Advertising Major

Getting advised
Declaring the major
General requirements
Core requirements
Preprofessional requirements
Special requirement
Minimum grade requirement
Upper-level major courses/Minimum GPA
Upper-level MC requirement
Required communication elective (for students under 2006–08 and earlier undergraduate catalogs)
Optional communication electives (for students under 2010-12 and 2008–10 undergraduate catalogs)
General electives
ADV major course sequence
Declaring a minor
Choosing a minor
Second minor
Second major
Suggested course plan for the major (2010-12 and 2008-10 catalogs)
Sample advertising course checksheet (2004–06/2006–08 catalogs)
Internship/practicum
Independent study

As a marketing function, advertising focuses on the promotion of products, services, companies, organizations and ideas through paid media space or time. Advertising media include magazines, newspapers, television, radio, the Internet, outdoor/transit and direct marketing.

Advertising graduates find jobs at advertising agencies; with newspapers, magazines, and radio and television stations; and in the communication and marketing departments of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. They work as copywriters, editors, graphic designers, art directors, account executives, media sales representatives, production specialists, media consultants and planners, marketing researchers, and campaign planners, among others.

Students selected to serve on the department’s Advertising Team participate in the annual National Student Advertising competition, or “college world series of advertising,” sponsored by the American Advertising Federation. The UA team won the national championship in 2000, placed 2nd in 2009, and is typically one of the top teams in district competition.

Getting advised

To be assigned an adviser you must officially declare the major (see below). Once you have an adviser assigned to you, you must complete the following steps before making an appointment with him or her:

Carefully read the requirements for the major, minor, Core, special requirement, and second major/minor that are listed on this website.

Attend a group advising session. The times/dates of these sessions will be posted outside the APR office and around Reese Phifer Hall three weeks prior to class registration. You will be advised at the session and your advising hold will be lifted so you may register when your registration time slot opens. Thus you do not need to make an appointment with your adviser, unless you have additional questions.

For advising after the semester in which you officially declare the major, make an appointment with your adviser at least three weeks prior to class registration. Faculty advisers will post available advising appointment times outside their office doors.

Be prepared for your advising appointment. Have your courses chosen for the upcoming semester, and prepare a list of any questions you might have.

You will be able to register for courses once your registration time slot opens. Students who are on academic warning or suspension must see Mrs. Daria (418-B Phifer) or Mrs. Sims (418-D Phifer) to have their advising holds lifted.

Declaring the major

To officially declare the advertising major, go to 412 Reese Phifer to complete a major form. Once your major form has been completed, you will be assigned an APR adviser.

General requirements

For students under the 2010-2012 undergraduate catalog, at least 120 semester hours are required for graduation, with at least 31 semester hours in the College of Communication and Information Sciences (i.e., APR/JN/MC/TCF courses). No more than 36 of these hours may be in the College. For students under the 2008-2010 and earlier undergraduate catalogs, at least 124 semester hours are required for graduation, with at least 30 semester hours in the College of Communication and Information Sciences (i.e., APR/JN/MC/TCF courses). No more than 36 of these hours may be in the College.

At least 120 semester hours are required for graduation, with at least 30 semester hours in the College of Communication and Information Sciences (i.e., APR/JN/MC/TCF courses). No more than 36 of these hours may be in the College.

You may count toward the 120-hour graduation requirement no more than 21 hours in any one subject outside your major or minor.

At least 80 hours in courses outside the departments of advertising and public relations, journalism, and telecommunication and film are required, with at least 65 semester hours being completed in the liberal arts and sciences.
A 2.0 GPA or better and “C-” or better in all major and minor courses are required for graduation.

Taking an average of 15 hours per semester is recommended in order to graduate in 8 semesters.

Core requirements

6 semester hours in English composition (FC). First-semester freshmen must begin English composition and continue taking the required English courses each semester without interruption.

6 semester hours in either computer science (C) or one foreign language (FL).

