The success of organizations - from private corporations, to government agencies, to non-profits - is strongly linked to public reputation and acceptance. The function of public relations is to cultivate and maintain that reputation and acceptance through good times and bad. Good public relations practice is facilitated through media relations, public affairs, employee communications, investor relations, community outreach, speech writing, fundraising, event planning and other activities.
Public relations practitioners must be effective communicators and critical thinkers, aware of public attitudes and trends and committed to the highest ethical standards. They also must be skilled in professional writing, critical problem solving, quantitative and qualitative research methods, public speaking and project management. A solid understanding of business and media is also required to facilitate productive interactions between these two worlds.
The Texas Public Relations Program at the University of Texas at Austin offers its students an interdisciplinary, writing-intensive curriculum that prepares them to navigate the ever-changing, always-demanding landscape that is public relations.
The Texas Public Relations Program at the University of Texas at Austin is committed to preparing professional, socially responsible public relations practitioners by cultivating the writing, speaking, analytical and decision-making skills that will help our students compete in a rapidly changing, diversified field and lead public relations into the future.
