Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies Offers New Public Relations & Advertising Major in Fully Online or Hybrid Formats

Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS) has added a new major to its portfolio of opportunities for degree-seeking adult students, launching a new program in Public Relations & Advertising (PRA). This new major builds upon the existing success and reputation of the PRA concentration available to Communication majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, unlocking a digital-forward curriculum for fully online or hybrid learning students. The PRA major will be available from CPS as a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.

“The College of Professional Studies is focused on expanding access to the education available at Villanova University to a wider and more diverse audience of learners. The Public Relations & Advertising major offers an opportunity for students to experience rich, industry-focused learning, redesigned for a modern learner in a more flexible format, while still being rooted in the Augustinian tradition and values of Villanova,” said Rev. David Cregan, OSA, PhD, dean of the College of Professional Studies.

In addition to courses focused on public relations, advertising, journalism, writing and brand strategy, students in the PRA major will complete the core curriculum requirements for a BIS or BA degree. In doing so, students are provided with a holistic learning experience to not just build skills and expertise but to also learn how to ethically and collaboratively put their education to use.

“We've purposely designed some coursework around digital and social media and are emphasizing making connections across disciplines,” said Dr. Ashley Pattwell, the faculty lead for the program. “Pulling from other fields is something that's going to set you apart in PR and advertising. You are seeing your client from a broader perspective and understanding the larger societal and cultural phenomena at play.”

The PRA program will integrate theory, practice and technology to develop graduates who can craft compelling messages, manage brand reputation and lead communication efforts across a variety of platforms and audiences.

“Students will be learning about psychology and audience analysis. They will be learning about critical thinking,” said Dr. Bill Cowen, a faculty member in the program. “They’ll learn how to create business strategy and how to create promotional strategy that supports that business strategy. The goal is for all of these skills to be transferable to other industries.”

Through experiential projects, collaborative problem-solving and portfolio development, students will graduate ready to contribute to agencies, corporations, nonprofits, government and entrepreneurial ventures in a global communication environment.

“A big majority of our current PRA grads are going right to a PR or ad agency after graduation or an in-house corporate communications position. But we also have a good representation going to nonprofits, in political communications, or across sectors like healthcare and finance,” said Pattwell.

The College of Professional Studies aims to prepare students for the next step in their career, while also providing the resources and connections to properly step into an exciting field like public relations or advertising. 

“While this is a new program, students are joining a well-established family. We have over 20 years of alums in this space. We have thousands of Public Relations & Advertising program alums, and even more in the Communication major that are ready to welcome these folks into the family and into the fold,” Cowen said. 

In addition to the wealth of learning and career resources available to all CPS students, PRA majors will have access to many existing networking and career-focused experiences already available to those learning in the on campus Communication program. This includes Veritas, a student-led PR consultancy dedicated to local nonprofits and mission-based organizations, and Villanova at the Agency, an annual four-day immersion program in New York City with alumni connections in the PR and advertising industries. The Villanova Communications Alumni Network (VCAN) is one of the University’s longest running alumni affinity groups, with frequent events and connection opportunities for students and alumni.

“No matter where our students are coming from or what their future or career ambitions are, we really see this coursework and this major really benefiting them on that pathway,” Pattwell said.