Program: Journalism, Advertising-Public Relations Concentration (Advertising), B.S. - Middle Tennessee State University

Apr 06, 2025

2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog

Journalism and Strategic Media
615-898-2814
Tricia Farwell, program coordinator
Tricia.Farwell@mtsu.edu

Advertising helps students prepare for positions in advertising agencies and departments, media buying or sales, and advertising production, design, or creative.

Although students in advertising are primarily oriented toward either the creative or management side of the business, they essentially take the same courses in advertising. One minor is required.

Students should check the prerequisites for each course.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Journalism, Advertising-Public Relations (Advertising), B.S., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

General Education requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences.

The following course is required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education requirement:

RIM/JOUR/EMC 1020 (Soc/Beh Sci)

Major Requirements (47 hours)

Conceptual Requirements (9 hours)

ADV 3020 - Principles of Advertising 3 credit hours
JOUR 4850 - Ethics and Mass Communication 3 credit hours
ADV 3060 - Issues in Advertising: Sexuality and Gender 3 credit hours OR
Approved conceptual elective in School of Journalism and Strategic Media 3 credit hours

Research Requirements (6 hours)

ADV 3480 - Media Strategy and Buying 3 credit hours
JOUR 3660 - Strategic Communication Research 3 credit hours

Professional Topics (3 hours)

Select one:

ADV 4230 - Case Studies in Strategic Communication 3 credit hours
ADV 4250 - Interactive Advertising and Social Media 3 credit hours
Approved College of Media and Entertainment elective 3 credit hours

Senior Capstone (3 hours)

ADV 4970 - Advertising Campaigns 3 credit hours

Minor (15-18 hours)

Selected from outside the School of Journalism and Strategic Media and the Department of Media Arts

Electives

To make 120 hours
Students in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media (SOJSM) must complete 72 hours of approved coursework from outside SOJSM or Department of Media Arts courses. Students must select at least nine hours of liberal arts/social sciences (beyond General Education); at least six hours of liberal arts/social science electives must come from courses at the 3000-level or higher.

Total hours in program: 120

Curriculum: Journalism, Advertising-Public Relations (Advertising)

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Majors must have a C (2.00) or better in all mass communication courses.

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours
JOUR 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions 3 credit hours OR
EMC 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions 3 credit hours OR
RIM 1020 - American Media and Social Institutions 3 credit hours
Mathematics 3 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (2 rubrics) 6 credit hours
Natural Sciences 4 credit hours

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Sophomore

ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - Foreign Literature in Translation 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours
ADV 3020 - Principles of Advertising 3 credit hours
JOUR 2710 - Media Writing 3 credit hours
JOUR 2720 - Digital Media Skills 3 credit hours
VCOM 2950 - Visual Communication Applications 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences 4 credit hours
Minor course 3 credit hours
Elective 3 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Junior

ADV 3160 - Advertising Design and Visuals 3 credit hours
ADV 3170 - Strategic Communication Writing for Advertising 3 credit hours
ADV 3480 - Media Strategy and Buying 3 credit hours
JOUR 3660 - Strategic Communication Research 3 credit hours
PR 3360 - Strategic Communication Writing for Public Relations 3 credit hours OR
PR 3380 - Public Relations Publications 3 credit hours OR
VCOM 3920 - Information Web Design 3 credit hours OR
VCOM 3930 - Visual Storytelling for Journalism 3 credit hours
Minor courses 9 credit hours
Electives 6 credit hours

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Senior

ADV 3060 - Issues in Advertising: Sexuality and Gender 3 credit hours OR
Approved conceptual elective in School of Journalism 3 credit hours
ADV 4970 - Advertising Campaigns 3 credit hours
Elective courses 5 credit hours
Minor courses 3 credit hours
Minor/elective course 3 credit hours
JOUR 4250 - Mass Media Law 3 credit hours
JOUR 4880 - Professional Development 1 credit hour
ADV 4250 - Interactive Advertising and Social Media 3 credit hours OR
ADV 4230 - Case Studies in Strategic Communication 3 credit hours OR
Upper-division elective 3 credit hours
JOUR 3580 - MC Practicum 1 to 3 credit hours (1 credit hour required) OR
JOUR 4000 - MC Internship 1 to 3 credit hours (1 credit hour required)
EMC 4850 - Ethics and Mass Communication 3 credit hours OR
JOUR 4850 - Ethics and Mass Communication 3 credit hours

Journalism, Advertising-Public Relations Concentration (Advertising), B.S.

Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

Major Requirements (47 hours)

School of Journalism and Strategic Media Core (14 hours)

Writing/Design Requirements (12 hours)

Plus one of the following:

Conceptual Requirements (9 hours)

Research Requirements (6 hours)

Professional Topics (3 hours)

Senior Capstone (3 hours)

Minor (15-18 hours)

Electives

Total hours in program: 120

Curriculum: Journalism, Advertising-Public Relations (Advertising)

Freshman

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Sophomore

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Junior

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Senior

Subtotal: 28-30 Hours