advertising is the art of persuasion. using print, radio, or television, advertisements bring together various brands and consumers to increase sales and build brand identity and loyalty. if you prefer working in a fast-paced world driven by innovation and creativity, then you may enjoy working in the advertising field. a student majoring in advertising may concentrate in an area like management, copywriting, art direction, or advertising research.
at the end a degree program, a graduate will have learned:
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basic principles and theories of advertising
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to practice ethical communication
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to communicate effectively with diverse audience
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to critically analyze issues related to advertising
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to plan and execute effective advertising campaigns
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strategic thinking skills necessary to target audience
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to apply appropriate research methods to plan, evaluate and monitor advertising
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to write copy and design messages for distribution through multi-media channels
associate in advertising
an associate's degree in advertising is a two-year program, offered in community colleges and technical schools. students in an associate in advertising degree program will learn the basic skills and knowledge necessary for obtaining an entry-level job in the advertising industry. while an associate's degree in advertising requirements will differ from school to school, there may be some similarities for each program when it comes to credit hours required and courses that students must complete. some of the courses that may be offered within this degree program are:
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survey of advertising
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advertising campaigns
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advertising research
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introduction to creativity
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advertising media
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marketing principles of advertising
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advertising ethics
as mentioned earlier, there are specialized tracks within the advertising field. while students may not be able to concentrate and specialize in any of these specialized tracks in a two-year degree program, some basic courses may still be available in advertising research, management, copywriting, and art direction.
some advertising research courses may be titled as:
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account planning
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qualitative advertising research
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quantitative advertising research
management courses may be titled as:
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advertising account management
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marketing media products
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media planning
those interested in copywriting may take courses like:
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advertising portfolio
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copywriting: broadcast
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copywriting: print
some courses in art direction may be offered as:
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advertising portfolio
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art direction i: concept & layout
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art direction ii: narrative & multiple media
online associate's degrees in advertising
basic advertising skills and knowledge is now available for students to learn from the comfort of their homes. distance learning may suit students who are new to advertising as well as professionals who are already in the field, but now seek to focus on a particular advertising specialized field. as long as the institute offering courses and degree programs in advertising is accredited, the degree earned is on par with degrees offered by a traditional on-campus school. an online graduate may be as employable as a student who has earned an associate's degree in advertising from an on-campus program.
career outlook
the career outlook for graduates with a bachelor's degree in advertising or journalism is favorable, so students who earn an associate's degree may want to consider transferring to a four-year university to earn a bachelor's degree.