Teaching Public Relations Principles and Practices for Effective Learning

Excellence in public relations begins with excellence in education in public relations programs, and this book presents a comprehensive, cohesive, and concrete approach for effective teaching and learning in PR classes.

Teaching Public Relations puts in one concise volume salient matters about effective teaching and learning of public relations, including curriculum development and course design plus guides and tools for the work PR educators must do. This book is the first textbook of its kind, and systematically synthesizes current principles and practices for effective teaching and learning and applies them to public relations education in colleges and universities. Firmly situating public relations education (PRE) in context, the book goes on to outline principles and approaches for teaching and learning in PRE. Other features of the text include example documents that will help in designing assignments, courses, or curricula, and a comprehensive list of publications, organizations, online media, and other sources for further investigation and learning.

This book is a solid starting point for anyone, especially public relations professionals, wanting to begin a career as a full-time or part-time professor of public relations at a college or university. It is also recommended reading for current teachers and students of PR research.

Introduction  PART 1: Career Matters for PR Educators  1: Education as a Calling  2: Professionals Becoming Professors  3: Engagement in the Profession  PART 2: Public Relations Education (PRE) in Context  4: An Overview of Public Relations Education  5: General Points of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education  6: Frameworks and Outcomes for PRE  PART 3: Approaches for Teaching and Learning Befitting PRE  7: Know Yourself, Be Yourself  8: Curriculum Development and Course Design  9: Assessing Learning  APPENDICES  Appendix A: Sample Course-management Documents  Appendix B: Suggestions for Curricular & Extracurricular Teaching & Learning  Appendix C: Helpful Resources

Peter M. Smudde has had 16 years of industry experience, including an executive-level position and consulting, and 17 years as a professor of public relations. Dr. Smudde holds the rank of professor and is the associate executive director of ISU’s School of Communication where he is the coordinator of the PR program, which is CEPR accredited, and was faculty adviser for PRSSA Chapters for 14 years.