Merging coursework in advertising and public relations from the Roy H. Park School of Communications with analytics from the School of Business is a winning formula. In 2019, our Ad Lab team placed first in the national student competition sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, and each year, our students and graduates land top internships, fellowships, and jobs.
Starting in your first year, you'll work in teams to create basic advertising and public relations executions for the Internet, magazines, TV, and social media to produce a strategic communication plan to promote a real-life company and its brands. Sophomores research different target audiences and generate a public relations media kit and an advertising plansbook for a national client. Juniors learn persuasive theory and techniques, which they apply in the design and creation of websites, pitch letters, news releases, promotional events, and advertisements for both traditional and nontraditional media plans. Seniors explore social media, search engine optimization, sales promotions, experiential, and international marketing, and then choose the capstone course that focuses on their primary area of interest: advertising, graphic design, public relations, or local integrated marketing communications campaigns.
Graduates work as strategists in advertising and PR agencies, managing the marketing and social media for brands and products; promoting causes and helping to drive donations at arts groups and other not-for-profits; and specializing in creative areas such as copywriting and art direction.
