Distance Learning PR Communications Degree Programs

Public relations (PR) professionals utilize communication techniques to present a positive identity with the community and target audience. Most PR studies are offered as a concentration through communication programs. Students interested in distance learning may pursue a bachelor's or master's degree program.

Bachelor's degree programs in PR communications cover areas that include media relations, corporate communications, community relations, crisis management and positive relationship building. A focus on communication strategies is often prominent in a public relations program. PR programs, like the Bachelor of Science in Public Relations, Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in PR or B.A. in Public Relations, give students the basic knowledge they need to cultivate a career acting as a public relations specialist for businesses, government agencies or non-profit organizations.

Most programs offer two focuses - communications and public relations. Students will also have to complete general education courses in these 4-year programs. Most schools offer all courses online, so the degree can be completed fully through the school's online platform.

Coursework in a PR communications program generally covers communication skills and methods, as well as public relations-specific information. Common general courses introduce students to the field of public relations and cover different aspects of a career in this field, such as public speaking and writing.

This course covers public relations basics, such as developing press releases, PR strategies and problem-solving techniques. Most core courses require an introduction to public relations as a requirement.

Courses in how the law influences public relations may cover topics such as invasion of privacy and copyright issues. The First Amendment is also typically covered. Some courses may present case studies, which allow students the chance for practical study of legal issues in public relations.

An ethics course usually focuses on the issues that arise when dealing with public relations issues. Students may learn about professional behavior. This course usually introduces students to ethical situations and allows them to apply theories to solving the dilemmas.

Students who want to advance in their careers to a management level often pursue a master's degree program in public relations communication, such as the Master of Science in Public Relations or Master of Arts in Communication with a focus public and media relations. Students will usually learn about social media and brush up on writing and speaking skills. Many programs also have a strong focus on research, so students can develop their skills to assist them with creating PR campaigns and other materials.

Master's programs are typically offered fully online, but some schools may offer hybrid programs where some classes may be campus-based. Programs can be completed in less than two years and some may be offered in an accelerated format to allow students to complete the program more quickly. Master's programs in PR are designed mostly for professionals who are already working the field. As such, these programs are flexible, allowing students to take as many or as few classes as they feel comfortable with each semester.

PR courses at the master's level cover basic topics, such as writing, speaking and research. Professionalism is also usually covered, as is ethics. Programs also may include a thesis project, which is an individual research project on a PR communications topic.

PR specialists often act as leaders or managers of others within the PR department. In a management course, students learn how to properly guide others to form a solid and functional PR team. Leadership styles, challenges and general relations between the PR department and other company departments are other topics covered in this course.

Most PR master's programs include a course that allows students to examine different PR case studies. In this type of course, students analyze different PR situations and apply their knowledge to produce solutions and make recommendations on how to handle the situations.

Developing a public relations campaign is a large part of this career, so students learn about how to effectively create a campaign in this course. The course may cover fund raising, meeting planning and volunteer efforts.

This is a basic course that introduces students to the fundamentals of communication. Students learn how the simple communications skills people exhibit affect the PR field.

Public relations specialists serve as the main spokesperson for a company, agency or organization. In this career, a person must have excellent communication skills and be able to handle problems quickly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2008, PR specialists held around 275,200 positions (www.bls.gov). Change for PR specialists was expected to grow by 24% from 2008-2018, with a 13% growth rate predicted for PR managers over the same period.

The BLS reported in 2010 that the average salary for PR specialists was $59,150. In the same year the average salary for public relations managers was $104,390.

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Online Degree Programs in Applied Mathematics

Online degree programs in applied mathematics are rare; however, there are a few schools that offer undergraduate and graduate applied mathematics degree programs. These online programs are usually offered fully online, meaning students never have to attend courses on campus.

Applied mathematics is generally an interdisciplinary field. Students in a bachelor's degree program may study engineering and science, in addition to a core mathematics curriculum. Typically, schools expect incoming students to have a strong mathematics background with previous coursework in advanced mathematic subjects, such as calculus and trigonometry.

Some programs may be offered completely online. Students may need to attend courses on campus in some programs because some schools may not offer all courses within the program through their online learning system. Those schools that offer the program fully online may also offer orientation online, but in some cases orientation must be completed on campus, even if all the program courses are offered online.

In most cases, students are expected to own or have regular access to a computer to complete online courses. Some schools may offer special accommodations for students who don't have regular access to a computer.

Courses in an applied mathematics bachelor's program encompass science, engineering and mathematics. The core courses in a program focus on advanced mathematic concepts. Elective courses generally cover the engineering and science parts of the program, allowing students to choose the courses that suit their goals and needs.

A bachelor's level program will usually include multiple courses in calculus that cover concepts such as limits, derivatives, partial fractions, sequences and series, partial derivatives, saddle points and vector fields. Students also study different calculus techniques, theories and applications.

Linear algebra courses usually examine the linear equation, as well as concepts like vector spaces and eigenvalues. Most linear algebra courses require prerequisite work in calculus and a mastery of fundamental algebra skills.

A statistics course will usually cover the basic concepts of statistics and probability. Students examine probability models and use concepts such as hypotheses testing, estimation of statistics, distributions and quality control. Students usually need to have completed prerequisite courses in calculus.

Applied mathematics master's programs focus on how mathematics is used as a language within various fields other than mathematics. A degree at this level may serve as a complement to undergraduate studies in science, engineering or computers. Flexibility is often allowed with electives to help students tailor their program.

Master's programs usually require at least 36 credits, which is a combination of core mathematic courses and electives in various subject areas, such as engineering, science and computer science. Most programs offer all courses online, but projects, final exams and any practical work may have to be completed offline.

The courses in a master's level applied mathematics program usually are interdisciplinary, allowing students to study the use of mathematics in various fields. Most programs are designed to allow students to focus on their personal career field.

In this type of course, students study the relationship between computers and math. Students explore of how computers can be used to solve mathematic equations and other related problems.

Some master's programs in applied mathematics will include multiple courses in partial differential equations, which cover a range of concepts, techniques and methods related to this subject. Courses may cover numerical methods, equations and analysis methods.

Complex variables courses may deal with mathematics in science and engineering. Students may study integral theorems, branch points, Taylor and Laurent series, conformal mapping and Schwarz-Christoffel transformation.

Courses in dynamical systems typically focus on the theory behind partial differential equations. Topics and concepts examined may include chaos and periodic orbits.

Master's level numerical methods courses introduce students to optimization problem solving methods. Students may examine concepts including quasi-Newton methods, multiplier methods, nonsmooth optimization and quadratic programming.

Graduates of an applied mathematics program at the undergraduate or graduate level have the opportunity to enter into a variety of fields in the areas of science, mathematics and engineering. Many fields outside those areas, such as finance or data mining, are also starting to find use for individuals with an applied mathematic degree.

Graduates may find job opportunities with government agencies, research facilities or corporations. Independent consulting work is also a common career choice. According to the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, those with an applied mathematics degree have found work with the Ford Motor Company, DuPont, Verizon, Microsoft Research, Philips Research, Citibank, Baxter Healthcare and the U.S. Department of Energy (www.siam.org).

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