Advertising

 

Welcome,

With over 250 majors, both the Advertising and Public Relations programs are attracting smart and creative students who want to excel beyond the norm. We offer a challenging, yet supportive environment. We encourage our majors to look at problems in fresh and novel ways.

Our majors also have the best tools to help them innovate. We are housed in a new $18 million state-of-the-art building with easily accessible technology. We embrace new media. Real world and hands-on. I mean really hands on!

Want experience and a degree? This is the place. Look over the site. If you have any questions, please e-mail the Ad+PR Program coordinator, Cliff Shaluta, directly at cliff.shaluta@wku.edu You can schedule a tour by clicking here for WKU TOURS.

The Ad program also launched a new 24- hour Minor in Digital Advertising in 2010

Major in Advertising (reference number 727) (rev. 8/12)

The major in advertising requires 36 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. Students must have a minor or second major outside the School of Journalism & Broadcasting and the field of mass communication.

The business of advertising is being transformed as consumers are choosing new technologies to access a variety of content where and when they choose. Conventional media revenue models are being challenged and a new type of advertising professional is needed. The advertising major in the School of Journalism & Broadcasting prepares students for media, agency and corporate advertising careers by offering concentrations in Branding, Print Design or Interactive Design.

Advertising majors choose between the Branding or Creative Design tracks. Branding refers to the business side of advertising. Majors choosing the Branding track are interested in how businesses use advertising and other communication tools to shape perceptions of their brand. These intangibles are often why consumers choose Coke over Big K Cola, even though taste tests often favor Big K.  A minor in Marketing is recommended for advertising majors emphasizing Branding.

In the Creative track, there are two emphases including Print Advertising Design and Interactive Advertising Design. Print Advertising is focused on design for all types of commercial print media. Ad majors choosing Interactive Design will explore the world of digital technology by creating commercial websites, applications and video content. Ad majors choose a second major or minor from outside the School of Journalism & Broadcasting that complements their interests and abilities. Those majors choosing the Print advertising emphasis are required to minor in Graphic Design which is offered by the Department of Art. Minors in Computer Science or Graphic Design are recommended for students emphasizing interactive advertising. 

The Advertising program at WKU offers students many ways to build impressive resumes and portfolios, including class projects, internships, and working with the School's advertising and public relations agency. Imagewest is a student-run agency that provides real-world experience to help students hone their creative skills, develop confidence and build a portfolio of their work. See: http://www.wkuimagewest.com/

For students entering the University or declaring the major in fall 2009 and thereafter

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Prospective majors may take no more than 18 hours in the major before admission. Students must meet the following requirements before they can be admitted:

1. Completion of 48 hours of course work applicable to the baccalaureate degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5.

2. Required courses include COMM 145 or COMM 161 (preferably COMM 161), HIST 119 or 120, the university math requirement, and at least a grade of 'C' in ENG 100.

3. Completion of the following courses with at least a 'C': JOUR 201, 202, 232.

CURRICULUM:  For students declaring the major in fall 2009 and thereafter, the major in advertising requires a minimum of 36 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Each major must have a concentration of study (minor or second major) outside journalism/mass communication/communication studies. Generally, students may select any other minor as long as the major advisor approves it, 80 hours are taken outside the major, and at least 65 hours of traditional liberal arts and science courses are completed.

Majors in the print advertising emphases on the creative track must have a minor in graphic arts. A grade of 'D' in any course will not be accepted toward the major and may not be used as a prerequisite. Refer to the University catalog for additional information.

Required courses outside the major:

One Course in Statistics: ECON 206, SOCL 300, MATH 183/203, PSY 201/301, or AMS 271

MKT 220 and either GEOG 110 or GEOG 360.

 Core Curriculum 18 hours -required for all ad majors (pre-reqs in parenthesis)

JOUR 201 Media and Society

JOUR 202 Intro Media Writing

JOUR 232 Electronic Technologies for Journalism

JOUR 341 Principles of Advertising (JOUR 201, 202) (Ideally by spring of sophomore year)

JOUR 300 Research in Ad & PR (spring)(JOUR 201,202,341, MKT 220, & Stats)

JOUR 344 Advertising in a Digital World (JOUR 341or permission) (Fall)

In addition, 18 hours in one track emphasis listed

 BRANDING TRACK

JOUR 346 Account Planning (fall) (JOUR 300 or permission)

JOUR 349 Advertising Media (fall) (JOUR 300)

JOUR 446 Advertising Campaigns (Capstone)(spring) (JOUR 349)

9 hours of electives selected from the following:

See the university catalog for prerequisite courses

MKT 328 Marketing on the Web

BCOM 266 Basic TV Production

BCOM 385 Broadcast Commercial Sales

JOUR 131 Intro. to Digital Photography

JOUR 340 Creative Strategy/Copywriting (spring)

JOUR 343 Print Design, Production

JOUR 348 Intro Interactive Ad

JOUR 355 Fundamentals Public Relations

JOUR 443 Interactive Ad Design

JOUR 448 Ad Internship or Practicum

JOUR 481 Problems in Mass Comm.

