By following this schedule, most students earn their degree in 2-3 years, based on their professional and personal commitments.  

Fall Semester Required Courses (August, First Year, Syracuse Main Campus)

  • Organizational Public Relations (3 credits)
  • Financial Reporting and Management Accounting (3 credits)

Spring Semester Required Courses (January, First Year, New York City Site)

  • Public Relations Research (3 credits)
  • Managerial Finance (3 credits)

Summer Semester Elective Choices (rotated each May, Syracuse Main Campus)
This is a sampling of electives. Two electives are needed for those choosing the thesis option; three are needed for those choosing the professional project option.

  • Communications Frontier (3 credits)
  • Advertising Practice and Management (3 credits)
  • Branding and Reputation Management (3 credits)
  • Negotiation (3 credits)
  • Crisis Communications (3 credits)
  • Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills (3 credits)
  • Communications Theory (3 credits)

Fall Semester Required Courses (August, Second Year, Syracuse Main Campus)

  • Strategic Planning: Corporate Forecasting (3 credits)
  • Marketing Management (3 credits)

Spring Semester Required Courses (January, Second Year, New York City Site)

  • Communications Law for Advertising and Public Relations (3 credits)
  • Public Relations Management (3 credits)


Cumulative Experience-choose one at completion of course work

  • Master's Thesis (6 credits)
  • Professional Project (3 credits, plus one additional elective)

NOTE: To assist students in preparing to work on a thesis or a project, an optional session called Special Seminar (zero credits, no tuition) is offered each May during the summer residency. The Seminar offers students an opportunity to meet with faculty advisors and to conduct traditional and electronic library searches on their topics.