Major: Advertising
Northwestern University Library
Do Internet pop-up ads really sell products, or do they just annoy people? Why do some TV commercials pull us in while others turn us off? What are the psychological effects of various colors?
These are just a few of the questions you’ll explore as an advertising major. If you’ve ever dreamed of writing clever ad copy, planning a media campaign, or selling advertising space, this may be the major for you.
Advertising majors learn how to create and spread messages used to promote and sell products and services.
“People considering this major should have an innate curiosity about everything.”
Thomas A. Bowers, James L. Knight Professor and Senior Associate Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Are You Ready To...?
- Test your hand at designing ads
- Study the needs and wants of the buying public
- Learn how to plan a campaign
- Study sales strategies
- Put together a portfolio of ads
It Helps to Be...
A strong communicator who thrives on a diet of deadlines. Advertising is a fast-paced, high-pressure business. Creativity and the ability to work as part of a team are also key.
College Checklist
- Is the program accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications?
- What kinds of internships will you be able to choose from?
- Do professors have substantial industry experience?
- Are computer labs up-to-date?
- Will the school help you find work after graduation?
- What are recent grads doing now?
Did You Know?
- Advertising agencies are not the only place to find work. Ad majors are needed wherever there’s a need for advertising, from nonprofits looking for donations to corporations looking for profits.
Course Spotlight
You don’t need to be an artistic genius to do well in creative strategy, a core course in most advertising programs. But you will be expected to write and design original ads -- the idea is to learn by doing. Your professor will be looking for clear thinking that’s part of an overall strategy to attract buyers.
Expect to work on assignments both in class and at home. By the end of the term, you should have a small portfolio of finished ads to show for your efforts.
