Media and Public Affairs

About the media and public affairs major

If you’re interested in using communications strategy to further political goals, the media and public affairs major might be for you. This major is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States. Your interdisciplinary coursework will give you a deep understanding of political communication and its impact on the U.S. political process. You'll take courses in law and public policy, journalism, informatics, sociology, and political science. The O’Neill media and public affairs major will give you the skills necessary to use persuasive communication and media tools to achieve the goals of your community, a nonprofit organization, or business (Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, 2019).

Skills and abilities this major develops: communication, public relations, strategic thinking, and critical thinking.

Engaged learning experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IUPUI’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Student organizations

O’Neill’s student organizations engage the community at all levels and give students the resources and tools they need to succeed during and after college.

Career services

O’Neill’s career services office is designed to help you build your job-search skills and find full-time employment or an internship. They can also help you connect with alumni!

Study abroad

Enrich your academic experience by studying important public policy and criminal justice issues at a global level.

Opportunities after graduation

Employment of media and public relations specialists is projected to grow 8%, faster than the average for all occupations. About 27,400 openings for public relations specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022).

According to the IUPUI First Destination Survey in 2021, the average starting salary reported for O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduates was $45,726, and the median salary was $45,500.

The national median salary for media and public relations specialists was $62,800 in 2021 (Occupational Outlook Handbook).

(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

O’Neill media and public affairs graduates often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:

Business administration (MBA)
Health administration (MHA)
Law
Public administration (MPA)

Quick facts

Sample coursework

Finance and budgeting
Media as social institutions
Political science
Public relations
Visual communications
Voting, elections, and public opinion

Possible careers

Government affairs liaison
Lobbyist
Public administrator
Public information officer
Reporter
Trade organization representative

Where could I work?

Charitable organizations
Eskenazi Health
Government agencies
Indiana National Guard
Nonprofits
Philanthropic foundations

Complementing interests

EEnterprising

SSocial

AArtistic

Get your interest code

Where to get more information

O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Public Relations Society of America

O'Neill Career Services

Arts, Humanities, and Human Services Cluster

This major is part of the Arts, Humanities, and Human Services (AHHS) cluster. The AHHS cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in art and design, education, general studies, journalism, liberal arts, and social work. The AHHS cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.

Learn about the AHHS cluster

Learn about other clusters

Meet with an advisor or career consultant

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