Apr 15, 2025  
Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022 
    
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Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Advertising/Public Relations, BA

The Advertising/Public Relations major is designed for students interested in business and persuasive communication. The department offers two tracks within the major:  an Advertising track and a Public Relations track. The Advertising track offers courses in research, media planning, and creative strategies in the field of advertising and related marketing communication. The Public Relations track prepares the future professional by introducing the concepts of planning and executing effective communication strategies including message design and distribution for any organization, as well as by training students in writing and editing public relations and marketing communication materials.

Degree Program Requirements

A student wishing to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Advertising/Public Relations must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 37 credits from the department’s course offerings. Included among these 37 credits are eight core courses required for all Advertising/Public Relations majors: 

Department Track Requirements

Although the media are interrelated, students should develop an in-depth knowledge of at least one specific field. To that end, students majoring in Strategic Communication must select a track, or area of study, within the department.  Although the department expects student to enroll in multiple courses within their chosen track.  Advertising/Public Relations has three required courses:

Advertising Track Requirements

Public Relations Track Requirements

Advertising Track Curriculum

   Department and Number - Descriptive Course Title Fall Cr. Spr. Cr.

First Year

                                 
 MAJOR  COMM 109 - G/S/P Skill Set  —  COMM 115 - (EPW) Writing for Communication   1 3
 FREE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Elective   3
 MAJOR  COMM ELECT - Communication Elective2 3  
 GE WRTG-SPCH/DIGITAL  COMM 108 - (FYW) Essential Writing Skills 1 — EP Foundations (FYOC/FYDT) 3 3
 GE HUMN  HUMN ELECT - Humanities Electives 3 3
 GE PHIL - T/RS  PHIL 120 - Introduction to Philosophy  — T/RS 121 - (P) Theology I: Introduction to the Bible   3 3
 GE FSEM  First Year Seminar 3    
    13 15

Second Year

    
 MAJOR  COMM 210 - (EPW) Logical and Rhetorical Analysis     3
 MAJOR  COMM 215 - Introduction to Communication Theory   3  
 MAJOR  COMM 225 - Advertising   3  
 MAJOR  COMM 227 - Contemporary Public Relations     3
 FREE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Electives 3 3
 GE PHIL - T/RS  PHIL 210 - Ethics  — T/RS 122 - (P) Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology   3 3
 GE QUAN - S/BH  QUAN ELECT - Quantitative Elective — S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective 3 3
    15 15

Third Year

    
 MAJOR  COMM 316 - Communication Ethics  — COMM ELECT - Communication Electives2 3 3
 MAJOR  COMM ELECT - Communication Electives2 3 6
 FREE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Electives 3 3
 GE PHIL - T/RS  PHIL ELECT - Philosophy Elective or T/RS ELECT - T/RS Elective 3  
 GE NSCI  NSCI ELECT - Natural Science Electives 3 3
 GE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Electives 3  
    18 15

Fourth Year

    
 MAJOR  COMM 415 - Senior Seminar   3  
 MAJOR  COMM ELECT - Communication Elective2   3
 FREE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Electives 3 6
 GE HUMN - S/BH  HUMN ELECT - Humanities Elective — S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective 3 3
 GE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Electives 6 3
    15 15

Total: 121 Credits

1The Department of Communication and Media prefers students fulfill (FYW) requirements by completing COMM 108 . However WRTG 107  or WRTG 105  and WRTG 106  may be substituted.

2All Department of Communication courses listed COMM 101-499 are acceptable as Communication Electives for fulfillment of degree requirements.

3The selection of a First Year Seminar is likely to fulfill requirements both for the First Year Seminar and a General Education Requirement. Thus, the First Year Seminar will not add to the total credits for the semester. Talk with your advisor if you have any questions.

Public Relations Track Curriculum

   Department and Number - Descriptive Course Title Fall Cr. Spr. Cr.

First Year

                                    
 MAJOR  COMM 109 - G/S/P Skill Set  — COMM 115 - (EPW) Writing for Communication   1 3
 FREE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Elective   3
 MAJOR  COMM ELECT - Communication Elective3 3  
 GE WRTG-SPCH/DIGITAL  COMM 108 - (FYW) Essential Writing Skills 1 — EP Foundations (FYOC/FYDT) 3 3
 GE HUMN  HUMN ELECT - Humanities Electives 3 3
 GE PHIL - T/RS  PHIL 120 - Introduction to Philosophy  — T/RS 121 - (P) Theology I: Introduction to the Bible   3 3
 GE FSEM  First Year Seminar 2    
    13 15

Second Year

    
 MAJOR  COMM 210 - (EPW) Logical and Rhetorical Analysis     3
 MAJOR  COMM 215 - Introduction to Communication Theory   3  
 MAJOR  COMM 225 - Advertising   3  
 MAJOR  COMM 227 - Contemporary Public Relations     3
 FREE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Electives 3 3
 GE PHIL - T/RS  PHIL 210 - Ethics  — T/RS 122 - (P) Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology   3 3
 GE QUAN - S/BH  QUAN ELECT - Quantitative Elective — S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective 3 3
    15 15

Third Year

    
 MAJOR  COMM 316 - Communication Ethics  — COMM ELECT - Communication Electives3 3 3
 MAJOR  COMM ELECT - Communication Electives3 3 3
 FREE  FREE ELECT - FREE Electives 3 3
 GE PHIL - T/RS  PHIL ELECT - Philosophy Elective or T/RS ELECT - T/RS Elective 3  
 GE NSCI  NSCI ELECT - Natural Science Electives 3 3
 GE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Electives 3 3
    18 15

Fourth Year

    
 MAJOR  COMM 415 - Senior Seminar   3  
 MAJOR  COMM ELECT - Communication Elective3   3
 FREE  FREE ELECT - Free Electives 3 6
 GE HUMN - S/BH  HUMN ELECT - Humanities Elective — S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective 3 3
 GE ELECT  FREE ELECT - Free Electives 6 3
    15 15

Total: 121 Credits

1The Department of Communication and Media prefers students fulfill (FYW) requirements by completing COMM 108 . However WRTG 107  or WRTG 105  and WRTG 106  may be substituted.

2The selection of a First Year Seminar is likely to fulfill requirements both for the First Year Seminar and a General Education Requirement. Thus, the First Year Seminar will not add to the total credits for the semester. Talk with your advisor if you have any questions.

3All Department of Communication courses listed COMM 101-499 are acceptable as Communication Electives for fulfillment of degree requirements.