Is a public relations degree worth it?

Over at Rock Star PR , Jed Hallam ponders the value of a university degree in public relations:

"I didn’t study public relations at university, I studied English Literature and, typical for the industry, I fell into PR. But what if I would’ve always have wanted to work in PR and would’ve studied it at university? Would that make me a better PR professional? Or would it have simply prepared me for the technical aspects of public relations; the format of the press release, the communications audit, the strategy, the three month plan, the research, the analysis and on and on… Can this be learnt on the job or must it be taught?"

John Burg left a comment on the post that points out that even the best degrees are useless uinless you can convert theory into practise:

"You cannot learn to ride a bike until you get on it. But if you first study physics, balance and riding on a stationary cycle, you will be better prepared once you hit the ground. However, just because you don’t have that piece of paper doesn’t mean that you are any less qualified than the next guy. All it means is that you don’t have the perspective of a trained “practitioner”. PR and Communications are a human sciences. We invented them, we drive them, we are them. If you intuitively “get it” you can do it. But a little background, some perspective, some experience goes a long way."

I feel personally that a degree in PR is the same as any other degree in the arts and humanities - unless there is a strong vocational element (as Richard Millington points out) then the degree won’t prepare you that well for working in ‘the real world’. History, Philosophy, English Literature, Sociology, etc. - all very good degrees with no clear career path at the end.

As such, it is the experience gained outside of these degrees that is more likely to prepare you for working life, whether its playing sports, joining a society, or taking up work experience as part of the degree.

It’s only when students/graduates get into a real working situation with real clients that their skills are put into practise. As Vikki Chowney tweeted just yesterday:

"Graduates; there’s nothing like real industry experience - now you really start learning"

This is an element that Bright One is trying to help with, offering students real life clients as part of their degrees - even if they’re not studying PR - so that they can learn on the job and do something for the social good at the same time. It's an opportunity to gain real world experience with real clients that will translate into a higher level of professionalism in years to come, using skills learned from studying in real world situations, benefiting both current studies and future employment.

Those who study for a public relations degree will benefit by gaining a better understanding of the communications industry and the everyday workings of a PR agency. There is a gap here that posts like Jed's highlight, a gap that Bright One hopes to help fill.