Advertising Major
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
Taylor Casarotti, '20
Taylor completed several internships during her undergraduate career, including working as a communications and operations intern for a large fortune 500 insurance company, a PR intern for a small agency, an account management intern for a marketing agency, and a communications intern for the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech. Taylor now works at Billy Casper Golf as a Marketing Associate.
Erica Hammett, '16
As an undergraduate, Erica had communication and marketing internships at the Sandler Center, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and the VT YMCA. Erica now works at MP&A Digital & Advertising in Williamsburg, VA, where she provides public relations support to independent, boutique resorts in the Caribbean. She also writes PR materials, develops pitches, coordinates social media, and monitors client coverage.
Nick Czerwonka, '18
Nick’s always had a passion for communicating, whether in person with other people or large groups of people. He used this passion as the new business and marketing intern at a local Blacksburg startup, Ozmo. Nick works as an Assistant Account Executive for the marketing and advertising agency Area23 in New York.
Laura Bauer, '15
Laura served as a sports information intern at University of Southern California Athletics and a community relations intern with the San Diego Chargers. Laura is now the partner services coordinator for Virginia Tech IMG Sports Marketing.
Christine Dinardo, '15
Christine completed internships with the public affairs division of Weber Shandwick and a marketing role with Leading Authorities as a student. Christine worked for Booz Allen Hamiliton following graduation, supporting clients in the federal and commercial space with social media analytics and digital content strategy and now serves as a Senior Marketing Manager at AstraZeneca.
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
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.
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.
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.
Curriculum
What You'll Study
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Degree
- Including Virginia Tech's Pathways
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
Campus Life
Campus Life
Discover all that Virginia Tech has to offer inside and outside of the classroom. Our campus life aims to build communities, promote holistic education, and cultivate environments that offer opportunities for leadership, innovation, and service.