Tamil Nadu   

A PR course that rivals MBA

G. Ananthakrishnan

M.A. in Public Relations combines strengths of management principles and communication

PHOTO: K. V. SRINIVASAN

ON THE THRESHOLD: Freshers of Stella Maris College.

A postgraduate programme in public relations that offers an option to a conventional management education is what Stella Maris College in Chennai has announced, starting with the academic year 2006-07.

The "glocal" principle of thinking global and acting local forms the basis of the M.A. Public Relations course.

Candidates with a bachelor's degree in any discipline of the University of Madras or any recognised university accepted as equivalent are eligible.

"This is a course that aims to get people connected. It has triple layers of theory, practical and internship exposure," says Dr. Annamma Philip, principal, Stella Maris College.

Over four semesters in two years, the students will cover a syllabus that extensively deals with the practice of public relations and communication in different settings: government, private and citizen sectors.

Given its multi-sectoral approach, the M.A. provides a base for further research work in related fields. It also distinguishes itself by creating an alternative for those who are looking for something different from the core areas of specialisation in an MBA such as finance, marketing, human resource management and systems management.

Of particular interest in this programme is the opportunity for the students to spend one working day in a week at any suitable organisation under the internship component.

By choosing a workday rather than Saturday, keen participation by both the institution concerned and the student is ensured, says Dr. K. Sundari, academic dean and head, Department of Public Relations, Stella Maris College.

The course also has a significant community orientation, reflected in the courses offered from semester I. It has a paper on community relations of four credits; the students also "learn from the community" as part of a social awareness programme.

Building of soft skills and training in management form part of this M.A. Basic and advanced computer use is one of these. "The course aims to provide a holistic academic preparation. A candidate may want to serve in the corporate sector, in government or a non-governmental organisation. We enable all these choices," says Dr. Annamma Philip.

The candidates will be prepared at the end of the two years for group communication, case presentations, use of different media and the Internet. Continuous assessment for 50 marks and end-semester examination for 50 marks forms the evaluation pattern to qualify for the degree.

The M.A. course, with an intake of 25 candidates, is offered under the autonomous, self-financing scheme. It draws upon extensive experience gained from linkages with international professional and academic initiatives, notably in Singapore, Bangkok, China and Hong Kong, says Dr. Sundari who has participated in many of these.

The course has the flexibility for corporate, community and development work.Forms for admission are being issued at the IOB branch in the Stella Maris College campus, 17, Cathedral Road, Chennai 600086.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

A PR course that rivals MBA
Studying dental disease among Chennai residents
Allowing the gifted to bloom
A new introduction to engineering
`International students enhance campus life'
Memorial for Kumbakonam school fire victims: Collector
Small ports planned in Rameswaram, Nagapattinam
Excellence award to 16 organisations
NAAC team to visit college
Ministers launch two eggs a week scheme in districts
M. Phil entrance test
B.S. Physician Assistant programme
Welfare schemes being executed with vigour, says Vasan
After Kandadevi, focus on reserved panchayat polls
Briefly

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu