By Brianna Helm
I can’t begin to count how many times I hear the words, “So why did you choose Ball State?” All I want to do is scream back at them, “Because our PR majors are the best!” Coming from the Chicago area, choosing a school that had great journalism and public relations programs was next to impossible. There were so many options.
As soon as I stepped foot on Ball State’s campus and walked into the Arts and Journalism building, I knew this school was going to provide me with the most resources and opportunities. Not to mention that Ball State’s graduate program in public relations was ranked 8th in the country.
What sets Ball State apart from other universities?
Cardinal Communications
Ball State students have the opportunity to join a student-run creative communications agency. Cardinal Communications is ranked one of the most accomplished and successful student-run agencies in the country. It is also one of the few agencies nationally affiliated by the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Cardinal Communications, a full service student-run agency, works with 19 local and national clients.
Our student-run media
Ball State’s student-run media is often recognized for its high level of performance. Here is a list of the awards received over the past year:
75 Gold Circle Awards from Columbia Scholarship Press Association
Pinnacle Award Winner
2015 Radio Station of the Year & four other awards from the Society of Professional Journalists
Mark of Excellence award from SPJ
Advertising Sales and Creative Suite
Two Gold Student ADDYs
Six awards from the College of Media Business and Advertising Managers
Ball State is the only university with a PRSA dual-certified public relations program
For any student looking to further his or her education within public relations, Ball State is the place to go. PRSA has accredited both our school’s undergraduate and graduate programs. No other university can make this claim.
Our entrepreneurial learning experience
According to Degree Query, Ball State is ranked fifth on the list for journalism education. In our school of journalism, you are not only learning the basics. Our classroom experiences include hands on training in advertising, journalism, communication and persuasion. Ball State is always giving students an opportunity to immerse themselves in an entrepreneurial experience. This year, Ball State will be traveling to Brazil to cover the Olympic Games in Rio. The classes at Ball State put a strong emphasis on ensuring that students have first hand experience with different types of media. Ball State University President Paul Ferguson said:
“Ball State aspires to be the model of the most student-centered and community-engaged of the 21st century public research universities, transforming entrepreneurial learners into impactful leaders – committed to improving the quality of life for all.”
Our PRSSA chapter
Being a part of PRSSA at Ball State provides students with endless opportunities to hear from people who have created success for themselves. PRSSA is constantly striving to help public relations students gain more knowledge and experience. They participate in campus philanthropies, national and regional conferences, Bateman competitions and the Hoosier PRSA Chapter’s Half-Day with a Pro. There is never a dull moment for PRSSA members because there is always a new learning experience at their fingertips.
Our Professors
Professors at Ball State are here to ensure student success. Many of the journalism professors working at Ball State have had experience in the field, practicing journalism or public relations. Several professors at BSU teach while continuing their PR careers. They use these experiences to share industry knowledge with students. They also know the right skills to develop in the classroom to excel outside of the classroom.
As Randi Zuckerberg, former Facebook executive and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, stated on Oct. 26 while presenting to Ball State students, she hopes to one day be working for a Ball State graduate because she sees how much potential we have and how hard we work. While I may be biased toward BSU, my opinions are backed by facts. I wouldn’t trade my time as a Cardinal for anything.
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