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Public Relations Courses

Public relations courses can help you learn media relations, crisis communication, brand management, and strategic messaging. You can build skills in audience analysis, content creation, and effective storytelling. Many courses introduce tools like press release software, social media management platforms, and analytics tools, that support measuring campaign success and engaging with diverse audiences.

Popular Public Relations Courses and Certifications


  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    Status: AI skills
    AI skills
    M

    Microsoft

    Microsoft Public Relations and Communications Associate

    Skills you'll gain: Media Relations, Proofreading, Public Relations, Stakeholder Analysis, Integrated Marketing Communications, Marketing Communications, Strategic Communication, Public Affairs, Content Management, Performance Reporting, Storytelling, Content Management Systems, Content Performance Analysis, Content Strategy, Report Writing, Business Reporting, Content Scheduling, Marketing Effectiveness, Media Strategy, Generative AI

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    239 reviews

    Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    M

    Microsoft

    Marketing, Communication, and PR

    Skills you'll gain: Marketing and Public Relations, Integrated Marketing Communications, Marketing Communications, Public Relations, Storytelling, Communication Planning, Content Performance Analysis, Strategic Communication, Target Audience, Promotions and Campaigns, Campaign Planning, Cross-Channel Marketing, User Research, Ethical Standards And Conduct, AI Integrations

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    41 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Colorado Boulder

    Introduction to Public Relations and the Media

    Skills you'll gain: Press Releases, Strategic Communication, Public Relations, Media Relations, Communication Planning, Crisis Management, Marketing and Public Relations, Media and Communications, Corporate Communications, Corporate Sustainability, Social Media, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Target Audience, Journalism, Writing, Branding, Strategic Decision-Making, Driving engagement, Brand Strategy, Storytelling

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    784 reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    M

    Microsoft

    Introduction to Public Relations

    Skills you'll gain: Media Relations, Public Relations, Target Audience, Communication Planning, Marketing and Public Relations, Strategic Communication, Media and Communications, Performance Metric, Campaign Planning, Program Evaluation, Generative AI, AI literacy, Content Creation

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    154 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    I

    IE Business School

    Integrated Marketing Communications: Advertising, Public Relations, Digital Marketing and more

    Skills you'll gain: Marketing Communications, Integrated Marketing Communications, Advertising Campaigns, Advertising, Marketing, Marketing Budgets, Brand Marketing, Campaign Planning, Communication Planning, Marketing Planning, Marketing and Public Relations, Marketing Design, Brand Strategy, Media and Communications, Brand Management, Brand Loyalty, Branding, Marketing Management, Marketing Psychology, Communication

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    2.5K reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Colorado Boulder

    Principles of Public Relations

    Skills you'll gain: Strategic Communication, Public Relations, Communication Planning, Marketing and Public Relations, Corporate Communications, Corporate Sustainability, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Branding, Research, Stakeholder Engagement

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    663 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

What brings you to Coursera today?

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Irvine

    Corporate Communications

    Skills you'll gain: Internal Communications, Corporate Communications, Media Relations, Storytelling, Strategic Communication, Employee Engagement, Target Audience, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives, Public Relations, Crisis Management, Drive Engagement, Social Media Marketing, Social Media, Social Media Management, Business Communication, Stakeholder Communications, Telecommuting, Workplace inclusivity, Employee Retention, Diversity and Inclusion

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    163 reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Michigan

    Good with Words: Speaking and Presenting

    Skills you'll gain: Tactfulness, Oral Expression, Public Speaking, Storytelling, Verbal Communication Skills, Persuasive Communication, Non-Verbal Communication, Communication, Communication Strategies, Presentations, Ingenuity, Creative Thinking, Interpersonal Communications, Honesty, Cognitive flexibility, Social Skills, Empathy, Composure, Professionalism, Creativity

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    370 reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    M

    Microsoft

    Media Relations and Crisis Management

    Skills you'll gain: Media Relations, Internal Communications, Crisis Management, Strategic Communication, Communication Planning, Public Relations, Media Strategy, Communication Strategies, Stakeholder Communications, AI literacy, AI Integrations, Real Time Data

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    43 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Colorado Boulder

    The Nuts and Bolts of Public Relations

    Skills you'll gain: Press Releases, Public Relations, Strategic Communication, Communication Planning, Media Relations, Social Media, Target Audience, Journalism, Writing, Strategic Decision-Making, Driving engagement, Brand Strategy, Storytelling, Branding

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    114 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    Status: AI skills
    AI skills
    G

