Perceptions of public relations education

A survey of 258 public relations educators and practitioners examined the state of public relations education across five dimensions: general perceptions of public relations, education, desired educational outcomes for both students and practitioners, assessment of student outcomes and learning, elements of public relations curricula, and teaching practices. Results indicate educators and practitioners agree that public relations education is on track and that systematic assessment is an important feature of public relations education. They also agreed on how public relations education should be structured and demonstrated a high degree of similarity in their preferences for teaching methods and techniques. Stacks is Professor and Director of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Miami. Botan is Associate Professor and Area Head for Public Relations in the Department of Communications at Purdue. VanSlyke Turk is Dean & Professor in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina.