Public Relations Subject regulations
Public relations is an exciting, fast-growing industry that involves using strategic communication to help an organisation maintain trusted relationships with its key stakeholders, seek to influence people's opinions or behaviour, and achieve its overall mission. If you enjoy writing and talking to different people, and love framing ideas in imaginative and engaging ways, then a career in PR may be right for you. It may also involve working with journalists, organising events, crisis/issues management, sponsorship and fundraising, government lobbying, and community/corporate relations.
Public Relations is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Business (BBus), the Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), the Bachelor of Communication (BC) and the Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours (BMS(Hons))[1]. Public Relations may also be included as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
To complete Public Relations as a single major for the BBus, BC or BCC, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Public Relations, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must complete PUBRL101, one paper from MRKTG101 or STMGT101; PUBRL201, PUBRL204, PUBRL205, PUBRL305, 30 points from PUBRL302, PUBRL303, or PUBRL304 and a Work Integrated Learning paper approved for the degree.
To complete Public Relations as part of a double major for the BBus, BC, BCC, or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Public Relations, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must complete PUBRL101, one paper from MRKTG101 or STMGT101; PUBRL201, PUBRL204, PUBRL205, PUBRL302, PUBRL304 and PUBRL305.
To complete a minor in Public Relations, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Public Relations major, including at least 30 points above 100 level. Students must complete PUBRL101.
NOTES:
[1] There will be no new enrolments into the BMS(Hons) from 2024. Students who commenced a BMS(Hons) in 2023 or prior should contact the Waikato Management School for programme advice.
Students are encouraged to contact the Waikato Management School for programme advice.
Other qualifications
Prescriptions for:
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GradCert(PR) and GradDip(PR) A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Public Relations at an advanced level in their first degree. The qualification regulations define the subject requirements for the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma. There are no specified subject papers that must be completed for these programmes.
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PGCert(PR), PGDip(PR), BBus(Hons), BCS(Hons) and MBus The qualification regulations define the subject requirements for the BBus(Hons), BCS(Hons), PGCert(PR), PGDip(PR) and MBus. There are no specified subject papers that must be completed for the BBus(Hons), BCS(Hons), and PGCert(PR) programmes.
PGDip(PR) students must complete LCOMM583, LCOMM584, PUBRL591.
MBus students must complete MNGMT581 and one of PUBRL591, PUBRL592, PUBRL593, PUBRL594, and 30 points from LCOMM583, LCOMM584. Students taking the 120 point MBus are required to complete at least 60 points from the papers listed for the subject. Students taking the 180 point MBus are required to complete at least 120 points from the papers listed for the subject.
Public Relations papers
Code and paper title | Points | |
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PUBRL500
Contemporary Issues in Public Relations
This paper explores the evolving landscape of public relations (PR) in the 21st century, focusing on contemporary challenges, trends, and practices... |
30 | 26B (Hamilton) |
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PUBRL500 Contemporary Issues in Public Relations
This paper explores the evolving landscape of public relations (PR) in the 21st century, focusing on contemporary challenges, trends, and practices...
Points 30
2026 Catalogue of Papers information current as of 23 Aug 2025 01:00am