    Google

    Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce

    Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Media Planning, Social Media Marketing, Google Ads, Email Marketing, Social Media Strategy, Order Fulfillment, Paid media, Social Media Management, Online Advertising, Search Engine Optimization, Performance Measurement, Spreadsheet Software, Client Services, Campaign Management, E-Commerce, Loyalty Programs, Marketing, Web Presence, Interviewing Skills

    Build toward a degree

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    51K reviews

    Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Washington

    Dynamic Public Speaking

    Skills you'll gain: Public Speaking, Persuasive Communication, Oral Expression, Presentations, Verbal Communication Skills, Storytelling, Communication, Motivational Skills, Advocacy, Peer Review, Constructive Feedback, Communication Strategies, Performing Arts, Concision, Writing and Editing, Action Oriented, Trustworthiness, Verbal Strategic Communication, Writing, Problem Solving

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    2.9K reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular public relations courses

  • Microsoft Public Relations and Communications Associate: Microsoft
  • Marketing, Communication, and PR: Microsoft
  • Introduction to Public Relations and the Media: University of Colorado Boulder
  • Introduction to Public Relations: Microsoft
  • Integrated Marketing Communications: Advertising, Public Relations, Digital Marketing and more: IE Business School
  • Principles of Public Relations: University of Colorado Boulder
  • Corporate Communications: University of California, Irvine
  • Good with Words: Speaking and Presenting: University of Michigan
  • Media Relations and Crisis Management: Microsoft
  • The Nuts and Bolts of Public Relations: University of Colorado Boulder

Skills you can learn in Marketing

Market (economics) (28)
Social Media (15)
Marketing Strategy (14)
Analytics (13)
Brand (13)
Digital Marketing (13)
Marketing Analytics (11)
Plan (11)
Advertising (9)
Modeling (9)
Social Media Marketing (9)
Brand Management (7)

Frequently Asked Questions about Public Relations

Public relations is the practice of managing how an organization, brand, artist, or individual communicates with the public and key audiences. It often includes media relations, messaging, reputation management, stakeholder communication, and campaign planning. Courses such as Introduction to Public Relations and the Media from the University of Colorado Boulder and Introduction to Public Relations from Microsoft can help you build a practical foundation in how PR works.‎

Public relations skills are used in roles across communications, marketing, media, corporate affairs, nonprofit outreach, entertainment, and brand management. Common job titles may include public relations associate, communications specialist, media relations coordinator, corporate communications assistant, or marketing communications associate. Coursera courses such as Corporate Communications from the University of California, Irvine and Microsoft Public Relations and Communications Associate can help you explore how these skills apply in workplace settings.‎

Before learning public relations, it helps to be comfortable with written communication, basic research, audience awareness, and professional collaboration. You do not need an advanced background to begin, but familiarity with marketing, business communication, or media concepts can make PR topics easier to understand. Beginner-friendly options like Principles of Public Relations from the University of Colorado Boulder can help you build core knowledge step by step.‎

Skills that complement public relations include marketing, digital marketing, social media strategy, advertising, corporate communications, content writing, brand strategy, and analytics. These related areas help you plan campaigns, tailor messages for different audiences, and evaluate communication efforts. Courses such as Integrated Marketing Communications: Advertising, Public Relations, Digital Marketing and more from IE Business School connect PR with broader marketing and communications practices.‎

A good way to start learning public relations is to begin with the fundamentals of PR, media relations, and audience-focused communication. From there, you can explore more applied areas such as corporate communications, integrated marketing communications, or industry-specific PR. On Coursera, courses like Introduction to Public Relations and the Media, Introduction to Public Relations, and Marketing, Communication, and PR offer starting points for building practical communication skills.‎

Yes. You can start learning public relations on Coursera for free in two ways:

  1. Preview the first module of many public relations courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera AI (where available).
  2. Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial.

If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in public relations, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.‎

Some strong beginner options for public relations include Introduction to Public Relations and the Media from the University of Colorado Boulder, Introduction to Public Relations from Microsoft, and Principles of Public Relations from the University of Colorado Boulder. These courses focus on foundational PR concepts, communication strategy, media relationships, and professional messaging. If you want a broader business communications path, Marketing, Communication, and PR from Microsoft may also be a helpful next step.‎

Public relations courses typically cover communication strategy, media relations, messaging, reputation management, campaign planning, audience analysis, and the role of PR within marketing or corporate communications. Some courses also connect PR to advertising, digital marketing, music management, or organizational communication. The Coursera selection includes focused PR courses as well as related options like Corporate Communications and Music Management, Marketing and PR, so you can choose based on your goals.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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