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This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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ADVERTISING

http://www.greenlee.iastate.edu/  

The advertising major prepares students for careers in business and industry or for graduate education. Students majoring in advertising find career opportunities in professions requiring applied communication expertise. Graduates are qualified for positions in the creative and account sides of advertising within businesses, agencies and media. Coursework in this major focuses on writing, research, digital and emerging media, and professional abilities. Students are required to complete a capstone internship experience to practice and refine their skills.

The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication prepares students for the field of communication. The school offers three majors:

In addition, the Greenlee School offers a 4+1 program allowing students to complete their B.A. or B.S. and earn an M.S. in journalism and mass communication in fewer semesters.

Professional skills are taught and practiced alongside academic requirements using the latest technology and leading-edge communication trends and methods.

Founded in 1905, the unit was one of the first journalism programs to be accredited in 1948 and continues to be one of the longest continuously accredited programs in the country. Accreditation is based on the principle that students need a broad-based, liberal arts education and solid core courses within the discipline. Students taking one major at the school may not seek an additional major or a minor in the school. All students are required to take an additional major or a minor outside the school as an area of expertise.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who major in programs of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication are expected to develop competencies in 10 key areas: 

  • apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press, in a global context, and for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the multicultural history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications;
  • demonstrate culturally proficient communication that empowers those traditionally disenfranchised in society, especially as grounded in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and ability, domestically and globally, across communication and media contexts;
  • present images and information effectively and creatively, using appropriate tools and technologies;
  • write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve;
  • demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
  • apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work;
  • effectively and correctly apply basic numerical and statistical concepts;
  • critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
  • apply tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work.

The Advertising Major

To receive a bachelor of arts degree in advertising, a student must earn at least 120 credits. A minimum of 72 credits must come from courses other than ADVRT, JL MC or P R. At least 50 of these credits must come from the liberal arts and sciences. Overall, at least 45 credits must be from 300-level courses or above. 

The degree requirements allow for a minimum of 34 credits and a maximum of 48 credits to be taken in ADVRT, JL MC or P R. These include:

JL MC 110Orientation to Journalism and Communication1
JL MC 201Reporting and Writing for the Mass Media (C+ or better)3
ADVRT 230Advertising Principles3
ADVRT 301Research and Strategic Planning for Advertising and Public Relations3
One of the following two courses with C+ or better
ADVRT 334Advertising Creativity3
or ADVRT 336 Advertising Account Management
300-level ADVRT, JL MC, or P R Electives6
One of the following two courses:
ADVRT 434Advertising Campaigns3
or ADVRT 436 Advertising Creative Portfolio
JL MC 460Law of Mass Communication3
JL MC 462Media Ethics, Freedom, Responsibility3
400-level ADVRT, JL MC, or P R Elective3
ADVRT 499AProfessional Media Internship: Required3
Total Credits34

Advertising majors are also required to take:

MKT 340Principles of Marketing3
STAT 101Principles of Statistics (or another approved statistics course)4

As majors in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, advertising students must meet College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University-wide requirements for graduation in addition to those stated above for the major.

University Requirement: Students in all ISU majors must complete a three-credit course in U.S. Diversity, as well as a three-credit course in International Perspectives. The approved course lists are found at the following web addresses: (U.S. Diversity) http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/students/div-ip-guide/usdiversity-courses and (International Perspectives) http://www.registrar.iastate.edu/students/div-ip-guide/IntlPerspectives-current. Students must also demonstrate their communication proficiency by earning a grade of C or better in ENGL 250.

College of LAS Requirement: Minimum of 120 credits, including a minimum of 45 credits at the 300-level and above. You must also complete the LAS world language requirement, LAS career proficiency requirement, and any unmet ISU admission requirements.

Greenlee majors and minors cannot take ADVRT, JL MC or P R courses pass/not pass.

Minor or Additional Major: Students are required to fulfill a secondary area of expertise. This requirement can be met by declaring a minor or an additional major outside of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Students taking one major at the school may not seek an additional major or minor in the school.

Juniors can apply to a concurrent degree program and earn a B.A. in advertising and an M.S. in journalism and mass communication in fewer semesters.  Contact the Director of Graduate Education for more information on the Greenlee School's 4+1 Program.

Advertising, B.A.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ENGL 1503ECON 1013 
JL MC 1101LIB 1601 
Arts and Humanities3ADVRT 2303 
Natural Science3JL MC 2013 
Social Science3Arts and Humanities3 
 Natural Science3 
 13 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ADVRT 3013ADVRT 334 or 3363 
ENGL 2503Arts and Humanities3 
STAT 1014Social Science3 
Natural Science2U.S. Diversity3 
World Languages and Cultures or Elective3-4World Languages and Cultures or Elective3-4 
LAS 2031  
 16-17 15-16
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ADVRT/JL MC/P R- 300 level choice3ADVRT/JL MC/ P R choice-300 level3ADVRT 499A3
MKT 3403ADVRT/JL MC/P R choice-400 level3 
Arts & Humanities 3International Perspective3 
Minor/additional major choice3Minor/additional major choice-300 level3 
Minor/additional major choice3Minor/additional major choice-300 level3 
 15 15 3
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
JL MC 4603JL MC 4623 
One of the following:3Elective or Minor/additional major choice-300 level or above3 
 Elective or Minor/additional major choice-300 level or above3 
 Elective or Minor/additional major choice-300 level or above3 
ADVRT/JL MC/ P R 400-level choice*3  
Minor/additional major choice-300 level or above3  
Elective or Minor/additional major choice-300 level or above3  
 15 12
Total Credits: 120-122

Minor in Advertising

Students cannot select more than one minor in the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. Minors in the Greenlee School are not available to Greenlee majors.

For a minor in advertising, students complete 15 credits. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement.

JL MC 101Mass Media and Society3
ADVRT 230Advertising Principles3
ADVRT 301Research and Strategic Planning for Advertising and Public Relations3
6 credits from the following:6
Advertising Media Planning
Digital Video Production
Professional Skills Development
Mass Communication Theory
Media Management
Communication Technology and Social Change
World Communication Systems
Diversity in the Media
Special Topics in Communication
Total Credits15

Greenlee majors and minors cannot take ADVRT, JL MC or P R courses pass/not pass. 

Concurrent Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

The Greenlee School offers three concurrent degree programs:

B.A. Advertising/M.S. Journalism and Mass Communication
B.S. Journalism/M.S. Journalism and Mass Communication
B.S. Public Relations/M.S. Journalism and Mass Communication

Enrollment in the Greenlee School’s concurrent degree programs enables students to complete coursework for the undergraduate and graduate programs on a five-year accelerated timeline – rather than the typical six-year timeline for the two degrees. See Journalism and Mass Communication Concurrent Undergraduate and Graduate Programs for more information on combining the B.A. in Advertising and the M.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Master of Science

The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication offers work for a Master of Science degree in journalism and mass communication.

Concurrent Programs

The Greenlee School's concurrent degree programs enable interested students the opportunity to complete coursework for the undergraduate and graduate programs on a five-year accelerated timeline – rather than the typical six-year timeline for the two degrees.

Graduate Minor

The Greenlee School graduate program offers minor work for students majoring in other departments. 

See Journalism and Mass Communication Graduate Programs for more information on the M.S. in Journalism and Mass Communication.