The major in advertising focuses on the skills needed to appeal to consumers effectively by designing and evaluating advertising initiatives using a variety of media platforms.

Practical experience and internships are built into the program.

You’ll study the principles and practical applications of writing, market research, creative strategy, long-term relationship building, and management — and you’ll put them straight into practice by preparing media plans and strategy, writing copy, and helping plan and execute complete campaigns for the University’s TV, radio, and multimedia authoring properties.

When you graduate, you’ll have true professional experience and plenty of real-world practice to build on.

Requirements and core courses

All communication majors start with four courses that set the stage for everything else:

COM 101: Media and Society
COM 102: Public Speaking
COM 105: Communication in Global Contexts
COM 138: Communication Overview

A writing test is part of the Communication Overview course. Admission to the communication program is based on cumulative WSU GPA and performance on the writing test.

CORE COURSES

The major is built on core courses like these:

Advertising Principles and Practices
Creative Media Strategies and Techniques
Media Planning
Advertising Agency Operation and Campaigns

The major also includes four elective courses of your choice. This gives you room to customize the major to your own strengths and goals.

Careers

A major in Advertising opens a wide range of career options.

Advertising students often go on to career positions such as advertising or marketing specialist, copywriter, account executive, sales manager, media planner, media buyer, creative director, media sales representative, and public opinion researcher.