Public Relations
You are connected and seek to build fulfilling relationships. Your visionary leadership consistently finds creative solutions to difficult problems. Writing, photography and design energize you, and you’re passionate about telling stories — one word, flash and click at a time. Northwestern’s versatile public relations major will teach you to create and engage media with ambition and integrity. What’s more, the strong communication skills you’ll gain will be valuable assets no matter where your career takes you.
Why NWC?
Our public relations program explores a wide variety of media sources and provides opportunities for students to collaborate with businesses, nonprofits and individuals on strategic communications initiatives. Its distinctive focus on communication allows budding PR professionals to enhance their writing and speaking skills, experiment with graphic design, and think broadly about how the media can best serve consumers.
Topics of study include media writing, organizational communication, advertising campaigns and graphic design. Related minors include public relations, arts administration, journalism, multimedia, entrepreneurship and project management.
Program Director
Outcomes
Public relations is one of the United States’ faster growing industries, with employment rates expected to rise 11% before 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Join our standout alumni at employers and graduate schools such as:
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Experience
Accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), Northwestern College business programs teach the most cutting-edge business practices worldwide. The department also receives counsel from a board of local business professionals, helping us stay up to date on current market needs and trends.
Our vision: Cultivating the next generation of business leaders to make an impact for Christ.
Our mission: Equipping and preparing students for excellence to fulfill their calling in the marketplace.
Our promise to students: We will challenge you to academic and personal excellence by:
- Delivering high-quality, specialized instruction,
- Guiding your development of market-leading skills, and
- Providing experiential learning opportunities as we help you discern your calling and follow the example of Christ.
The Compass Center for Career & Calling will connect you with internship experiences, whether you stick close to home or find opportunities further afield. The center also offers help writing resumes and cover letters, practice interview sessions, job shadowing and more.
The Center for Innovation & Leadership connects students with area professionals, offers micro-credentials, and hosts the Impact Competition, where students pitch ideas for making a difference on campus and in the community.
Public relations majors spend at least two semesters working for Crosswalk Media, a student-led group that partners with area businesses and nonprofits to meet their communication needs. Students have developed advertising, public relations campaigns and social media content for places like Sheldon Christian School, Orange City Public Library, Tulip Town Bulb Company, and Hands Around the World (a retailer of arts and crafts from developing countries).
As a member of Northwestern’s student-led Business Club, you’ll tour regional businesses, hear from northwest Iowa business professionals, and travel to larger cities to tour businesses and network with alumni.
Study abroad programs in dozens of countries are great opportunities to learn about communication practices around the globe.
If you’d like to take your business knowledge to the next level, you can apply to Northwestern’s Master of Business Administration program after graduation. Our 100% online program can be completed in as little as one year, giving you the critical skills necessary for managerial roles and increasing your value as an employee.
Accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), Northwestern College business programs teach the most cutting-edge business practices worldwide. The department also receives counsel from a board of local business professionals, helping us stay up to date on current market needs and trends.
Our vision: Cultivating the next generation of business leaders to make an impact for Christ.
Our mission: Equipping and preparing students for excellence to fulfill their calling in the marketplace.
Our promise to students: We will challenge you to academic and personal excellence by:
- Delivering high-quality, specialized instruction,
- Guiding your development of market-leading skills, and
- Providing experiential learning opportunities as we help you discern your calling and follow the example of Christ.
The Compass Center for Career & Calling will connect you with internship experiences, whether you stick close to home or find opportunities further afield. The center also offers help writing resumes and cover letters, practice interview sessions, job shadowing and more.
The Center for Innovation & Leadership connects students with area professionals, offers micro-credentials, and hosts the Impact Competition, where students pitch ideas for making a difference on campus and in the community.
Public relations majors spend at least two semesters working for Crosswalk Media, a student-led group that partners with area businesses and nonprofits to meet their communication needs. Students have developed advertising, public relations campaigns and social media content for places like Sheldon Christian School, Orange City Public Library, Tulip Town Bulb Company, and Hands Around the World (a retailer of arts and crafts from developing countries).
As a member of Northwestern’s student-led Business Club, you’ll tour regional businesses, hear from northwest Iowa business professionals, and travel to larger cities to tour businesses and network with alumni.
Study abroad programs in dozens of countries are great opportunities to learn about communication practices around the globe.
If you’d like to take your business knowledge to the next level, you can apply to Northwestern’s Master of Business Administration program after graduation. Our 100% online program can be completed in as little as one year, giving you the critical skills necessary for managerial roles and increasing your value as an employee.
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Faculty + Staff
Brilliant scholars. Committed Christians. Invested in you. That’s Northwestern’s faculty.
Dr. Fan Fei, CFA
Associate Professor of Business and Economics; Director of Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program
Dr. Han-Yen Kao
Associate Professor of Economics; Department Vice Chair
Annette Vander Kooi Minnick ’88
Associate Professor of Communications; PR Program Director
Dr. Mjumo Mzyece
Professor of Management
Vonda Post ’88
Professor of Accounting
Dr. Jiying Song, PMP, M.Div.
Associate Professor of Business; Department Chair
Dr. Erica Vonk ’00
Associate Professor of Business; Director of Center for Innovation & Leadership; Senior Woman Leader for Athletics
Scott Bahrke ’01
Instructor in Business Education
Robert De Haan
Instructor in Agricultural Business
Kimberly Van Es
Instructor in Business Writing
