Advertising and Public Relations Major
The Advertising and Public Relations Program prepares students for careers in a wide variety of communication-related areas. Recent graduates have careers all over the U.S. and internationally in retail and corporate advertising and marketing, media sales, brand management, media planning, account management, public relations, media relations, special event planning, Internet communications, copywriting, art direction and account planning.
The Advertising and Public Relations faculty believes that a successful career must be built upon a solid foundation, an education that combines theory and practice. To achieve that end, the sequence offers courses in strategy, copywriting, layout, media planning, graphics, public relations theory and techniques, campaign development, Internet and mobile advertising and PR, social media, research and management. The curriculum is designed to emphasize strategy, planning and implementation in creative problem solving.
Faculty emphasize individual relationships with students, an interaction vital to a student's creative development. A faculty adviser also helps each student tailor an academic plan to meet his or her interests and needs.
In advertising and strategic communications classes, students frequently work with actual clients who present real-life problems. This experience gives students a professional perspective on problem-solving in many sectors including nonprofit, retail, small business and community organizations as well as in large corporations. Students are encouraged to augment their academic experience with internships.
Recent advertising and public relations majors have found internships at national firms such as BBDO New York, Weiden & Kennedy Portland, Saatchi & Saatchi NYC, Yahoo!, Bernstein Rein Advertising Kansas City as well as at Nebraska advertising agencies and businesses such as Bailey Lauerman, the Omaha World-Herald, Three Eagles Communication and Archrival.
The faculty, with many professional contacts both locally and nationwide, actively help place students in jobs within the state and throughout the country and the world. Students interested in majoring in Advertising and Public Relations should contact the college office in 147 Andersen Hall.
