What you’ll learn in this article…
- BU does not offer a fully online master's in public relations.
- Its on-campus MS in Public Relations requires 48 credits and 12 courses.
- BU offers an online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication instead.
On-campus MS in Public Relations versus online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication: Boston University offers both, but the online option is different. BU does not offer a fully online master's degree labeled Public Relations. The on-campus MS in Public Relations is a 48-credit, 12-course program over three semesters.
For online learners, the MS in Strategic Integrated Communication includes PR content, audience analytics, and campaign strategy, but carries a different degree title. Admissions, tuition, and career outcomes differ enough to affect timeline and return.
Boston's public relations specialists earn above the national median, and its universities, hospitals, and financial services firms reward the integrated communication skills that a communication degree in Massachusetts builds. That market reality makes format as much a credential decision as a scheduling choice.
Programs at Boston University
Public Relations
- 12 courses and 48 credits
- Full-time or part-time options
- No GRE required for admission
- Merit scholarships available
- Three semesters full-time
- Seven core courses
- Five elective courses
- Internships with top agencies
- 48 credits total
- 12 courses required
- Three semesters full-time
- Available part-time
- No GRE required
- Merit scholarships available
- Seven core courses
- Five elective courses
- 12 courses, 48 credits.
- Full-time or part-time options.
- No GRE required for admission.
- Merit scholarships available.
- Three semesters full-time.
- Hands-on internship opportunities.
- PRLab student-run agency.
- Study abroad in London.
Boston University Public Relations Programs at a Glance
Public relations now sits at the intersection of data, audience behavior, and integrated campaign strategy, so the choice between a focused PR degree and a broader strategic communication degree matters more than it used to. Boston University's College of Communication is a strong starting point among Boston public relations graduate programs.
A Communication School Built Around Practice
Boston University traces its public relations education to 1947-48, when it says it became the first university to offer a university-level public relations degree. BU also describes building one of the first student-run PR agencies. The college was founded in 1947 and renamed the College of Communication in 1984, and it remains a major communication school. That practitioner orientation shows up in employer pathways: BU PR materials point to alumni roles at Edelman, the New England Patriots, and global NGOs, with a reported 97% of undergraduate PR alumni employed, in school, or otherwise engaged. The MS in Public Relations has been offered continuously since that first year, and BU calls it the world's oldest continuously offered public relations master's.
Two Related But Distinct Graduate Tracks
At the graduate level, the on-campus MS in Public Relations and the online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication are not interchangeable. The MS in Public Relations is a specialized master's degree in public relations. The online Strategic Integrated Communication program is a broader strategic communication degree, built around integrated marketing, digital communication, and audience strategy across channels. In online format, BU's graduate communication degree is the MS in Strategic Integrated Communication, not a separate online MS in Public Relations.
Accreditation and Reputation Markers
Boston University holds institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), with accredited status current as of February 20261 and the next comprehensive evaluation scheduled for Fall 2029.2 Current materials do not list a separate programmatic accreditor for the College of Communication public relations programs, so NECHE is the relevant institutional standard to check. Recent recognition includes No. 1 rankings from College Factual and College Raptor for 2025 and placement on PRNews' Education A-List from 2021 through 2025. The public relations faculty has also earned national recognition, including a No. 1 ranking in the Chronicle of Higher Education's Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index for 2007-08.
Online Public Relations at BU: What's Actually Available
Boston University does not offer a fully online master's degree labeled specifically as Public Relations. The on-campus MS in Public Relations is a separate 48-credit, 12-course program delivered over three semesters. For working professionals who want an online BU degree in this field, the online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication is the closest alternative, with public relations content embedded in a broader integrated communication curriculum.
What the Online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication Looks Like
BU's fully online program is built around eight 7-week asynchronous online communication courses for a total of 32 credits. Students can attend part time or full time, and a typical pace of two courses per term finishes in about 16 months, including summer. That structure gives working professionals room to balance job responsibilities with graduate study. Although the default format is asynchronous, BU adds optional live touchpoints: cohort events, office hours, and peer workshops. These live sessions are not required real-time classes, so students who cannot attend can still complete the program.
What About Internships and PRLab?
The online SIC curriculum does not include required or elective communications internships. PRLab, BU's student-run communications agency, is an experiential option for graduate PR students, but it carries prerequisites and Monday afternoon class meetings. As of 2026, BU has not published a clear remote pathway for online SIC students to participate in PRLab, so treat it as an on-campus option unless program staff confirm otherwise. No source lists a remote internship as part of the SIC curriculum. Similarly, the official degree pages do not name a learning management system; confirm current delivery tools directly with the College of Communication.
