Public Relations
Study public relations at AUT and embark on an exciting career where every day promises to be different.
A PR career could be organising top-level celebrities to promote an exotic resort, working with an international health organisation to communicate disease prevention in a developing country, briefing business leaders on a company merger, or lobbying the government to change regulations on behalf of a charity.
Our lecturers have industry and academic expertise with a national and global outlook. Their strong industry connections mean that as a PR student you will have the opportunity to go on industry field trips and gain paid PR experience during your degree.
You will explore topics like reputation management, relationship management, strategic communication, communication in a business environment, sponsorship and promotion, internal communication, persuasion and negotiation, social media strategies and moral philosophy.
Students participate in live campaigns and industry field trips, and work for a real client in AUT’s Student PR Consultancy.
What can I expect over the next two years?
You will find out about public relations and how it can influence ethical decision-making in organisations, charities, governments and the media. You will learn how to manage the reputation of individuals and organisations and build relationships with diverse groups of people through negotiation, cultural mediation and media relations. You will apply theory to practice by exploring how to handle real-life public crises through written, verbal and online strategic communications solutions.
You will build your strategic communication skills and perfect your presenting, writing, negotiating, digital PR and relationship building capabilities as you apply theory to practice.
You will explore campaign planning involving politicians, celebrities, activists and social media influencers. You will leave with a portfolio of public relations achievements and industry relationships gained through running creative and ethical campaigns for real clients in our student PR consultancy, Outside the Square.
Key features
Supported by the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) and leading PR consultancies
Gain experience in our student-run PR consultancy, Outside the Square that Includes running a PR project for a real client
Access to graduate internships and industry networking events
Hear more about these pathways from Deepti Bhargava
Public relations will prepare you for a wide range of roles
Corporate communications executive
Public relations consultant
Marketing communications executive
Government communicator
Internal communications advisor
Community relations manager
A Major in Public Relations
This consists of 120 points and you will take the following papers over two years
PUBL602 Public Relations Practice and Specialisms
PUBL603 Power and Persuasion
PUBL604 Strategic Messaging
PUBL605 Reputation Management
PUBL701 Digital Public Relations
PUBL707 Public Relations Theory and Practice
PUBL709 Public Image and Campaigns
PUBL710 Public Relations Industry Project
A Minor in Public Relations
This consists of 60 points and you will take four of the following papers (including at least one at level 7) over two years
PUBL602 Public Relations Practice and Specialisms
PUBL603 Power and Persuasion
PUBL604 Strategic Messaging
PUBL605 Reputation Management
PUBL707 Public Relations Theory and Practice
PUBL709 Public Image and Campaigns
See yourself as
A collaborative colleague
A strategic thinker
A builder of reputations and relationships
A good writer, speaker and organiser
