Grad School: When Should You Take the Next Step?

I always thought that I would come out of my undergraduate years in college and immediately enter the professional world. As a communications major, it never crossed my mind to consider graduate school.

Even when I started my undergraduate career, the only thought I had about in regards to graduate school was the possibility of being paid by an employer to get a higher degree later in my professional career. I had heard that some companies were willing to help their employees advance their careers through further education, but again, I was mainly focused on graduating with a four-year degree first!

This is a common mindset among communication majors. When asked about graduate school, oftentimes, individuals do not see a need to jump into a further degree in our field right away.
However, as the job market becomes increasingly competitive, it may be time for students to change their thinking.

Universities are beginning to see the change in job market as well, and many schools are starting to offer accelerated programs for students to earn their master’s degree is less time or even during and after their undergraduate careers.

The positive side to starting an upper level degree as soon as possible is that students still have the academic momentum from their undergraduate work to put towards this new opportunity. Oftentimes, waiting until you have been out of college for a while can make it harder for you to get back into the rigorous environment of continuing education.

Also, you will never know where your life will go in a few years. It can be difficult to return to college once you have a family and other commitments. By starting a master’s degree earlier rather than later, you will be able to plan ahead and know your limits better than trying to predict things well in advance. Of course, nothing is set in stone, but it is much better to plan ahead for the next few years than for many years in the future.

What are your thoughts on starting graduate school sooner rather than later? Tell us in the comments below!

Is Graduate School Essential For PR Students?

I’m often asked by students if they should attend graduate school after receiving their undergraduate degree.  As with many things in life, the answer is often “it depends.”  It depends on what kind of career a student envisions for his or herself.  Is a graduate degree absolutely required to practice public relations?  No.  Is it advisable?  If you someday want to be offering strategic counsel to CEOs, senior executives and clients, and be valued as an experienced and knowledgeable communications counselor, then yes.

As the field of public relations becomes more complex, and the rate of change – technological and otherwise – increases, more education is always better.  In many organizations, for-profit and non-profit alike, public relations is already seen as a strategic function, not just the department writing news releases and staging events.  In order to fulfill the strategic role public relations professionals are increasingly being called upon to meet, a graduate degree is becoming more necessary.

A growing trend is online graduate degrees.  More universities are offering this option for the busy working professional or for those who can’t attend on-campus classrooms.  Online programs offer the flexibility of doing the work on your schedule, but they also demand a lot of self-discipline and time management skills.  Some programs are strictly online and a student may never visit the actual campus, while others demand some time on campus, such as one weekend per semester.  It’s advisable to check out each program’s individual criteria for applying and requirements.

At Temple, we offer a number of graduate degrees in the field of communications.  They include a Master of Arts in Media Studies and Production, Master of Journalism, Master of Science in Communication Management, Master of Science in Globalization and Development Communication, and a Ph.D. program in Media and Communication.  These graduate programs have been growing, bringing together students and working professionals from all kinds of organizations and industries, from corporate to non-profit, from healthcare to cable television.  In addition, an increasing number of international students are enrolled, bringing their own unique perspectives and set of cultural norms to in-class discussions. 

Currently more than 200 graduate students pursue professional and scholarly opportunities preparing for further research and doctoral work, or for furthering their careers in media, communications policy, communications management, and production.  For more information, visit http://smc.temple.edu/graduate.

This guest blog post was written by PRowl and Temple PRSSA Advisor Gregg Feistman. 

What does Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) Mean?

Doctors have it, lawyers have it, and now PR pros have it too: a title. You may notice that your PR professors may have APR next to their name. So, what does that mean? APR is short for Accreditation in Public Relations, a graduate program designed to demonstrate competency in the knowledge, skills and abilities required to practice public relations effectively.

How do you earn your APR? Candidates must complete some form of education whether it be online classes, an independent case study, or independent readings, and finally pass an exam to demonstrate knowledge in modern PR practices.

Not sure about earning your APR? Those who earn the creditation are set apart from the rest of the PR professional community. In order to maintain active status, APRs are required to continue their education by volunteering, participating in development activities, or taking supplementary courses. The main benefit that APRs attest to is the community, that there is always a connection for APRs to network with other professionals who can mentor and guide them to furthering their career in PR with the leadership skills and dedication aquired from the APR program.

In a competitive job market, it is important to set yourself apart from the crowd, and earning your APR may do just that, proving to yourself and your colleagues that you are both committed to the field of Public Relations as well as knowledgable to current trends, making you invaluable to any employer.

To learn more about how to earn your APR, click here.

Are you thinking about getting your APR? Why or why not? Let us know!