Surviving the PR Sequence: Public Relations Case Studies

​By Latisha Ellison

If you’re a freshman public relations major, you’ve probably heard from upper classmen that PR Case Studies is the make or break class for PR majors. That’s a pretty daunting thing to hear, but don’t fear—I’m here to ease your stress! Let’s break it down:

1.    What do you do in Case Studies?
a.    In Case Studies you will be assigned a group with four to five people, have a client and put together a public relations case study for that client. In three phases, you will conduct research, create objectives, strategies, tactics and a budget. This is probably the first time you will really understand what public relations is, how it works and how you fit into the equation.  

2.    Is working with a group as hard as I’ve heard?
a.    NO! Truth be told, every group is different, but you will always have members who do more than others or vice versa. The bottom line is: try to love your group and fix problems ASAP. You need your group because you will be spending many hours in the library perfecting each phase and everyone needs to participate. If you are noticing issues with members in the beginning, nip them in the bud or you will not have a good experience.

​3.    Which professor is best?
a.    You’re in luck because you can’t go wrong here! All are amazing professors, and we are lucky to have them in the PR sequence. They all have a lot of experience that you can learn from, and while their teaching styles may differ slightly, there’s simply no bad choice. 

4.    How can I be successful in this class?

•  Find a day that everyone in your group can meet and meet once a week. This will help to keep you on track and not keep you in club lib pulling an all nighter before phase one is due.
• Be a good group member! Do your part on time, respond to group messages and offer to help when you can. 
• Build a good relationship with your client. You will be working with them all semester and will need their help when it comes to research and creating a budget. 
• Take it seriously. You are dealing with a real client and your case study can be used to show off your work to potential employers for internships. Make this case study something to be proud of!
• Have fun! This is a huge part of what your life could be like one day, so be creative and enjoy your time! 
• Go into this class with an open mind, ready to learn and work and you will do f

---