B.A. in Advertising

The Temerlin Advertising Institute offers a general advertising curriculum. The general advertising program prepares students for careers in several areas of the profession, including advertising agencies and corporate and retail advertising departments. Graduates are also prepared for careers in major media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio and interactive media. If students want to target their studies toward a particular area, they may choose to focus their elective courses to form a media emphasis, or they may apply for admission into the creative program if they wish to become advertising writers or art directors.

SMU advertising students receive a broad-based liberal arts degree with approximately 70 percent of their coursework taken outside the Temerlin Advertising Institute. All SMU advertising students are required to take a core of advertising courses that includes creative, research, ethics, media planning, marketing principles of advertising and advertising campaigns. In addition, advertising majors are required to complete eight hours of second language coursework, and all majors must declare and complete a second major or a minor of their choosing. Because SMU is in the center of a dynamic top five U.S. advertising market, many students participate in internships for course credit. Thirty-six (36) hours of advertising and communication courses are required for a major in advertising.