ADVERTISING
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Advertising is a constantly changing, fast-paced industry focused on people and ideas. It's a challenging career where the work is as fun as it is rewarding.
As an Advertising student at UW-Whitewater, you'll do what "ad" pros do. You'll create ads and ad campaigns, manage accounts, conduct research, plan media use and make client presentations. You'll learn the newest strategies for using social media as well as traditional and alternative media to produce the most successful integrated marketing communications possible.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
Jobs. Jobs. Jobs
100% of UW-Whitewater Advertising graduates in 2018-19 were employed in their field within one year of graduation.
Real-world experience
Projects like the mural for the Whitewater Community Space allow students to hone their advertising skills while helping local organizations with their promotions.
Outstanding faculty
100% of our Advertising faculty have industry experience. They know what it takes to succeed in the industry and are ready to help you do the same.
Why study Advertising at UW-Whitewater?
With a care for, and focus on students, UW-Whitewater is one of the premier options in the region for future advertising professionals. As an Advertising major at UW-Whitewater, you have the opportunity to build your future career from day one.
Not just professors, career mentors
Advertising department faculty are focused on providing real-world experiences and maintaining relationships with alumni to help guide your career in the future.
Real-world projects offer experience before graduation
Many of the Advertising courses incorporate industry projects for real clients. These high-impact practices give you hands-on experience to better prepare you for success after you graduate.
Industry professionals in the classroom
Since our Advertising professors have industry experience and connections, they are able to bring professionals to UW-Whitewater as guest speakers, project clients, conference presenters, career advisors, and work reviewers. For example, each spring, creatives professionals from Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago come to campus to review the portfolios of Advertising students who want to work as writers or designers. In addition to benefiting from the speakers' leading-edge industry insights, interacting with these professionals gives students valuable networking opportunities.
Track record of helping students get internships
One key element that can help propel you to the career of your dreams is an internship. Our faculty members are experienced in helping Advertising majors find the right internship to build toward their goals. Learn more about Advertising internships.
Express focus on supporting post-graduation employment
With industry experience and relationships, UW-Whitewater faculty are dedicated to helping students secure a job after graduation to launch their career on the right foot.
What our Advertising students do
Work with clients and manage accounts
Write and design ad campaigns
Build relationships with industry leaders
Tour advertising agencies and job shadow professionals
Campus agencies and involvement
Opportunities abound for Advertising majors at UW-Whitewater!
Whitewater Advertising Association (WAA): The Whitewater Advertising Association is an Advertising club/internship program that offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on advertising experience in an agency setting. Available to all UWW students, WAA members work directly with Advertising faculty and real-world clients to practice the many advertising techniques and strategies discussed in class, including: Consumer Research, Graphic Design, Copywriting, Ad & PR Account Management, Social Media/Social Computing, Website Development, Public Speaking and Presentations, Event Marketing, Brand Marketing, Client Acquisition and Retention, Team-Based Work Environments, Supervising and Overseeing Daily Operations and more.
PRSSA: Founded in 1967, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications.
Campus Media: The Royal Purple newspaper, UWW-TV, and WSUW-FM: 91.7 offer Advertising students hands-on opportunities in ad sales, promotions, creative development, and web/digital content creation.
On-Campus Advertising Jobs: Advertising students work as employees or interns for campus departments including UW-W Athletics, University Marketing and Communications, the University Center, and Career and Leadership Development.
Travel Study and Study Abroad: Gain valuable international communication experience by participating in the Communication Department’s travel study courses or by spending an entire semester studying in another country.
What our graduates do
Account Director
Creative Director
Media Planner
Social Media Manager
Advertising careers: What can you do with an Advertising degree?
Advertising jobs are plentiful and diverse. Whether in-house at a company or at an agency, opportunities include:
- Copywriter/Content Writer
- Graphic Designer/Art Director
- Creative Director
- Account Executive
- Digital Advertising Specialist
- Social Media Manager
- Media and Digital Analytics Specialist
- Market Researcher
- Media Buyer/Media Planner
- Event Planner
“Many of us still keep in touch today.”
Shannon Clancy ’16 graduated with a B.A. in Journalism and an emphasis in Advertising with a minor in Communication. UW-Whitewater prepared her for her career by getting paired up to work in teams just like they do at real agencies. She enjoyed the experience saying “Many of us still keep in touch today.”
Career success: Where our alums work
Getting your degree in Advertising is only the first step. Landing your dream job is what it's all about. Here are some of the agencies and companies where Advertising alums have worked or interned:
Chicago Agencies: Edelman, Ogilvy, Havas, Starcom, Olson. Wire Stone
Milwaukee Agencies: Cramer Krasselt, Boelter + Lincoln, Laughlin Constable, Bader-Rutter, Hoffman York, Hanson Dodge Creative, Nelson Schmidt, Zizzo, Nonbox
Madison Agiences: Hiebing, Shine, Planet Propaganda, Lindsay, Stone & Briggs, Knupp & Watson, Stephan & Brady, Campbell LaCoste
Companies/Organizations: Coke, Milwaukee Brewers, Kohl’s, Trek, Pacific Cycle, Wisconsin Department of Tourism, Goodwill Industries, Aurora Health Care, Kerry
Our learning spaces and facilities
Advertising majors have access to UW-Whitewater's computer labs, featuring both Macs and PCs with the latest versions of relevant software like Adobe Creative Cloud, as well as free access to LinkedIn Learning to enhance your education.
These technologies are the industry standard. By building a strong foundation in the use of these tools now, you will start your path to success on the right foot.
Plus, you'll be able to build your expertise with these tools by using them to prepare campaigns for real clients through involvement in the Whitewater Advertising Agency, an internship or on-campus job. Get real-world experience by doing real work for actual clients using the tools you will in your future career.
Our Advertising faculty
All of our award-winning faculty have industry experience. That means they know what you'll face when you leave UW-Whitewater and enter into your advertising career.
From copywriters to account executives, your instructors have the expertise to guide your learning and career path. Plus, with small class sizes, you can build the relationships with faculty and alumni that will serve you well into the future.
Kris Kranenburg
Kris Kranenburg is an award-winning copywriter and creative director. She worked with agencies in Chicago on clients including M&M/Mars, Cadillac, Kellogg’s, and Jack Daniel’s and teaches courses on creative development and campaign planning.
Michael Betker
Michael Betker brings 20+ years of business experience with a wide variety of product categories, products, and cultures to the Advertising and Communication courses he teaches. As the faculty advisor for the Whitewater Advertising Association (WAA), his background in consumer research, creative development, and integrated marketing strategy works to inform and support student professional growth and client business satisfaction in the markets they serve.
Sumin Shin
Sumin Shin used to be an account executive in advertising agencies and a market researcher in South Korea. He also published research papers in advertising, communication, and marketing areas. He has taught research and account management courses.
Want to learn more about earning an Advertising degree?
262-472-1324 | uwwcomm@uww.edu
The Journalism major offers the following options for Advertising:
- Bachelor of Arts — Journalism, Advertising emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Science — Journalism, Advertising emphasis | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Minor in Advertising
- Minor in General Communication
In addition to UW-Whitewater’s general education requirements, your emphasis in Advertising will require a set of core courses, including:
- Foundations of Advertising
- Electronic Media Copywriting
- Advertising and PR Research Literacy
- Media Ethics
- Advertising Copywriting and Layout
- Advertising Media Planning and Buying
- Advertising & PR Account Management
- Advertising Campaigns
With the help of your advisor and based on your academic and career goals, you’ll also select electives from a variety of other courses across the journalism and communication curriculum.
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your interest in the Journalism major, Advertising emphasis.
