Advertising, BS

In the world of competitive business, companies are always looking to gain an edge for their products or services. Advertising gets them that edge. Successful modern advertising takes creativity and innovation. The School of Journalism and Mass Communications can give you the skills to make a difference in this dynamic field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3B, 4, UD 3, UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) (3 units)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures
Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements including exemptions and waivers, are approved for specific majors and on a case-by-case evaluation only.

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division GE: 28

6 required units of American Institutions/US123 may be satisfied by selecting applicable GE courses in Areas 3B and/or 4

Upper Division GE: 9

Physical Education: 2

GWAR / WID: 0 (3 units may be satisfied by MCOM 100W )

Lower Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 3

Upper Division Humanities & the Arts College Requirement: 2-4

Major Requirements: 57-60

University Electives: 11-13

Total: 120

2. Lower Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (3 units):

Complete one course from:

ART 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World 3 unit(s)
DSGN 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World 3 unit(s)
ENGL 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World 3 unit(s)
HUM 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World 3 unit(s)
PHIL 44HA Design Your Life, Design Your Semester, Design Your World 3 unit(s)

3. Upper Division College of Humanities & the Arts Requirement (2-4 units):

Complete any one course offered by the College of Humanities & the Arts in a discipline other than your major.

4. Major Requirements (57-60 units)

Core Courses (27 units)

MCOM 199A /MCOM 199B substitutes for MCOM 111 and ADV 129 by invitation.

ADV 91 - Introduction to Advertising 3 unit(s)
ADV 121 - Strategic Planning/Communications 3 unit(s)
ADV 128 - Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) 3 unit(s)
(Creative Track students are not required to fulfill prerequisite BUS2 130 . Contact instructor for permission code.)
ADV 129 - Advertising Campaign Planning and Management 3 unit(s)
MCOM 70 - Visual Communication for Modern Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 100W - Writing Workshop: Mass Communications 3 unit(s) (WID)
MCOM 104 - Introduction to Mass Communications Research 3 unit(s)
MCOM 111 - Mass Communications Internship 3 unit(s)
MCOM 170 - Strategic Social Media & Digital Marketing 3 unit(s)

Track Option Requirements (30-33 units)

Choose Management, Creative or Marketing Communication Track:

Creative Option (30 units)

ENGL 71 - Creative Writing 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3A / Formerly Area C1)
ADV 93 - Design Fundamentals for Advertising 1 3 unit(s) (offered in Fall semester only)
ADV 94 - Design Fundamentals for Advertising 2 3 unit(s) (offered in Spring semester only)
ADV 95 - Working With Type 3 unit(s)
ADV 124 - Copywriting 3 unit(s) (offered in Fall semester only)
ADV 130 - Advertising Portfolio 1 3 unit(s) (offered in Fall semester only)
ADV 131 - Advertising Portfolio 2 3 unit(s)
ADV 132 - UX UI Design for Advertising 3 unit(s)
Any Art or Design Elective 3 unit(s)
Approved elective in Advertising, Journalism, Mass Communications, or Public Relations 3 unit(s)

Management Option (30 units)

ADV 93 - Design Fundamentals for Advertising 1 3 unit(s) (offered in Fall semester only)
ADV 97 - Art of Marketing Innovations 3 unit(s)
ADV 122 - Business-to-Business Advertising 3 unit(s)
ADV 123 - Introduction to Branded Content 3 unit(s)
ADV 126 - Media Planning and Buying 3 unit(s)
ADV 127 - Practical Qualitative Research in Advertising 3 unit(s)
MCOM 63 - New Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 175 - Social Media and Web Analytics 3 unit(s) (offered in Fall semester only)
STAT 95 - Elementary Statistics 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2/ Formerly Area B4) (UNVS 15 may be used in lieu of the statistics course required by this major.
Approved elective in Advertising, Journalism, Mass Communications, or Public Relations 3 unit(s)

Marketing Communication Option (33 units)

ADV 97 - Art of Marketing Innovations 3 unit(s)
ADV 126 - Media Planning and Buying 3 unit(s)
ADV 127 - Practical Qualitative Research in Advertising 3 unit(s)
JOUR 61 - Writing for Print, Electronic and Online Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 63 - New Media 3 unit(s)
MCOM 175 - Social Media and Web Analytics 3 unit(s)
PR 99 - Introduction to Public Relations 3 unit(s)
PR 190 - Media and Influencer Relations 3 unit(s)
PR 191 - Strategic Content Creation 3 unit(s)
STAT 95 - Elementary Statistics 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2/ Formerly Area B4)
(UNVS 15 may be used in lieu of the statistics course required by this major.)
Approved elective in Advertising, Journalism, Mass Communications, or Public Relations 3 unit(s)

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