The University of St. Thomas was named by The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) as one of the three launch schools that will embed strategic communications in its MBA course curriculum. PRSA announced today the national rollout of the second tier of this initiative, while issuing a call-to-action for B-Schools to add strategic communications and reputation management course work to curricula.
“At St. Thomas we have long understood the importance and value of effective communication in business,” said Christopher Puto, Dean of the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas. “For nearly 30 years our Master of Business Communication program has offered communications courses specifically developed with the business communicator in mind. In bringing some of that curriculum to our MBA students we are helping them better understand the importance and value of reputation management in business.”
The national roll-out builds upon PRSA’s successful pilot program at five leading business schools including the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and the Kellogg School of Business Management at Northwestern.
In addition to Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas other launch schools include Syracuse University and Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University. These schools will offer the PRSA-designed reputation management coursework as part of their MBA curricula.
“We are not only thrilled that these three launch schools have agreed to offer our course, but that this program is flourishing and growing,” said PRSA Chair and CEO, Mickey G. Nall, APR, Fellow PRSA and Managing Director, Ogilvy PR, Atlanta. “Communications is a vital part of any successful business; learning effective communications skills and strategies will benefit MBA students greatly in their future careers.”
Schools interested in the course can obtain information through the PRSA website at https://www.prsa.org/Intelligence/BusinessCase/MBAInitiative/.
“Organizational leaders view corporate communications as a vital part of their business strategy and it is appropriately necessary for reputation management to be included within MBA teachings,” said Joe Cohen, APR, Chair-Elect of PRSA and senior vice president at MWW. “The continued growth and momentum behind this effort speaks to the demand among hiring managers for MBAs with grounding in communications strategy, the rising demand among students for reputation management coursework, and the realization among educators for the need to fill this critical gap in MBA curricula.”
About the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business
The University of St. Thomas (UST) is the largest private university in Minnesota, fostering a tradition of service to the public and an energetic, thoughtful approach to the challenges of contemporary life. Serving more than 10,500 undergraduate and graduate students, St. Thomas is a campus connected to community to meet the challenges of today.
With the vision of excelling in educating highly principled global business leaders, the Opus College of Business at St. Thomas serves more than 5,000 students in both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In addition, its executive education programs and its centers and institutes serve more than 18,000 participants annually. The Opus College of Business is the only private business school in Minnesota accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and is ranked in the top 25 percent of accredited business schools nationwide.
About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
PRSA is the largest professional organization serving the U.S. public relations community. With a mission to "advance the profession and the professional," PRSA provides news and information, thought leadership, continuing education and networking opportunities; sets standards of professional excellence and ethical conduct; and advocates for the business value of public relations and greater diversity among public relations professionals. Based in New York, PRSA comprises 112 local Chapters; 14 Professional Interest Sections that focus on specific industries and practice areas; and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which is active at more than 320 colleges and universities.
