Click on the interactive M.S. in Advertising curriculum map to learn more about the courses.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the M.S. degree must complete a minimum of 36 graduate hours of coursework, which includes a professional project or thesis. Full-time status requires a minimum of 12 credit hours. Students are required to take the required courses outlined below:

ADV 550 Foundations of Advertising
ADV 580 Advertising Theory
ADV 581 Quantitative Research Methods in Advertising
ADV 582 Qualitative Research in Advertising
ADV 587 Graduate Seminar I
ADV 588 Graduate Seminar II
ADV 598 Professional Project OR ADV 599 Thesis Research

All students must complete either a master’s thesis (ADV 599) or a professional project (ADV 598). Thesis/project proposals are written in ADV 588 (Graduate Seminar II). In addition, students must have 12 graduate-level electives (at least 1 course from College/Department and 1 course from outside the College).

Students often take ADV 590 special topic courses as elective courses (e.g., Global Advertising, The Psychology of Advertising) or courses in Business Administration, Communications, Psychology, or Sociology.

M.S. Advertising: 12-month Course of Study

Fall Term: 15 credits

ADV 580: Advertising Theory (3 credits)
ADV 550: Foundations of Advertising (3 credits)
ADV 581: Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits)
ADV 587: Graduate Seminar I (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

Spring Term: 15 credits

ADV 582: Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)
ADV 588: Graduate Seminar II (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

Summer Term: 6 credits

Project (6 credits)

M.S. Advertising: 18-month Course of Study

Fall Term: 12 credits

ADV 580: Advertising Theory (3 credits)
ADV 550: Foundations of Advertising (3 credits)
ADV 581: Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits)
ADV 587: Graduate Seminar I (3 credits)

Spring Term: 12 credits

ADV 582: Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)
ADV 588: Graduate Seminar II (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

Fall Term: 12 credits

Project (6 credits) 
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

M.S. Advertising: 24-month Course of Study (Project)

Fall Term: 12 credits

ADV 550: Foundations of Advertising (3 credits)
ADV 580: Advertising Theory (3 credits)
ADV 581: Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits)
ADV 587: Graduate Seminar I (3 credits)

Spring Term: 12 credits

ADV 582: Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)
ADV 588: Graduate Seminar II (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

Fall Term: 12 credits

Project (6 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

Spring Term: 6 credits

Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

Students in the Cooperative Education Program must apply for an extension of their program beyond the typical three terms or three semesters. To apply for an extension, please fill out the extension request form.

M.S. Advertising: 24-month Course of Study (Thesis)

Fall Term: 12 credits

ADV 550: Foundations of Advertising (3 credits)
ADV 580: Advertising Theory (3 credits)
ADV 581: Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits)
ADV 587: Graduate Seminar I (3 credits)

Spring Term: 12 credits

ADV 582: Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)
ADV 588: Graduate Seminar II (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

Fall Term: 12 credits

Thesis ( 3 or 6 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

Spring Term: 9 or 12 credits

Thesis (3 or 6 credits)
Elective (3 credits)
Elective (3 credits)

Students in the Cooperative Education Program must apply for an extension of their program beyond the typical three terms or three semesters. To apply for an extension, please fill out the extension request form.