media Analytics Desk, you can learn to monitor the social stream as well as how to collect and analyze data for real-time events, brand communication and advertising campaigns. The Digital Lounge offers a creative makerspace where you can develop your technology and content creation skills, including Adobe Certification.

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