Editorial Record: Submitted August 7, 2025. Revised and accepted December 4, 2025.
Authors
Hongmei Shen
Professor
San Diego State University
California, USA
Email: hshen@sdsu.edu
Kenneth Plowman
Associate Professor
Brigham Young University
Utah, USA
Email: Kenneth_Plowman@byu.edu
Melody Fisher
Associate Professor
Mississippi State University
Mississippi, USA
Email: mfisher@comm.msstate.edu
ABSTRACT
This article shares insights based on analyses of the 2025 CPRE online survey on master’s education in public relations in the U.S. The study focuses on knowledge areas, skills areas, and courses in disciplines related to public relations, which are identified as necessary curricular components by a national sample of public relations educators (N = 111). The core knowledge areas and skills identified by the findings suggest a graduate curriculum that is strategic, theory-based, and professionally grounded, crucial for graduates to thrive in evolving communication environments. The recommended courses in related disciplines underscore an interdisciplinary focus to enable graduates to think strategically and apply their knowledge effectively in diverse professional settings.