With consumers seeing millions of messages throughout each day, advertisers must use creativity, skill and strategy to make an impact on their audiences. The Temerlin Advertising Institute for Education and Research trains students to search for unique solutions in advertising, preparing them for work in advertising agencies, media firms, corporate marketing departments and design studios.
TAI is located in a top-ten advertising market that affords many opportunities for industry experience through internships and guest lectures, industry field visits, directed study, and an annual lecture series. Students may also choose to study abroad, through advertising classes offered at SMU-in-London and SMU-in-India. Small classes ensure personal attention from the advertising professors, all of whom are prominent scholars and industry leaders. In-depth projects and internships prepare students for careers as account executives, account planners, media planners, art directors, copywriters and brand managers.
The Temerlin Advertising Institute was endowed by the Dallas advertising community through a pledge to augment scholarships, faculty salaries and public programs that enrich student learning and practical experience in advertising. Established in 2001, it is the nation's only endowed advertising institute.
B.A. Advertising - General
The general advertising program prepares students for careers in several areas of the profession, including advertising agencies and corporate and retail advertising departments.
B.A. Advertising - Creative Emphasis
The Temerlin Advertising Institute's creative program prepares students for careers in art direction or copywriting. Admission to the program is selective, and based upon a faculty panel's evaluation of an application used to assess a student's creative ability and potential.
B.A. Advertising - Media Emphasis
Students may opt to focus their studies on the media buying, planning and selling process.
Minor in Advertising
The minor in advertising offers the student a cogent overview of the social, economic, legal and marketing environments in which advertising functions. Courses offered in the minor are designed to satisfy the needs of the consumer of advertising messages, as well as those of a person who might choose advertising as a valuable adjunct to another career choice.