Feb 22, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

Communication, B.A. Public Relations and Strategic Communication Concentration/Public Communication, M.A. Public Affairs/Political Communication Track Accelerated Master’s Program


Advisement for the major is available from the Communication  Department

CURRICULUM GUIDE PENDING - WILL BE POSTED SOON (Suggested 4-Year Plan of Study)

This concentration prepares students for careers in public relations and professional communication.

  • Complete COMM core courses.

  • Declare and complete a concentration.

  • Choose only from the courses in the concentration to satisfy concentration requirements.

  • Complete a minimum of 10 COMM courses.

  • Complete 4 COMM courses at 300/400 level.

  • Complete all COMM courses with a C or better.

  • Any COMM course may be taken as an elective to satisfy the 120 total credit hours to graduate.

  • Course prerequisites must be followed.

  • Demonstrate 102-level proficiency in a foreign language.

  • COMM 399 may not be used to satisfy both a major core requirement and a concentration elective requirement.

  • Transfer students majoring in communication must complete a minimum of 4 courses in communication courses at Salisbury University with minimum grades of C.

Learn more about the Public Communication, M.A./Communication B.A. Accelerated Master’s Programs  

Admission Requirements for Public Communication, M.A. 

Permission to be admitted into the accelerated program must be granted by both the undergraduate department chair and the graduate program director.

Admission to the M.A. in public communication through the Communication Department requires an application for graduate program admission; the application fee; official transcript from all colleges and universities attended; if applying for in-state tuition, a Residency/Domicile Information Form; and the following additional application documents and requirements specified by the Communication Department:

  • Undergraduate degree (preferably in communication or a related field) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to judge the applicant’s ability to do graduate work in communication and mass communication.
  • Resume or CV to be attached to the online application
  • Personal statement detailing the applicant’s goals and objectives (to be attached to the online application). The essay should outline the applicant’s reasons for pursuing this M.A. degree (typed and double spaced, 1-2 pages in length).

Applications for priority consideration should be sent by April 14. The final deadline for applications is June 1. If applying after June 1, contact the graduate director. Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Note: Application materials not included in the online application, such as transcripts and test scores should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research, 1101 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21801. For more application information, visit the Graduate Studies Office for details

Departmental Honors Program

Students may complete an honors project at the invitation of the department. Interested students should contact their advisors or the department chairperson.

Checklist

This checklist is an unofficial tool for planning. Matriculated students and advisors should consult the Academic Requirements Report in GullNet before and after registering for classes each semester to track academic progress.

University Undergraduate Major Policies


  • Refer to the program page for this major and the Courses  section of this catalog for approved prerequisites and General Education courses.
  • Program requirements may not equal 120 credit hours. Students must register for additional electives to complete 120 credits required for graduation.
  • All graduates must have a minimum of 30 credits of 300/400-level courses with C grade or above; at least 15 of those credits must be taken at SU.
  • Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for graduation.
  • Students must complete at least 30 credit hours by direct classroom instruction and/or laboratory experience.
  • Students must take 30 of the last 37 credit hours at SU.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to satisfy graduation requirements. Please refer to the program page of this catalog for detailed major requirements.
  • Students must apply online for graduation by November 15 for May and by May 15 for December.

Accelerated Master’s Requirements


PLEASE NOTE: After fulfilling the undergraduate program requirements, you must submit a graduate application for the corresponding graduate program. This step is necessary for your audit to accurately display the outstanding graduate-level requirements for the Accelerated Master’s Program.

  • Nine units of graduate work (with a grade of B or better) can be counted toward both the undergraduate degree and the master’s degree. 
  • Undergraduate students may declare the accelerated master’s option after completing between 60 and 89 credits.
  • Transfer students must have completed at least 12 of their major credits at SU. 
  • Students must have a minimum cumulative SU undergraduate GPA of 3.0 to be considered for admission into an accelerated master’s program. 
  • Students must maintain the required undergraduate GPA as well as a 3.00 GPA or better in master’s coursework.
  • Students must submit their graduate application when applying for undergraduate graduation.  
  • Students must successfully complete a total of 120 credits (undergraduate and graduate combined) in order to earn their bachelor’s degree.
  • The graduate grading basis will apply to all graduate-level courses whether taken when the student is an undergraduate or graduate student.
  • Grades earned in the approved graduate-level courses will impact the GPA in both the undergraduate and graduate careers.

General Education Requirements


See which courses fulfill specific General Education requirements: General Education Courses  

Please Note: Courses required for your major or minor may also satisfy the requirements listed below. These courses are indicated with a (+).

SU Signature Outcomes Requirements (3 Courses)


These courses may also meet additional General Education and/or major requirements.

Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following Areas (3 Courses):


Additional General Education Requirements (11 Courses)


These courses may also meet SU Signature Outcomes and/or major requirements.

* To be taken in the first 24 credit hours of courses

Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following (3 Courses):


Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following - Must Be From Different Content Areas (2 Courses):


Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following - Must Be From Different Content Areas (2 Courses):


Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following - Must Be From Different Content Areas (2 Courses):


Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following (2 Courses):


Communication, B.A. Public Relations and Strategic Communication Concentration Major Requirements


COMM Core Courses (3 Courses)


Concentration Requirements


Public Relations & Strategic Communication Concentration Core (4 Courses)


Public Relations & Strategic Communication Concentration Electives (4 Courses)


Students may choose only (3) 500-level course to fufill the elective requirement.

Analytical Electives

Applied Electives

Public Communication, M.A. Public Affairs/Political Communication Track Requirements


Three required courses (9 credits) from the following - COMM 509 COMM 514 COMM 530 COMM 542 COMM 545 COMM 547 COMM 548 COMM 550 COMM 565  - are fulfilled in the undergraduate career. 

Core Requirements


Complete 15 Hours From the Following:


Interdisciplinary Electives


Public Communication Electives


Media Electives


Complete 6 Hours From the Following:

Track Requirements


Complete 9 Hours From the Following: