Advertising Bachelors Degree Online
Is an Advertising Degree Right for You?
If you plan to pursue a fast-paced career in advertising, a bachelor's degree specializing in the field may be right for you. You should definitely be a people person to excel in the field, as you will often be working with demanding clients and managers. The ability to use your creativity and channel it in the right direction is highly rewarded. You will also be making a wealth of presentations in this career field, so you should be able to think on the spot, without getting nervous. During your degree program, you will often have to conduct market research to understand consumer needs and predict their responses to certain advertising methods. Communication and stress management are also very important skills to possess, both during your degree program and during your career. You will often be required to work anywhere from forty to seventy hours a week in an entry-level advertising job.
Advice for Earning Your Advertising Degree Online
You can receive an online bachelor's degree, with a concentration in advertising, marketing, or public relations. The latter two may sometimes be subfields under advertising. However, advertising and marketing are distinct fields, and usually distinct majors. Online courses can help you get some of the basics out of the way for an advertising degree program. Later, you could take in-class courses in a traditional program. Because the field requires a lot of communication and presentations, it is good to make sure your online or traditional degree program makes you exercise these skills. Also, if you plan to transfer from an online program to a brick and mortar school, you need to make sure the school you transfer to will accept your online credits. If you plan to pursue the degree, in its entirety, online, be sure that potential employers will find the degree program credible. If you have a specific company in mind, where you would like to work, you can speak with them beforehand. It never hurts to get some information early. Because of the large number of "degree mills," which hand out degrees based on life experience rather than actual credentials, some employers may be skeptical of online degree programs.
Required Courses
In order to excel in an advertising career, you must have a firm grasp of concepts, such as advertising theory, marketing strategy, media management, business management, and design techniques. Some required courses in the field include (but are not limited to): account planning, advertising copy and design, advertising research, advertising sales, campaign, consumer behavior, creative strategy, principles of advertising, and retail advertising. After completing your basics, you will often be required to put together a portfolio of advertisements. Usually employers will ask you for your final portfolio from your degree program. Depending on the concentration you choose in the major, you will be required to take a variety of additional courses as well. You can usually choose between a creative concentration and a managerial concentration. There are also online and traditional master's of arts programs in advertising. If you do plan to pursue a graduate degree in the field, you can choose between an advertising research and an advertising managerial concentration.
Common Career Paths
Some common careers available in the advertising sector include: public relations/advertising managers, copy writers, art directors, graphic designers, and public relations specialists. You may also want to pursue a career in sales after obtaining an advertising degree. Furthermore, you can work for a variety of industries. Luckily, you won't be limited to just working for corporations! There are a wealth of non-profits and web development companies that hire advertising majors.
Starting Salary: $30,513 to $55,000
Mid-Career Salary: $43,916 to $70,864
Learn More About a Career in Advertising
