Interdisciplinary Minor in Advertising

College of Arts and Sciences

Interdisciplinary Minor in Advertising Curriculum

An Interdisciplinary minor in advertising allows students from across the university to take classes that contribute to their understanding of the most persuasive component of marketing communication. This flexible program allows students the opportunity to explore areas of interest, including strategic thinking, the creative process, digital publishing, mobile and digital advertising placement, global advertising trends, and the impact of advertising on society. Students in Graphic Design, Marketing, Business, Psychology, Political Science and other cognates in Communication will find obvious relevance in an interdisciplinary minor in advertising.

Required Courses (9 Credits)

  • Basic principles of advertising and their role in media and society. Includes advertising environment in the 21st Century, agency and client relationships, consumer behavior, ethics, and the role of research, creative appeals, and media selection in advertising effectiveness. Study of the organization of the advertising profession.

  • The role of strategy in the creation and design of advertising. Writing effective copy for print and broadcast media. Prerequisites: ADV 301, ENG 111. ART 205 recommended.

  • Introduction to public relations and advertising research methodology. Includes planning, measurement, evaluation, and reporting of results. Prerequisites: ADV 301, COM 390, and MAT 152 or permission of the instructor.

Choose four from the following (12 credits)

  • An introduction to the many tools involved in the creation of professional design problems including the Macintosh platform. Students will evaluate the assignments and solve these problems using the appropriate tools. A strong focus will be placed on technology and professional presentation skills. Computer software, one-, two- and four-color printing, and the artistic processes of graphic design will be explored.

  • This course presents a practical survey of digital and emerging communication platforms. Students learn about institutional, ethical, and design issues that shape the production of content for digital/emerging media and how to produce multimedia content in the context of well-planned communication campaigns.(Special fee).

  • Advanced television production techniques including electronic editing, special effects, and electronic field production. Completion of an individual creative project is required. Prerequisites: COM 204 and COM 214.

  • Planning, execution, and control of advertising media programs. Fundamental characteristics of the media. Buying and selling process. Techniques and methods used in advertising media planning process. Prerequisites: ADV 301, and MAT 152 or permission of the instructor.

  • This seminar focuses on conceptual audience outreach models for strategic communications using digital media platforms. Students will identify a media product and develop a sustainable plan for its distribution and measurement using industry tools such as Google Analytics, as well as Nielson and Arbitron for audience analysis.

  • Beginning with Aristotle, this course provides a historical perspective on how persuasion has evolved to modern times. Emphasis on factors such as attention, perception, needs, values, and credibility. Practice in presentation of persuasive oral and written communication. Emphasis given to persuasive campaigns. Prerequisites: COM 201 and either SPE 101 or COM 104.

  • Critical examination of the impact of advertising on society and culture. Advertising’s role in the formation of trends, social habits, and other patterns of behavior as they pertain to multiple groups within society. Prosocial uses of advertising will also be discussed.

  • Major theoretical and managerial issues in international advertising and advertising directed at cultural minorities within countries.

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