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Advertising Major

What is a Major in Advertising?

The advertising major prepares you to craft and deliver persuasive messages through paid media. Coursework explores theories, practices, and ethics of advertising. You learn about consumer behavior, advertising account planning, media buying, brand storytelling, copy design and production, and campaign evaluation.

Why Study Advertising at Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech’s advertising program prepares students to promote products, services, ideas and personalities through paid media. The major combines coursework from communication, business, and visual design. You’ll have class projects that design advertising strategies and materials for real clients, find internships that put skills learned in the classroom into practice, and interact with advertising-industry practitioners. The major combines coursework from communication.

 
32,000
U.S. Advertising Jobs

 
24
Average Class Size

 
$141,490
2022 Median Pay

Careers and Further Study

What Can You Do with a major in Advertising?

Jobs Held by Our Graduates

  • Advertising account executive
  • Creative director
  • Media buyer
  • Outdoor advertising designer
  • Copywriter
  • Digital advertising planner

 


Beyond the Classroom

Experiential Learning

Get Experience

By working in the field, you'll earn job experience and learn more about communication in the workplace. You will have the opportunity to explore potential career paths and network with communication professionals.  

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Collaborate

Our faculty has a mix of industry professionals and teaching and research scholars. Whether your interests are in a career as an advertiser or going on to get a Ph.D., we have a mentor for you. Our list includes anchors and news directors, a producer for HGTV, niche specialties like sports broadcasting, and experts on rhetorical theory, political communication, and the psychological effects of video games. 

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Come with us

Every year, the School of Communication sponsors a faculty-led study abroad experience at Virginia Tech's Center for International Scholarship in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. The program includes a one-credit course in Blacksburg during the spring semester and two weeks of study in Switzerland, with online course components during the first summer session after you return from the trip.

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Bachelor of Arts in Communication Degree

Advertising Major Requirements

  • Account Planning and Media Buying
  • Advertising Copywriting and Brand Storytelling
  • Ethics and Social Responsibility
  • Marketing Communications
  • Public Relations Campaigns

Minor and Elective Hours

Our program gives you the opportunity to build knowledge in another area by pursuing a minor, double major, or cognate.


120 hrs
B.A. Communication

45 hrs
General Education

55 hrs
Major Requirements

20 hrs
Minor + Elective


 

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