West Palm Beach, Fla., USA (April 18, 2024) — The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the field’s leading professional organization, has granted Palm Beach Atlantic (PBA) University’s undergraduate public relations degree program Certification in Education for Public Relations (CEPR). PBA’s public relations program is one of only 46 undergraduate programs worldwide to hold this designation, only seven of which are faith-based.
“I am so proud of Dr. Chute and the entire team for achieving this significant accomplishment,” said Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, president of PBA. “At PBA, we pride ourselves on striving for excellence in every facet, and this certification is a testament to that. Our program is informed through the lens of scripture, and we are teaching our students how a Christian worldview informs ethical public relations.”
Established in 1989 as a voluntary program, CEPR is a quality assurance-based endorsement for studies in public relations at colleges and universities worldwide. It offers academic programs the opportunity to have an outside evaluation team review and endorse undergraduate and master’s level programs for meeting eight standards. These include curriculum, faculty, students, resources and facilities, assessment, professional affiliations, relationships with the total unit and the university, and diversity and global perspectives.
“We are delighted that our program has gained this recognition,” said Dr. Kathie Chute, professor of public relations and chair of the Department of Communication, Journalism and Public Relations. “We have worked hard the past few years to ensure our curriculum meets the high standards established for public relations studies and to meet the criteria for certification.”
The certification process included a three-day site visit by two of PRSA’s Educational Affairs Committee members to assess the program. The reviewers’ final report stated that PBA’s public relations “curriculum is strong and faculty members are dedicated and vested in ensuring the success of the students. Small class sizes allow the faculty to know each student personally.”
Reviewers contact internship providers, employers of graduates and other local practicing professionals to assess alumni from the public relations program and to ask former students about their educational experience.
“Granting us CEPR means PRSA endorses what we’re doing,” Chute said. “It is significant because it tells future employers that the students who graduate from PBA’s program have been prepared well for the industry.”
To learn more about PBA’s public relations undergraduate program, visit https://www.pba.edu/academics/majors-degrees/public-relations-ba/.
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About Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University, founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and professional degrees. The university has a 19-acre campus in West Palm Beach and an Orlando campus, and the 78-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system. The university is dedicated to the integration of biblical principles to prepare students for learning, leadership, and service. Learn more at www.pba.edu.
