Advertising

The Advertising major prepares students for successful careers with advertisers, ad agencies and the media. With courses in areas such as branding, media, consumer insight, creative concepts, art direction and portfolio development, the curriculum focuses on the two areas advertisers and their agencies value most-- strategic thinking and creativity. That is why CU graduates are sought after and hired not only by Colorado agencies but by such top national agencies as, Wieden + Kennedy, BBDO, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy & Mather, R/GA, Cliff Freeman and BBH.  

Students intern-year round at Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Boulder. Both faculty and adjuncts bring extensive experience and important advertising contacts to campus. Recent guests have included Lee Clow, chairman and chief creative director of TBWA\Worldwide, Alex Bogusky, co-chairman of Crispin Porter + Bogusky, and the award-winning copywriter and alum who created the Las Vegas ad, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Advertising students in the School’s creative track have consistently taken home more awards than those at any university in the One Show College Competition. The One Show, sponsored by New York City’s One Club, is the premier international creative competition with divisions for both students and professionals. 

Course Requirements for Advertising Majors
A total of 120 credit hours with a minimum of 28 hours in journalism and 80 nonjournalism hours are required for graduation. Sixty-five of the 80 nonjournalism hours must be in arts and sciences course work. Forty of the 120 credit hours must be upper-division. Within the 80 credit hours of nonjournalism course work, 12 credit hours must be upper-division hours concentrated in a single area of study or a certified minor. The last 30 hours toward the degree must be taken after admission to the school.

Read the undergraduate application requirements.

New course requirements for students admitted for fall 2006 and after.
If you are a senior you must consult your academic adviser before registration.

Journalism Course Descriptions
Journalism Core Requirements (12 hours)
JOUR 1001 Contemporary Mass Media (Restricted to prejournalism students)
JOUR 2403 Principles of Advertising (or JOUR 1002)

After admission to SJMC
Journalism conceptual course
JOUR 4651 Mass Communication Law

Advertising Course Descriptions
Advertising Requirements (16 hours)
JOUR 3403 Branding and Positioning (JOUR 2403 prerequisite)
JOUR 3453 Intro to Creative Concepts (JOUR 2403 prerequisite)
JOUR 3463 Advertising Media (JOUR 3403 and 3453 prerequisites)
      OR JOUR 3503 Intermediate Creative (by application and JOUR 3403 and 3453 prerequisites)
JOUR 4403 Campaigns (Either JOUR 3463 or JOUR 3503 prerequisites)
JOUR 4931 Internship (JOUR 3403 or JOUR 3453 prerequisite)

Journalism Electives (a maximum of 12 hours)

Creative Track Electives
JOUR 4513 Art Direction (by application and with JOUR 3503)
JOUR 4503 Advanced Creative (by application and JOUR 3503 and JOUR 4513)
JOUR 4523 Portfolio (by application and JOUR 4503)

Strategy Track Electives
JOUR 4543 Strategic Brand Management (JOUR 3463 prerequisite)
JOUR 4533 Consumer Insights (JOUR 3403 & JOUR 3453 prerequisites)

Electives Relevant to Creative and Strategic Track
JOUR 4453 Advertising and Society
JOUR 4873 Special Topics (May be controlled enrollment)

Additional Requirements for Advertising (10 hours)
ECON 1000 Introduction to Economics
OR ECON 2010 Principles of Microeconomics
BCOR 2400 Fundamentals of Marketing (ECON 1000 or ECON 2010 prerequisites)
MKTG 3250 Buyer Behavior (BCOR 2400 prerequisite)

Degree requirements are subject to change.

Where recent graduates are working. A partial list of job titles and companies of recent graduates.