12 semester hours of courses approved for the humanities (HU) and fine arts (FA), to include 3 hours of FA and 3 hours of literature (L). APR students will take COM 123 as part of the HU requirement, must complete a 6-hour sequence in literature (EN 205/206, EN 207/208, or EN 209/210), and must earn a “C-“ or above in these three courses.

12 semester hours of courses approved for the history and social and behavioral sciences (HI & SB) to include 3 hours approved for the history designation. APR students are required to take EC 110 as part of this requirement and earn a “C-“ or above in it. ADV students must complete EC 110 prior to enrolling in APR 322 Advertising Copywriting or APR 422 Advertising Media.

11 semester hours in natural science and mathematics (N & MA) to include 8 hours of natural sciences and 3 hours of math. ADV students will satisfy the core requirement with MATH 110 or equivalent or higher. Some minors, such as general business, require MATH 112. ADV students must complete the math core prior to enrolling in APR 322 Advertising Copywriting.

6 semester hours in 300- and 400-level courses, preferably in the student’s major, approved for the writing (W) designation. The W designation must be satisfied on this campus.

Common suggestions for core classes

Preprofessional requirements

For students under the 2010-12 and 2008–10 undergraduate catalogs: The APR department requires MC 101, JN 150, APR 260, APR 221, and either a foreign language or computer science sequence. Student must receive a “C-” or above in MC 101, JN 150, APR 260 and APR 221.

For students under 2006–08 and earlier undergraduate catalogs: The APR department requires MC 101, APR 221, and either a foreign language or computer science sequence. Student must receive a “C-” or above in MC 101 and APR 221.

Special requirement

Special requirement courses will broaden your background and allow you to sample a variety of upper-level courses. To meet the special requirement, a student takes 12 hours of 300- and/or 400-level courses in any areas of study outside of APR, JN, MC, TCF and the student’s minor. A student having a second major or minor may use 300- and/or 400-level course hours from that second major or minor to double-satisfy hours in the special requirement. Otherwise, special requirement courses must go beyond coursework required for Core or the minor. When choosing special requirement courses, the student should remember that at least 65 hours of the total 120 hours required for the degree must be in liberal arts and sciences courses (such as courses in the College of Arts and Sciences, communication studies, and economics). Check for prerequisites before registering for these courses.

Some courses that qualify for the special requirement

Minimum grade requirement

“C-” is the minimum grade requirement in major courses and prerequisites in order to continue in your major.

Upper-level major courses/Minimum GPA

You must have a 2.0 GPA or higher in order to enroll in any course in the major numbered 300 or above. And you must earn “C-” or better in these courses in order to graduate.

APR 300 Visual Communication
APR 322 Advertising Copywriting
APR 422 Advertising Media
APR 418 Advanced Advertising Development or APR 423 Advertising Management
APR 424 Advertising Campaigns

Check the advertising course sequence for your catalog year for prerequisite information:

Advertising sequence for 2010-12 and 2008–10 catalogs
Advertising sequence for 2006–08 and earlier catalogs

Upper-level MC requirement

After you have 61 hours, have completed MC 101, and have at least a 2.0 GPA you are eligible to take two (2) upper-level MC courses. Either MC 401 Mass Media Law and Regulation or MC 407 Mass Communication Research is required. You might want a MC 400-level course to re-use in a W designation, but only some MC courses have W designations.

To fulfill the MC requirement only, you may take both MC 401 and MC 407 or select either MC 401 or MC 407 and one of the following:

MC 403 Survey of Communication Theory
MC 405 Mass Communication Ethics
MC 409 Mass Communication History (W)
MC 411 International Mass Communication
MC 413 Communication and Diversity (W)
MC 415 Mass Communication Processes and Effects
MC 417 Mass Communication and Public Opinion
MC 421 Political Communication (W)
MC 425 Media Management (W)
MC 495 Special Topics.

