A Comparison of Characteristics and Cultures of Academic Disciplinary Areas in the Context of Advertising and Public Relations Education

Abstract

This study examines factors such as academic preparation, socioeconomic status, faculty/student relationships and extracurricular activities in different colleges at a public research university. The goal of this study is to begin to understand the cultures of different broad academic disciplinary areas where students may study advertising and public relations. Student survey responses combined with institutional data about those students did reveal differences based on academic disciplinary areas. Communication students were somewhat less prepared academically, more likely to be the first in their family to attend college, most likely to report having a faculty mentor and most likely to be involved in student media. They also engaged in internship and co-op experiences, used career services and were more active in Greek life than students in most other colleges. Students in business, arts and sciences and professional disciplines also participated in the study and multiple significant differences were found.