Syracuse University’s Newhouse School recognized as national leader for graduate study in public relations

Syracuse University’s Newhouse School recognized as national leader for graduate study in public relationsDecember 27, 2001Nicci Brownnicbrown@syr.edu

The graduate public relations program at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications is listed as one of the best in the nation by a new directory compiled by Marquette University. The booklet “Graduate Study in Public Relations: Profiles of the Country’s Best College Programs” claims to give the first detailed view of graduate public relations educational programs in the United States.

The directory lists Newhouse’s program as one of only 16 “premier programs” for graduate public relations studies in the nation. The only program to place higher is offered by the University of Maryland. Of the top three schools, the University of Maryland received a total of 25 votes, Syracuse University’s Newhouse School received 23 votes and the University of Florida received 18 votes. The fourth ranked school – the University of Georgia – received six votes.

Maria Russell, chair of the public relations program at Newhouse, says the school’s high ranking is well deserved. “We are running an advertising slogan that says ‘Our program speaks for itself,’ and that is so very true,” Russell says. “Reputation is a critical factor when students are making decisions on where to apply, and our alumni are excellent spokespersons. They–and their employers–are very pleased with the academic foundation they received here, and they credit the program with their ability to enter the field and to advance in it. In return, their successful careers cast a nice halo around the program.”

The Marquette directory rated programs by asking heads of the 45 public relations educational programs profiled to name two schools (other than their own) that they would recommend to students as the best in the nation. The “premier program” list is based on those recommendations along with evaluative information provided by each school via questionnaire.

Evaluative factors included professional and academic experience and stature of faculty; scope and quality of course offerings in public relations, communication and integrated marketing communication(s); leadership and innovation by program administration; and detail and quality of information provided by schools in the directory project.

Newhouse’s program was also recognized for its communications management course, an interdisciplinary program drawing on curricula from the Newhouse School, the School of Management and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. The program is offered to experienced public relations practitioners via a limited residency/distance education format.

The Marquette directory was prepared by Bill L. Baxter, a Marquette associate professor emeritus and former chair of MU’s department of advertising and public relations. Baxter is a Public Relations Society of America Fellow with 35 years in public relations practice and college teaching. He is a former chair of PRSA’s Educators’ Academy.

The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University is one of the most respected professional communications schools in the nation. Its 53 full-time faculty include industry leaders and internationally known scholars and researchers. The Newhouse School offers degree programs in: advertising, broadcast journalism, magazine, newspaper, television-radio-film, and visual and interactive communications, as well as public relations.