Required communication elective (for students under 2006–08 and earlier undergraduate catalogs)

For advertising majors under the 2006–08 and earlier undergraduate catalogs, you must choose one elective in APR/JN/MC/TCF (3 hours). You may choose up to two other communication electives (6 additional hours), if you’d like to have a total of 36 hours in the major.

Optional communication electives (for students under 2010-12 and 2008–10 undergraduate catalogs)

For advertising majors under the 2010-12 and 2008–10 undergraduate catalogs, you may choose up to two communication electives (5 additional hours), if you’d like to have a total of 36 hours in the major.

General electives

A certain number of general electives is needed in order to fulfill graduation requirements. This number is variable for every student, depending upon the number of hours required for minors, hours transferred, and hours taken in the major (such as Core requirements).

Although you may take general electives at any time, we advise you to save your general elective hours for your junior and senior years, when such courses can be chosen to enhance your major and minor areas of study.

General electives should not be confused with communication electives (see above). General electives fall outside of courses offered by the College of Communication and Information Sciences, with the exception of communication studies (COM) courses.

Advertising sequence for 2010-12 and 2008–10 catalogs
Advertising sequence for 2006–08 and earlier catalogs

Declaring a minor

Advertising and public relations students are required to have a minor. To declare the minor, go to 412 Reese Phifer to receive the major/minor form. Once the department that houses the minor has completed the form outlining the minor curriculum, you must return it to 412 Reese Phifer for it to become official. Hours in the minor range from 18-27, depending on the minor. For specific questions about coursework in the minor, see an adviser in the department that houses the minor.

Choosing a minor

Selecting a minor can be a tough decision. We suggest choosing a minor that complements your major, that prepares you for your future employment goals, or that simply interests you. Minors that complement the advertising and PR majors include English, creative writing, art (with studio areas such as graphic design/digital media and photography), general business, management, psychology, English, political science, sociology, and history. You may choose a minor that enhances your major with a relevant area of study, such as a foreign language, African-American studies, women studies, American studies, philosophy, or international studies. Or perhaps you might select a field where you might find employment as a technical writer, such as the natural sciences, computer science, theater, health care management, etc.

Common minors (2010–12 undergraduate catalog)
Common minors (2008–10 undergraduate catalog)

Second minor

If you have a second minor, one of your two minors must be in the College of Arts and Sciences. The second minor in A&S will have courses at the 300 and/or 400 level that may be used to double-satisfy the special requirement and the W Core requirement. Thus, completing a second minor within a four-year college career can be easily achieved with good planning. You will broaden your educational experience, and your resume will look more impressive.

Second major

If you have a second major, the first consideration is where your “home” department will be (and thus which UA college will confer your degree). If your home department is APR, then your second major may be in the College of Arts and Sciences or another UA college, or you may double major in communication studies within the College of Communication and Information Sciences. The second major courses at the 300 and/or 400 level may be used to double-satisfy the special requirement and the W Core requirement.

If your home department is elsewhere, then your second major in advertising will include the full sequence of major courses (all of which require a “C-” or above), including campaigns, the 400-level MC requirement (6 hours with “C-” or above), the 12-hour special requirement (can be satisfied by upper-level courses in your first major), the literature sequence, EC 110 (requires “C-” or above), COM 123 (requires “C-” or above) and the math core requirement.

Double-majoring usually requires at least five years of coursework in the fall and spring semesters, or a full load of coursework in summer terms within a four-year college career. However, this financial and time investment in your education can bring more job opportunities upon graduation.

Sample advertising course checksheet

Advertising checksheet (2010-12 and 2008–10 undergraduate catalogs)
Advertising checksheet (2006–08 and earlier undergraduate catalogs)

Internship/practicum

Independent study

Independent study is an analysis of advanced theoretical issues in commercial persuasive communication, under the supervision of an advertising or public relations faculty member. For more information, click here.