» Recommended Classes for First-Year Public Relations, Advertising & Entertainment Marketing Majors

Here are the classes that we recommend you take during your first year as a Public Relations, Advertising & Entertainment Marketing major at Chapman.

For your first semester, we recommend taking 12-15 credits (most classes are 3 credits; those with labs are 4). You must be enrolled in 12 credits to be considered a full-time status student. The recommended courses below will put you at 15 credits per semester (fall and spring).

Introductory Math Requirement

As an incoming first-year student, you must take a math assessment. If you place into Math 100 (Learning and Studying Mathematics for Understanding), then you must enroll in this course in your first year (fall or spring semester). For more information, visit our Math Assessment webpage.

General Education Classes

You can choose a General Education (GE) class from any GE category – it’s your choice. In general, the following GE areas are recommended to begin/complete during your first year:

GE Language Study (strongly recommended)
GE Quantitative Inquiry

Note: Some GE courses may “double count” with your major or minor. Students can share up to 9 credits between major and GE requirements and can share up to 6 credits between minor and GE requirements. Visit the General Education Program site to review the GE policies and see a list of approved courses for each GE area.

You can learn more about general education on our General Education: How it Works page.

You may be able to fulfill some of your GE requirements with classes from your major:

FTV 140

Fulflills AI

Fall Semester

PRA Majors are part of the Block Scheduling program for first-year students in the Fall 2023 semester. You will be pre-registered by the department in TWO PRA courses in May/June. You can then build the rest of your schedule around these required major courses.

FTV 140/140L - Introduction to Film & Media Aesthetics, Lecture and Laboratory (Block Scheduled)
Credits: 3

Note: FTV 140L is the “lab” component course that must be taken with the FTV 140 lecture.

PRA 219 Principles of Entertainment Marketing or PRA 230 - Principles of Advertising or PRA 231 - Principles of Public Relations (Block Scheduled)
Credits: 3

Note: You will only be enrolled in either PRA 219, PRA 230, or PRA 231

FFC 100 - You Choose!
Credits: 3

All first-year students at Chapman have to take First Year Foundations. The class will introduce you to college and there is a different topic for every major.

Certain major programs require that their students take a specific FFC course, or give you a choice from a list of FFC courses specific to the major. If you are in a major that doesn't require you to take a specific FFC course, then you will be directed to choose from a listing of all FFC course options for Fall 2023. See the First-Year Focus GE page for your major’s list of FFC options.

GE Class
Credits: 3

Spring Semester

FTV 130 - Introduction to Visual Storytelling
Credits: 3

Any of the Principles courses you did not already take in the fall:

PRA 219 - Principles of Entertainment Marketing (3 credits)
PRA 230 - Principles of Advertising (3 credits)
PRA 231 - Principles of Public Relations (3 credits)

Any GE class/minor exploration
Credits: 3

Your semester should total at least 12 units to be considered a full-time student, though it is recommended to take 15 units each semester