Bachelor's Degree in Advertising & Public Relations

Required Foundations Courses (6 credit hours)

Core Requirements (30 credit hours)

Personalized Pathway Requirements (12 credit hours - Choose 1 pathway)

Create Your Own Pathway (12 Hours)

Select a group of four courses within a specialized area of study, such as from a certificate, minor or double major. Created pathways must be approved by the Assistant Director of the Ad & PR degree program.

Social Media Pathway (12 Hours) - This learning pathway equips students with content creation, strategy and community management skills to oversee social media for large and small brands, businesses, organizations and influencers.

Careers: social media manager, social media strategist, content creator, social media consultant, community manager, social media specialist and more.

• MC 370 - Social Media Strategy & Management (3 credits)
• MC 374 - Social Media Content Development (3 credits)
• COMM 332 - Communication & Technology (3 credits)
• COMM 526 - Persuasion (3 credits)

Creative Design Pathway (12 Hours) - This learning pathway equips students with creative direction skills, which involves aligning brand strategy with visual execution. Create attention-grabbing advertisements and social media posts, make design choices (like fonts and colors) for all content a company uses, create logos and other branding materials, oversee company creative strategy and more.

Careers: Work for a business or organization as a graphic designer, content creator or creative manager. Work for an agency as a creative director or art director. Enjoy being your own boss as a self-employed freelance designer.

• ART 310 - Graphic Design Techniques (3 credits)
• MC 301 - Photo & Video Storytelling (3 credits)
• MC 316 - Interactive Design (3 credits)
• ENG 455 - Exploring Creativity (3 credits)

Insights & Strategy Pathway (12 Hours) - This learning pathway equips students to research, develop and communicate strategic advertising and public relations plans to meet company and organizational goals. Design campaigns, spearhead market research efforts, provide analysis and strategic communications recommendations, shape brand positioning and narrative to motivate audiences, stakeholders and more.

Careers: Work for a business or organization as a marketing, advertising, media relations or public relations manager or strategist. Work for an agency as an account coordinator, account planner, account strategist or content strategist.

• MKTG 400 - Introduction to Marketing (3 credits)
• MC 446 - Media Planning (3 credits)
• COMM 526 - Persusasion (3 credits)
• PSYCH 545 - Consumer Psychology (3 credits)

Brand & Corporate Messaging Pathway (12 Hours) - This pathway is great for students who love to strategize and write. Learn to communicate a company's core mission and values to employees, stakeholders, customers and communities. Leverage thought leadership opportunities, develop corporate social responsibility initiatives, engage in community relations and more.

Careers: Corporate social responsibility coordinator, director of public relations or corporate communications, marketing and communications manager, public affairs specialist, public information officer, communications and marketing specialist or public relations account executive.

• MKTG 400 - Introduction to Marketing (3 credits)
• COMM 535 - Communication & Leadership (3 credits)
• MC 589 - Advanced Ad & PR Writing (3 credits)
• AGCOM 610 - Crisis Communication (3 credits)

Lifestyle, Sports & Entertainment Pathway (12 Hours) - This pathway is great for students who want to combine their interests in sports, media and entertainment, fashion, hospitality, event management or lifestyle influencing with strategic planning and brand communications.

Internship and Capstone Requirements (6 credit hours)

Electives (6 credit hours - choose 2 courses)

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