Bottom Line
If your goal is a fully online PR credential, do not apply to the on-campus MS in Public Relations expecting a distance option. The on-campus program remains a 48-credit, 12-course, three-semester experience. The online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication is the program BU positions as its online master's in strategic communication in this area. Always verify schedule, live event dates, and any experiential learning questions against BU's official program pages.
MS in Public Relations Vs. Online Strategic Integrated Communication: Which Fits You?
Choosing between BU's MS in Public Relations and the online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication , two master's in communication in Massachusetts , starts with one question: do you want a traditional PR degree you can use immediately in media and reputation work, or a broader integrated communication degree designed for mid-career leadership?
At a glance: BU PR vs. strategic integrated communication
| Factor | MS in Public Relations | MS in Strategic Integrated Communication |
|---|---|---|
| Format | On-campus, part-time | Online, part-time |
| Duration | About two years (BU materials vary) | 16 months |
| Credits and courses | 48 credits, 12 courses | 32 credits, 8 courses |
| Curriculum focus | Traditional PR: media relations, strategic communication management, digital and social strategy, crisis and reputation, stakeholder engagement | Integrated multi-channel strategy, brand and executive communication, research and analytics, AI tools, systems thinking |
| Ideal student profile | Professionals targeting corporate, nonprofit, agency, or public affairs PR roles, or possible doctoral study | Mid-career professionals with roughly three-plus years of experience who want senior, executive, or consultancy roles |
| Primary career paths | Corporate communications directors, agency strategists, social media managers, crisis consultants, civic-science storytellers at organizations such as Edelman and the New England Patriots | Strategic communication leadership, brand and content strategy, research and analytics, AI-enabled communication strategy |
| Capstone or experiential requirements | PRLab or internship required; no standalone capstone listed in BU materials | No standalone capstone listed in BU materials |
How to choose
If you want a PR-specific credential and prefer in-person, part-time study, the MS in Public Relations is the more direct fit. Its 48-credit, 12-course structure goes deeply into media relations, reputation, and stakeholder work across corporate, agency, and public affairs settings.
If your goal is broader integrated communication leadership, the online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication may be a stronger match for the strategic communications director career path. Its 32-credit, eight-course format is built for working professionals with at least three years of experience, and it emphasizes multi-channel strategy, research and analytics, crisis and executive communication, and AI tools.
Modality matters too. The PR program is on campus and designed to accommodate evening and weekend schedules. The strategic integrated communication program is fully online with seven-week courses, which can make it easier to maintain a full-time job while studying.
Still deciding on the public relations vs strategic communication choice? Choose the PR degree if you want depth in media relations, crisis, and reputation management and can attend campus part-time. Choose strategic integrated communication if you are already mid-career and want an online path to lead integrated campaigns, use research and analytics, and apply AI tools across paid, earned, shared, and owned media.
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Admissions Requirements and Application Process
Boston University keeps the on-campus MS in Public Relations and the online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication test-optional, but deadlines and document expectations differ enough that you should confirm details for the exact program you are targeting.
GRE and Prerequisites
Neither the MS in Public Relations nor the online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication requires the GRE. You need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, such as an online public relations bachelor's degree, and BU does not require a specific undergraduate major. The MS in Public Relations lists no prerequisite courses; for the online strategic integrated communication program, BU also does not publish prerequisite coursework beyond the accredited degree.
Application Materials
For the online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication, plan to submit an online application, transcripts from every college or university attended, a résumé or CV, a personal statement of 500 words or fewer, and letters of recommendation. BU's pages are inconsistent on the recommendation count: one College of Communication page lists one letter, while a Boston University Online page lists two. Check with the program before submitting. International applicants whose previous degree is not from an English-speaking institution typically provide TOEFL or IELTS scores, and waivers may be possible with evidence of English proficiency. For the MS in Public Relations, BU routes most materials through the same graduate application portal; expect to provide transcripts, résumé, personal statement, and recommendations, along with English proficiency documentation if applicable.
Deadlines and Selectivity
For the MS in Public Relations, February 1, 2026 is the priority deadline for scholarship consideration, and the final deadline is May 1, 2026. For the online MS in Strategic Integrated Communication, the Fall 2026 priority deadline is May 1, with a final deadline of August 1. BU's published pages are internally inconsistent about spring entry: one page says spring admission begins in spring 2028, while another page lists fall and spring entry. Verify with the College of Communication. Neither program publishes a numeric acceptance rate, but the online program's admission review is described as highly selective and holistic, weighing professional track record alongside academic potential.
Salary Insight: Public Relations Specialists in Boston
Boston-area public relations specialists earn well above the national median.
Frequently Asked Questions About BU Online Public Relations
Boston University's public relations and online communication master's options are not identical. The answers below clarify which program is fully online, how they differ, what you may pay, and what BU requires for admission.