JOUR 495 Collaborative Journalism

One of the following two law classes

JOUR 301 Press Law & Ethics

BCOM 301 Mass Media Law & Ethics

 

CREATIVE DESIGN TRACKS

 Interactive Advertising Design (IAD) Emphasis

BCOM 264 Digital Video Production

JOUR 340 Creative Strategy and Copywriting (spring) (JOUR 341)

JOUR 343 Print Design (JOUR 201, 202, 232)

JOUR 348 Intro. to Interactive Ad Design (spring) (JOUR 341 or permission)

JOUR 443 Interactive Ad Design (fall) (JOUR 343,348 or permission)

JOUR 444 Advance Interactive Ad Design (spring)(capstone) (JOUR 443 or permission)

Print Advertising Design Emphasis

[minor in Graphic Design Reference #385 required]

JOUR 340 Creative Strategy and Copywriting (spring) (JOUR 341)

JOUR 343 Print Design (JOUR 201, 202, 232)

JOUR 345 Copywriting & Layout (fall) (JOUR 343 & satisfactory rating on portfolio review)

JOUR 445 Advanced Copywriting/Layout (spring) (capstone) (JOUR 345 & senior standing)

6 hours of electives selected from the following:

See the university catalog for prerequisite courses

MKT 328 Marketing on the Web

BCOM 266 Basic TV Production

BCOM 385 Broadcast Commercial Sales

JOUR 131 Intro. to Digital Photography

JOUR 346 Account Planning (fall)

JOUR 348 Intro to Interactive Ad (spring)

JOUR 355 Fundamentals Public Relations

JOUR 443 Interactive Ad Design (fall)

JOUR 481 Problems in Mass Communication

JOUR 495 Collaborative Journalism

one of the following two law classes

JOUR 301 Press Law & Ethics

BCOM 301 Mass Media Law & Ethics

All 4-year plans require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed on your browser, simply click the image below for a quick and easy FREE install.

Advertising Major- 4-year track

 

 

For students entering the University and declaring the major prior to fall 2009 the following curriculum applies.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Prospective majors may take no more than 18 hours in the major before admission. Students must meet the following requirements before they can be admitted:

Completion of 48 hours of course work applicable to the baccalaureate degree with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5.

Required courses include COMM 145 or COMM 161 (preferably COMM 161), HIST 119 or 120, the university math requirement, and ENG 100 with at least a 'C'.

Completion of the following courses with at least a 'C': JOUR 201, 202, 232.

CURRICULUM:  The major in advertising requires a minimum of 36 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Each major must have a concentration of study (minor or second major) outside journalism/mass communication/communication studies. Generally, students may select any other minor as long as the major advisor approves it, 80 hours are taken outside the major area of journalism and mass communication, with no fewer than 65 semester hours in the liberal arts and natural sciences.

Majors in the print advertising emphases in the creative track must have a minor in graphic arts.

A grade of 'D' will not be accepted toward the major. Refer to the University catalog for additional information.

All majors in advertising are required to take a statistics course (ECON 206 if a Marketing minor), MKT 220 and GEOG 110 or GEOG 360.

Required core courses - 18 hours

JOUR 201Media and Society JOUR 202Introduction to Newswriting, Reporting for Journalism JOUR 232Electronic Technologies JOUR 341Principles of Advertising (spring) JOUR 344Advertising in a Digital World (fall Jr) JOUR 300Researching in Advertising & Public Relations (spring)

 

additional 18-hours in one of four concentrations listed below

Account Services Track Account Services JOUR 346Account Planning (fall) JOUR 349Advertising Media (fall) JOUR 446Campaigns (spring) Restricted Elective Restricted Elective Restricted Elective Restricted Elective List: BCOM 266, 385; JOUR 131, 301, 340, 343, 355, 443, 448, 481; MKT 328

 

Creative Track Print Advertising JOUR 340Creative Strategy and Copywriting (spring) JOUR 343Print Design (fall Sr) JOUR 345Copywriting & Layout (fall) JOUR 445Advanced Copywriting & Layout (spring) Restricted Elective Restricted Elective Restricted Elective List: BCOM 266, 385; JOUR 131, 301, 346, 355, 443, 448, 481; MKT 328 Creative Track Broadcast Advertising JOUR 340Creative Strategy and Copywriting (spring) BCOM 261Basic Radio Production (fall) BCOM 266Basic TV Production (spring) JOUR 347Broadcast Advertising or (effective 2009) BCOM 264 Digital Video Production BCOM 366Video Editing, Aesthetics and Techniques (fall) BCOM 367Field Production or JOUR 448 Ad Internship Creative Track Interactive Advertising JOUR 340Creative Strategy and Copywriting (spring) JOUR 343Print Design (spring) JOUR 443 Interactive Ad Design (fall) JOUR 444Advanced Interactive Ad Design (spring) Restricted Elective Restricted Elective Restricted Elective List: BCOM 266, 385; JOUR 131, 301, 346, 355, 448, 481; MKT 328

 

Restricted Elective Course Titles JOUR 131Digital Photography JOUR 301Press Law and Ethics JOUR 340Creative Strategies and Copywriting (spring)   JOUR 343Print Design, Production and Typography JOUR 346Account Planning (fall) JOUR 355Fundamentals of Public Relations JOUR 443Interactive Advertising Design (fall) JOUR 448Advertising Internship or Practicum JOUR 481Problems in Mass Communication BCOM 266Basic TV Production BCOM 385Broadcast Commercial Sales MKT 328Marketing on the World Wide Web

The following four-year plans are designed to help students implement their program in the advertising major.

All 4-year plans require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed on your browser, simply click the image below for a quick and easy FREE install.

Advertising Major- 4-year track