High school students  Transfer students  Change of major  Minors  Application
PRA main page

If you can’t find the answers to your questions here, please feel free to contact our faculty:
Janell Shearer, 714-997-6647, shearer@chapman.edu
Cory O’Connor, 714-628-7357, oconnor@chapman.edu

General questions

Q: How do I find my advisor?
A: See WebAdvisor, My Profile.

Q: How are advisors assigned? 
A: Advisors are initially assigned based on the student’s area of interest and faculty advisee load.

Q: Can I change advisors?
A: Yes. First, talk to the faculty member whom you wish to request as your advisor and see if he or she is willing to serve as your advisor.  Next, fill out a Change of Advisor form, have your new advisor sign it and turn it in to the Dodge College office.  Last, notify your previous advisor that you have requested a change.

Q: What GE courses are recommended for PRA majors?
A: As students in PRA may work in almost any field or business imaginable—from the arts to the sciences—it is important to take a broad selection of GE courses.  In particular, as it is important to understand as much about human motivation and behavior as possible, courses in psychology and sociology are good choices.  So are English courses (literature will help you be a better writer and know more about other people’s experiences) and history, intercultural, business, computer, art, and language classes.  Almost any subject you can study might be useful for students wishing to become public relations or advertising professionals.  To succeed in these fields, you should expect that you will always need to be learning new things.                                   

Q: Can I substitute an internship for a required class?
A: No.  An internship does not satisfy the academic and instructional components of a required course.  Internships may count as upper-division electives in the major.

Q: Why is Visual Storytelling part of the PRA curriculum?  I don’t want to make films.
A: This is a key class for every public relations and advertising student.  Advertising students may be involved in making commercials and should understand how visual images communicate—and the role of shot composition, editing, sound etc.  PR students need to know how to create effective video news releases (VNRs), public service announcements (PSAs), webcasts, sponsored films etc.  Although you may never do the hands on work yourself, you may be responsible for hiring or supervising those who do.  You need to know how to produce a well executed visual message.

Finally, in today’s society, no one can really claim to be “literate” without having an understanding of how the film and video—the most powerful media of our time—communicate, that is, how each of the elements of film and television work to create a persuasive or compelling message.

Q. Are PRA courses offered over Interterm or summer, or in Study Abroad programs?
A: Not routinely. Consider taking GE courses, or look for required courses in other departments, such as marketing, that may be offered at Chapman or other schools.

High school students/new applicants

Q: How do I get admitted to the Public Relations and Advertising major?
A: Apply to Chapman University.  Fill out the Supplemental Application for Public Relations and Advertising.  Expect to be interviewed on the phone by a faculty member.

Q: I don’t have any direct experience in PR or advertising.  What are you looking for in applicants?
A: We are primarily looking for good grades, evidence of clear thinking and expression, represented by writing samples, and evidence of creativity, particularly in activities related to PR or advertising—taking photographs, writing for the school newspaper, organizing a special event, or doing publicity for a club or organization. Any kind of creative work is acceptable.

Q: Should I submit my artwork, photos, videos etc. with my application?
A: No. Briefly describe your work in the creative portfolio list.  If you are being considered for admission, you will be contacted regarding what creative items to submit.

Transfer students

Q: Can I graduate in two years if I come in as a transfer student?
A: Yes, in most cases you can graduate on time, with careful planning.  It is highly recommended that you consult with an advisor in the program and work out a complete two-year plan.  If you are transferring from a community college, it is particularly important that you pay attention to the requirement of earning 36 upper division units to graduate.

Change of major

Q: I am already a Chapman University student.  How can I change my major to Public Relations and Advertising?
A: Please see the Change of Major page  under our Apply section.

Q: What if I’m not admitted?
A: If you are not admitted, you may apply again the following semester or year.  We recommend that you enroll in Principles of Advertising (FTV 230) and Principles of Public Relations (FTV 231), two courses open to non-majors.  Earning good grades in these courses will stand in your favor if you choose to apply again.

Minors

Q: I would like to minor in Public Relations or Advertising?  What do I need to do to declare a minor?
A: Submit a Change of Major/Minor form to the Dodge College office. (You do not have to fill out the Supplemental Application.)

Q: What majors does a minor in Public Relations and Advertising best complement?
A: Students in a wide variety of majors choose to minor in public relations or advertising.  Public relations is a frequent choice of students in the performing arts—theater, dance, and music—as a PR minor offers students skills to promote their own careers or to stay involved in their field of interest if they do not continue performing.  An advertising minor is a good choice for graphic design, marketing or business majors.

Q: How valuable is a business minor to PR or advertising students?
A: The more you know about business the better, although having an official minor is more important to some employers than others. If you can’t fit a business minor into your curriculum, take as many additional business classes as you can.  Potential employers will value your course work in business and your ability to analyze how decisions will affect the bottom line.

Q: What other minors work well with Public Relations and Advertising?
A: Students interested in PR might choose business, political science, psychology, English, journalism or sociology as useful minors.  Advertising students might choose marketing, business, art, or psychology.

Application
To find the supplemental application for PRA, visit https://www.chapman.edu//admission/application/apply.asp

PRA main page