Undergraduate Majors
B.S. Integrated Public Relations & Advertising with Advertising Concentration
The Integrated Public Relations and Advertising (IPRA) major with a concentration in Advertising prepares students for leadership positions in the fields of public relations, advertising, and integrated communications. The Advertising concentration is designed to cultivate the next generation of creative thinkers and strategic planners in the dynamic world of advertising along with an understanding of public relations principles, offering an integrated approach to the two disciplines. Rooted in a fusion of creativity, media planning, and management principles, the Advertising concentration provides students with an innovative education that prepares them for success in the ever-evolving advertising industry. Students in this concentration have an opportunity to work with real-world clients through a culminating class as a member of the student-run communications firm, Sago Agency, or through an integrated public relations and advertising campaigns course.
Whether your goal is to become an advertising account manager, copywriter, graphic designer, or media planner, the Advertising concentration will give you the skills and professional connections you need to launch your career.
Entry-Level Career Ideas
- Advertising Account Coordinator
- Junior Copywriter
- Graphic Designer
- Social Media Coordinator
- Digital Media Strategist
- Communications Specialist
- Advertising Media Buyer/Planner
- Marketing Assistant
- Market Researcher
- Brand Coordinator
Get Involved in AAF!
The American Advertising Federation (AAF) provides students with opportunities to gain valuable insights into the world of advertising, to make connections with industry professionals, and to discover internship and job opportunities that will help propel your advertising career forward.
Curriculum
You can find the full catalog of courses and credit hour requirements here.
The 48-hour major includes 36 credit hours in the IPRA core, 9 credit hours in the concentration core, and 3 credit hours of IPRA electives.
Integrated Public Relations and Advertising Core Courses: 12 courses; 36 credit hours
Required core courses for the Integrated Public Relations and Advertising Major:
- ADV 2214 - Mass Communications Design and Content Creation Credit(s): 3
- ADV 3008 - Principles of Advertising Credit(s): 3
- MMC 2100 - Media Writing Credit(s): 3
- MMC 3472 - Audience Engagement and Analytics Credit(s): 3
- MMC 3602 - Media and Society Credit(s): 3
- MMC 4211 - Communication Law and Democracy Credit(s): 3
- PUR 3000 - Principles of Public Relations Credit(s): 3
- PUR 3500 - Public Relations and Advertising Research Credit(s): 3
- PUR 4203 - Ethics and Social Responsibility in Public Relations and Advertising Credit(s): 3
- PUR 4501 - Data Analytics in Public Relations and Advertising Credit(s): 3
- VIC 3001 - Visual Literacy Credit(s): 3
Students must choose ONE:
- MMC 4031C - Student-Run Communications Agency Credit(s): 1-3
OR
Advertising Concentration: 3 courses; 9 credit hours
- ADV 3101 - Advertising Creativity Credit(s): 3
- ADV 3300 - Media Planning for Advertising Credit(s): 3
- ADV 4600 - Advertising Management Credit(s): 3
Major Elective Courses: 1 course; 3 credit hours
Choose 3 credit hours of coursework from the following list:
- ADV 4204 - Advanced Advertising Creativity Credit(s): 3
- ADV 4301 - Advanced Media Strategy Credit(s): 3
- ADV 4310 - Digital Media Credit(s): 3
- MAR 3023 - Basic Marketing Credit(s): 3
- MMC 4936 - Selected Topics in Mass Communications Studies Credit(s): 1-3
- MMC 4945 - Internship Credit(s): 1-3
- PUR 3622 - Social Media Strategy Credit(s): 3
- PUR 4100 - Writing For Public Relations Credit(s): 3
- PUR 4101 - Public Relations Design and Production Credit(s): 3
- PUR 4401 - Global Public Relations Management Credit(s): 3
- PUR 4412 - Persuasion in Digital Media Credit(s): 3
- VIC 3400C - Visual Design for Globalized Media Credit(s): 3
Or one (1) course from the Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications curriculum outside of those above, with advisor approval