Opportunities and outcomes
Organizational leadership and public relations topics covered
- Ethical and effective techniques in argumentation and rhetoric
- Interpersonal and group communication
- Listening, interviewing, and research
- Management of communication within an organization
- Principles, practices, and strategies of public relations
- Writing for public relations work
- Organizational leadership concepts and theories
Student learning outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts of interpersonal communication, public address, communication theory, organizational communication, and argumentation. Students demonstrate knowledge through exams, written materials, theatre performances, and classroom projects.
- Demonstrate communication skill through student presentations in theatre productions, acting, workshops, forensics, interpersonal, small group, argumentation, public speaking, public relations, leadership, and organizational communication classes.
- Demonstrate application of communication studies and theatre arts through participation in workshops, forensics, internships, service-learning projects, communication conference participation, and senior portfolio development.
Career Scholars Program
Students majoring in Organizational Leadership and Public Relations are eligible to take part in the Career Scholars Program. The Career Scholars Program offers a generous scholarship package while you embark on a unique cooperative education journey starting your freshman year at Wayne State. During your time here, you’ll participate in career readiness activities, business site visits, job shadowing, and more - all while learning the fundamentals of professional practice. After three years on campus, you’ll complete your senior year by working at a paid job in your chosen field. Job locations include Norfolk or Grand Island, Neb., where you'll live in community housing with fellow Career Scholars students.
Intercollegiate forensics
The Wayne State Forensics Team is a competitive speech team that provides students the opportunity to grow their skills in oral and written communication, critical thinking, research development, creativity, leadership, and confidence. The team competes regionally and nationally in a variety of public address and interpretation event categories, including communication analysis/rhetorical criticism; persuasive, informative, extemporaneous, impromptu, and after dinner speaking; and dramatic and prose interpretation.
Organizational leadership and public relations internships
Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find public relations internships and career opportunities. Students recently completed internships at the following locations:
- Children’s Hospital
- Logan Valley Contracting
- Rural Futures Institute
- St. Mary’s Catholic Church
- UNMC Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska
- Wayne Baseball Association
- Wayne State College
- WJAG Radio
Graduates of the Organizational Leadership and Public Relations degree program work in their chosen field using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, eager employers welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.
Jobs of recent graduates:
- Account Executive – Flood Communications (Norfolk, Neb.)
- Admissions Representative – Wayne State College (Wayne, Neb.)
- Behavioral Health Supervisor – Behavioral Health Specialists (Columbus, Neb.)
- Executive Director – Henderson Chamber of Commerce (Henderson, Neb.)
- Marketing Director – Columbus Chamber of Commerce (Columbus, Neb.)
- Marketing Specialist – St. Joseph Retirement Community (West Point, Neb.)
- Promotion Director – NRG Media (Omaha, Neb.)
- Public Relations Associate – Cruise & Associates (Columbus, Neb.)
- Recruiter – Rock Medical Group (Omaha, Neb.)
- Student Activities Coordinator – Northeast Community College (Norfolk, Neb.)
job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey
After graduating from Wayne State College, recent grads pursued advanced degrees at the following schools:
- Public Relations Management (MSOM) – Wayne State College (Wayne, Neb.)
Transfer to Wayne State
Our generous transfer credit policy will allow you to get credit for what you've already earned.
- If you've taken courses at other institutions, you can transfer those credits to Wayne State.
- Already have an associate degree? Seamlessly transfer your full degree through one of our transfer pathways.
- Military or veteran student? You may be able to get credit for your military experience and training.
Communication has always been important to me, so being able to make a living doing something I love is even better. I've had numerous opportunities while attending Wayne State, and I've been part of several clubs on campus. In this program, I've also been able to attend a number of conferences and present my papers there. I've met communication theorists and authors whom I've studied in my textbooks. One of my papers was even accepted into the Southern States Communication Association Conference. After graduation, I hope to work in communications for a large corporation or marketing agency.
Sarah Kreber
Omaha, Nebraska
Organizational Leadership and Public Relations
Communication has always been important to me, so being able to make a living doing something I love is even better. I've had numerous opportunities while attending Wayne State, and I've been part of several clubs on campus. In this program, I've also been able to attend a number of conferences and present my papers there. I've met communication theorists and authors whom I've studied in my textbooks. One of my papers was even accepted into the Southern States Communication Association Conference. After graduation, I hope to work in communications for a large corporation or marketing agency.
Sarah Kreber
Omaha, Nebraska
Organizational Leadership and Public Relations
Communication Arts Department faculty
Sean Ahern, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Sean Ahern is a communication arts professor at Wayne State College. Ahern teaches Sports Writing, Radio Production, and Radio Workshop. He is also the advisor for the on-campus radio station KWSC-FM 91.9 The Cat.
Brian Begley, MFA
Associate Professor
Brian Begley is a communication arts professor at Wayne State College and technical director and designer for the theatre program. He teaches lighting and set design, technical theatre, play writing, and acting specialties, including performance for the camera and stage combat.
Raihan Jamil, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Pat Janssen teaches in the Communication Arts Department at Wayne State College. His academic interests include journalism ethics, sports and popular culture, and the relationship between politics and mass media.
Dr. Allyn Lueders is a communication studies professor at WSC. She teaches undergraduate courses in public relations and interpersonal communication and graduate courses in public relations leadership. She is the chair of the Communication Arts Department.
Dr. Teresa Morales is a communication arts professor at Wayne State College. In addition to teaching CNA 100 Principles of Human Communication, she also teaches Public Address, Argumentation, Persuasion, the Rhetoric of Civic Life, Professional Presentations, Language and Human Behavior, Organizational Leadership, Leadership Theory, and Case Studies in Organizational Leadership.
Rusty Ruth, MFA
Associate Professor
Rusty Ruth is a communication arts professor at Wayne State College. He teaches acting, directing, dramatic literature, and stage dialect courses.
She teaches Communication Law, News Writing, Photojournalism, Agricultural Communications, and Integrated Brand Promotion, and advises the student-run newspaper, The Wayne Stater, as well as the Photography Club.
Mike White, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. Mike White is a communication arts professor and teaches television and video production, electronic media, and other mass communication courses at Wayne State College. He advises KWSC-TV, the college’s cable television station, serving Wayne and streamed online. White also oversees the KWSC Productions (The Hot Attic), the student video and the short film production studio.
Dr. Joe Whitt is a communication arts professor at Wayne State College. He specializes in human communication, particularly in interpersonal, intercultural, family, small group, environmental, and organizational contexts.
Student clubs for communication and public relations majors
FBLA Collegiate - A collegiate division of FBLA and professional organization for students in business and related majors
Forensics Team - A competitive speech team that that competes regionally and nationally in a variety of public address and interpretation event categories
KWSC-FM - Student-run radio station of WSC
KWSC-TV - A student-run cable access channel
Lambda Pi Eta - National honor society for communication majors
National Society of Leadership and Success - The nation's largest leadership honor society
Pi Kappa Delta - Communication honorary
PR in Action - Focuses on improving the practice of public relations
Wayne Stater - The official campus newspaper of Wayne State College
A Best College of Distinction
Wayne State was recognized as a Best College of Distinction for our excellence in student engagement, teaching, community, and successful graduate outcomes.
A Top Public College in the Midwest
WSC was identified as one of the top public universities in the Midwest for 2025 by U.S. News & World’s Best Colleges ranking report.
