Advertising and Public Relations Major
The major in advertising and public relations is designed to prepare students for professional and academic opportunities in strategic communications, as well as for the pursuit of advanced degrees. Students will have the opportunity to develop critical thinking capabilities, specialized knowledge, practical skills, technical competencies and the theoretical framework necessary to address real-world communication problems in advertising and public relations.
Core courses provide foundations in advertising, marketing, public relations, culture and society, visual aesthetics, writing, research, design, production and strategic problem-solving. Students must take a minimum of 68 credit hours to fulfill the requirements of the major.
The ADPR major consists of two areas: core requirements (28 credits) and track requirements (40 credits), which include both required courses and electives. Each ADPR major will choose one of three tracks: advertising creative, public relations, or a general advertising and public relations track. Each graduating senior in the ADPR major, regardless of track, must submit a portfolio of work for evaluation by the ADPR faculty. Core requirements and tracks are as follows:
Degree Requirements
Core (28 credit hours)
All ADPR majors, regardless of track, must complete the following courses to fulfill the major:
| COM 210/ART 210 | Beginning Digital Arts | 4 |
| COM 222 | Media Aesthetics and Creativity | 4 |
| COM 224 | Mass Media and Society | 4 |
| COM 283 | Principles of Advertising | 4 |
| COM 284 | Principles of Public Relations | 4 |
| COM 436 | Critical Studies in Public Communication | 4 |
| COM 470 | Communication Research Methods | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 28 |
Advertising Creative Track (40 credit hours)
Required Track Courses (24 credit hours)
ADPR majors choosing the Advertising Creative Track must complete the following courses to fulfill the major:
One of the following:
All of the following:
History/Theory Electives (8 credit hours)
8 credit hours from the following list of electives. At least 4 credit hours must be taken at the 300-level or above.
Authoring and Production electives (8 credit hours)
8 credit hours from the following list of electives:
Advertising Creative Track: Internships
Students are encouraged to participate in internships for credit or non-credit. For the Advertising Creative Track, credit for internships (COM 354) will count toward general education electives rather than toward the major.
Public Relations Track (40 credit hours)
Required Track Courses (24 credit hours)
ADPR majors choosing the Public Relations Track must complete the following courses to fulfill the major:
| COM 225/WRI 225 | Media Writing | 4 |
| COM 302 | Digital Arts for Professional Communication | 4 |
| COM 384 | Writing for Public Relations | 4 |
| COM 584 | Public Relations Campaigns | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
One of the following courses:
| BUS 101 | Introduction to Global Business | 4 |
| COM 301 | Introduction to Organizational Communication | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
And one of the following courses:
Authoring and Production electives (8 credit hours)
8 credit hours from the following list of electives. At least 4 credit hours must be taken at the 300- level or above.
Other electives (8 credit hours)
8 credit hours from the following list of electives. A maximum of 4 credit hours of internship can be counted toward major in the Public Relations Track. Additional internship credits may be counted toward general education electives. No more than 8 credit hours of independent study may be counted toward electives in this track.
Advertising and Public Relations General Track (40 credit hours)
Required courses (28 credits)
ADPR majors choosing the General Track must complete the following courses to fulfill the major:
One of the following courses:
One of the following courses:
| COM 302 | Digital Arts for Professional Communication | 4 |
| COM 305/ART 305 | Intro Graphic Design | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
And one of the following courses:
| COM 583 | Advertising Campaigns | 4 |
| COM 584 | Public Relations Campaigns | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Advertising and Public Relations General Track Electives (12 credits)
12 credit hours from the following lists of electives. At least 8 credit hours must be taken at the 300-level or above. No more than 8 credit hours of independent study may be counted toward electives in this track.