The education and career preparedness offered through Biola University’s Department of Public Relations and Strategic Communication has been recognized by the leading national public relations professional organization — Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The organization approved the recommendation for Biola to receive a Certification for Education for Public Relations (CEPR). Biola is only the second school in California and one of two faith-based universities affiliated with the Council of Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) to obtain this certification.

“For Biola to be recognized with the CEPR is an incredible achievement!” said Dr. Carolyn Kim, professor and chair of the Department of Public Relations and Strategic Communication. “It really speaks to the impact the program is having not just in our classroom, but beyond in places like internships and within alumni's post-Biola careers. We're so thankful to be one of the few institutions to have received this distinction!”

Receiving this credential distinguishes Biola as providing an academic program with faculty curriculum and resources needed to prepare students for professional public relations positions and career growth. A review of the university for consideration of certification included meetings with program administrators, professors and also analyzed the quality of the program’s production of professionals through reaching out to alumni, internship providers and current employers.

The reviewers for Biola’s evaluation, which included a full-time educator and an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) credentialed practitioner in partnership with the PRSA Educational Affairs Committee, highlighted the strength of the department’s curriculum. They stated that Biola has “a substantial curriculum specific to public relations that far exceeds the six-course standard and includes a course in ethics.”

“In a rapidly changing field like Public Relations, institutions that have the CEPR mark of distinction for their degrees stand apart,” said Kim. “Students can be confident in the curriculum, the value of the internship sites, the success of alumni and the overall reputation of the program.”

The public relations department will officially receive this certification at the Public Relations Society of America conference in October 2021.

Learn more or apply to Biola’s Public Relations and Strategic Communications program. Biola also offers fully online public relations degree programs. Learn more about the online degree in Public Relations and Digital Media Management that Biola launched last year.

Written by Malik Shaheed, TA for Public Relations and Strategic Communication Department. For more information, contact Jenna Loumagne, assistant director of media relations and strategic communications, at jenna.loumagne@biola.edu.