You will select an area of emphasis in either Advertising or Public Relations to complement a minimum of 120 credit hours, including:
- A media-focused first year seminar course
- General Education Foundations (GEF) courses like English, math and science
- Additional courses outside of the major including statistics, economics and sociology
- Core media courses including writing and ethics
- Foundation courses in advertising and public relations
- Specific courses in your chosen area of emphasis (Advertising or Public Relations)
- Elective courses of your choosing
Tailor this major to your interests by taking one of these courses as you pursue your degree:
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ADPR 319:
Creative Design and Strategy
Learn design and production techniques for both print and digital media, including brochures, social media graphics, websites, posters and more. Get hands-on tutorials and develop skills in Adobe Creative Cloud design software.
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ADPR 439:
Strategic Social Media
Focus on crafting messages and successful case studies related to how social media channels can be strategically used to meet the goals of corporate, nonprofit, political and issue-based outreach messaging.
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ADV 401:
Creative 1
Develop skills in creativity, concept development, idea generation and principles of effective communication using words and visuals in a variety of print, social, digital, mobile, broadcast and other media.
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PR 455:
Strategic Event Planning and Promotion
This course provides a hands-on introduction to special event and festival management. Learn how to plan, implement and evaluate special events and build skills in event planning, coordination, sponsorship, programming, vendor management, volunteer management and risk management.
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ADPR 457:
Martin Hall Agency Experience
This is a faculty-advised, student-run advertising and public relations agency. Manage accounts and work in interactive teams to develop integrated multimedia advertising and public relations strategies, materials and campaigns to address the strategic communication needs of real clients.
Tailor this major to your interests by focusing your coursework in one of these areas:
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Advertising
Students who select the Advertising AOE obtain a solid foundation in creative copywriting and design, media planning, audience insights and analysis, and campaigns.
Additional courses in interactive marketing, strategic social media and account management are available to round out students’ individual interests.
Graduates go on to work at advertising and marketing agencies, in media advertising sales, within corporate communications offices, as media planners or as consultants and business owners.
The advertising curriculum affords a solid foundation for law or other specialized graduate programs.
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Public Relations
Students who select the Public Relations AOE take courses in strategic writing and social media, media design, audience research and analysis, and campaigns.
Other courses that apply to the major include web development, fundraising and foundation management, integrated marketing communications for sports, and blogging and interactive journalism.
Graduates go on to work at communications agencies, in government, health care organizations, nonprofits, corporate communications and politics.
Those students who wish to go on to graduate school have a solid grounding in writing, research, analysis and communications.
Take advantage of special options related to this major:
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3+3 Program
This major is eligible for the 3+3 Law Degree Program that allows qualified students to earn a bachelor’s degree and law degree in six years instead of seven
years.
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Accelerated Program
Advertising and Public Relations offers the option to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in an accelerated time frame.
Accelerated Program Details
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Honors
Expand your curiosity — and enhance your curriculum — through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations for first-
and second-year students and Honors EXCEL for third- and fourth-year students.
Explore Honors
