Undergraduate Public Relations and Advertising

Photo of three people talking in an Annenberg classroom

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 <a href="/faculty#field_faculty_status=active&field_academics=public-relations-ba&field_faculty_type=full-time">faculty</a> 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.

99% %

of our Class of 2021 employed within 12 months of graduationOur recent graduates have gone on to distinguished careers with employers such as BBDO, Disney, Weber Shandwick, Warner Media and CBS.

Our recent graduates have gone on to distinguished careers with employers such as BBDO, Disney, Weber Shandwick, Warner Media and CBS.

Student, alumni and faculty work

Giving a voice to people who use wheelchairs

Born with cerebral palsy, Reo Sorensen has made it his purpose to speak out on behalf of his peers in the disability community.

Young woman smiling and sitting on park slide

Linking selfless service with PR studies

For Benti Kaur, public relations is a key tool in helping her volunteer and make a positive impact in her community.

Charting the #PRFuture

ZaZu Lippert ’22 takes you behind the scenes of a podcast series hosted by Fred Cook, director of the Center for Public Relations.

Making connections through storytelling

When Martina Ibrichimova did her college research, she saw that USC Annenberg’s innovation and focus on social media analytics and digital production was beyond her expectations.

Reaching for the stars with Blue Origin internship

PR major Ian Solano experienced the July 2021 launch of Blue Origin’s New Shepard from inside Blue Origin headquarters during his time as the company’s first communications intern.

Bridging the gap in disability representation

USC Annenberg public relations major Natalie Fung recognized that her unique perspective can prompt important conversations, humanizing the statistics in an increasingly data-driven world.

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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