Public Relations
Minor
PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
Build your voice in strategic communication. Strengthen relationships. Apply PR skills across industries.
Why Study Public Relations at Winona State?
No matter what you’re studying—art, business, education, health care, or science—strong communication skills can give you an edge.
That’s where Winona State’s Public Relations minor comes in.
Public relations (PR) is all about shaping stories that matter and sharing them in ways that connect with people.
A minor in PR can teach you how to:
- write and speak with purpose.
- develop effective social media strategies.
- pitch creative ideas with confidence.
- manage campaigns that gain attention and results.
These are skills that employers in every field look for.
Public Relations minors get hands-on experience working on real-world projects, just like PR majors.
You’ll strengthen your expertise in your main major while adding PR skills that will make you stand out.
Want to be a scientist who explains complex research to the public? A nurse who leads health awareness campaigns? A business professional who crushes brand launches?
Public relations can help you get there.
The Public Relations minor is offered through the Communication & Media Department.
What Will You Learn as a Public Relations Minor?
As a Public Relations minor, you’ll learn how to make your message count using digital platforms and print materials alike.
You’ll also:
- discover best practices for developing strategic communication campaigns.
- explore the fundamentals of crisis communication planning.
- learn how to pitch stories and work effectively with journalists and influencers.
- analyze real-world PR cases to understand what makes strategies succeed.
A Public Relations minor also pairs well with other bachelor’s degree programs at Winona State, such as Advertising, English, Marketing, Public Health, Communication Studies, Business Administration, Political Science, and more.
Aside from major- or minor-specific requirements, you’ll need to complete additional requirements through the General Education Program (GEP) to earn your degree from Winona State University.
Learn More about the GEP
Program Highlights
As a Public Relations minor, you’ll take most of your classes in Phelps Hall.
This building features a multimedia studio, interactive media lab, photography studio, and dark room.
You’ll also have access to cutting-edge mass communication equipment for class assignments and other projects.
Think drones, video cameras (digital and old-school film), GoPros, digital cameras, audio recorders, light kits, and more.
Apply what you learn in the classroom by traveling around the globe. At WSU, you can earn credit that applies to your degree while exploring the world.
Get inspired by 10,000 brands at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France.
Learn how Germany used messaging to shift the political paradigm after the Nazi Regime. Or explore media production, advertising, and promotional practices in the United Arab Emirates.
You can also check out our more than 100 other study abroad programs across 40+ countries.
Want to meet like-minded students and explore public relations? Get involved in campus organizations that share your passion.
Like the American Marketing Association, Public Relations Student Society of America, and WSU AdFed.
Or The Winonan, our student-led newspaper, and KQAL 89.5—our campus radio station.
You might also want to check out the Warrior Entertainment Network, our student-led event planning committee.
With over 100 clubs and organizations, there’s something for everyone.
Hear from Alumni
Careers & Outcomes
A Public Relations minor can make both your degree and career path versatile.
While a Public Relations minor alone won’t guarantee you a PR job, it strengthens your main area of study and helps you stand out in a competitive job market.
By combining a PR minor with your major, you’ll be prepared for careers in business, health care, non-profit work, government, education, and beyond.
for Meeting, Convention & Event Planners
for Advertising Sales Agents
for Public Relations Specialists
Learn more about what careers are possible with this minor and where our alumni have gone after graduation:
