Public Relations Programs at Ontario Colleges

Public Relations Courses

Public relations programs are a unique blend of business and communications skills. From a business perspective, emphasis is placed on time management, resource management, and organization. From a communications perspective, subjects will include writing and editing, concept creation, media relations, and conflict resolution.

Students will learn to handle all public relations outlets including the media, stakeholders, government officials, and more.

General Public Relations Program Requirements

Some Ontario college public relations programs are offered at the diploma level, while others are offered as graduate certificates. For those offered at the diploma level, an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent is required, including a senior English and math credit. For programs offered as graduate certificates, a university degree or college diploma is required.

Public Relations Jobs and Salaries

Under the title of Public Relations Specialist or Public Relations Manager, roles in the PR industry include writing, researching, media relations, event planning, and marketing communications. Public relations careers can take you many places – you may choose to specialize in corporate public relations or work with not-for-profit organizations, across nearly any industry. You can also choose to work with a company as a full-time employee, or operate as a contracted employee or consultant.

The average starting salary for public relations graduates is in the low- to mid-$30,000 range, but can rise quickly with experience. For contract positions where wages are calculated hourly, wages can range from $15 for entry-level employees to $45 per hour or more for highly skilled, highly experienced positions.

Ontario Colleges Offering Public Relations Programs

Use the left-column navigation to refine your search by College, Program Availability, Program Start Date and more, or see the table below for a complete list of public relations programs at Ontario colleges. Less