For Second Straight Year, UA’s PR Program Ranked Among Top Five by PRWeek Magazine

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s public relations program is among the top five PR Education Programs in the United States, according to national rankings produced and published in PRWeek magazine.

This is the second straight year that UA’s PR program has been recognized for being one of the top programs. The number one ranking for 2010 will be announced in New York City Thursday, March 11 during a gala dinner ceremony.

“In March, we hope to be named the number one program in the country,” said Dr. Joseph Phelps, chairman of the UA advertising and public relations department. “Regardless of the final ranking, it is a great honor to be considered among the best in the country.”

“This high ranking is a tribute to our knowledgeable and caring faculty, to our smart and hard-working students, to our staff and all of our supporters,” Phelps added. “These supporters, including alumni, members of the Colleges’ Board of Visitors, members of the Plank Center for Ethics and Leadership in Public Relations and others have visited with, and helped us teach, our students and have provided internships and mentoring, as well as financial resources. All of this plays an essential role in our ability to provide the highest quality education in advertising and public relations.”

Dr. Bruce Berger, professor and previous chairman of the department, organized the application materials. “The judges focus on the quality of internships, professional involvement, faculty research productivity, quality of program content, program goals and achievements, and the use of new media,” Berger said. “Thanks to this recognition, we hope to attract other outstanding students and faculty to our program.”

UA’s advertising and public relations program, with more than 1,000 students, is the largest department in the College of Communication and Information Sciences.

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