Advertising / Public Relations (BA)

The mission of the Advertising/Public Relations program is to prepare students for careers in the widely diverse fields of advertising and public relations by providing a high-quality education to students in core values, ethics and the concepts, strategies, and techniques of strategic communication, and to promote student engagement that influences real-world experience through internships, partnerships and community involvement.

Admission Requirements

• The Advertising/Public Relations program is a limited access program that requires a separate application.
• Students should apply to become Advertising/Public Relations majors only after completing all requirements for admission.
• Students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of college work before applying.
• The student’s GPA is a major component of the admission criteria.
• The admission GPA will be calculated using all college work attempted.
• The GPA cut-off for admission varies each semester, depending on the applicants; but for the previous six admission periods, the GPA averaged 3.3.
• Students must pass a grammar proficiency exam administered by UCF’s Testing Center, unless the student has qualifying AP or IB scores, or a “B” is earned in both freshman GEP English classes.
• Students can contact NASSC for specifics of admission criteria.
• Students must receive a positive evaluation by the Nicholson School of Communication and Media.
• Students must be in good academic standing.
• Students must complete or be enrolled into and complete the following courses with a “C” or better (if in progress at the time of admission, students who do not earn a “C” or better will be removed from the program):
  
  Complete the following: (6 Credit Hours)
  • ADV 3008 - Principles of Advertising Credit Hours: 3 and
  • PUR 4000 - Public Relations Credit Hours: 3

Application Deadlines:

• October 1 to be admitted the next spring term;
• February 1 to be admitted the next summer term;
• June 1 to be admitted the next fall term.

Degree Requirements

• Students who change degree programs (other than from Ad-PR Pending) and select this major must adopt the most current catalog.
• Co-op credit can be used in the major with advisor’s prior approval.
• School residency requirement consists of at least 24 semester hours of regularly scheduled 3000-4000 level courses taken from the UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media.
• Of the 120 hours required for graduation, 72 hours must be taken outside of the disciplines of Communication and Media Studies (Radio-TV and Journalism) represented within the Nicholson School of Communication and Media. Of these 72 hours, 48 must be taken in the liberal arts (i.e. within the College of Arts & Humanities or the College of Sciences). Film and Digital Media courses will be permitted as liberal arts courses. .
• Students electing to complete a minor must select the minor from outside the Nicholson School of Communication and Media to remain below the 48 credit hour school maximum.
• A maximum of three credit hours of internship may be earned in one semester.
• All prerequisites of courses taught within the College of Sciences will be enforced.
• Courses designated in 1 (General Education Program) and 2 (Common Program Prerequisites) are usually completed in the first 60 hours.

General Education Program (GEP) (36 Credit Hours)

At least one course completed in each Foundation area must be a designated State General Education Core Course.

Communication Foundations (9 Credit Hours)

• ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
• ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
• SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3

Cultural & Historical Foundations (9 Credit Hours)

• AMH 2010 - U.S. History: 1492-1877 Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
• Select two courses from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 2;Credit Hours: 6

Mathematical Foundations (6 Credit Hours)

Math: (3 Credit Hours)

Select one:

• MGF 1106 - Finite Mathematics Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
• MGF 1107 - Explorations in Mathematics Credit Hours: 3 (Suggested)
• May substitute a higher level math with appropriate scores on the Math Placement Exam. See: https://www.sdes.ucf.edu/placement-tests

Statistics: (3 Credit Hours)

Select one:

• STA 2014C - Principles of Statistics Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
• STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
• May substitute a more advanced STA course.

Social Foundations (6 Credit Hours)

Economics (3 Credit Hours)

Select one:

• ECO 2013 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
• ECO 2023 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3 (Required)

Social Sciences (3 Credit Hours)

Select one:

• ANT 2000 - General Anthropology Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
• PSY 2012 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
• SYG 2000 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3 (Required)

Science Foundations (6 Credit Hours)

Common Program Prerequisites (CPP)

Select either economics course:

• ECO 2013 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
• ECO 2023 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)

Speech:

• SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)

Core Requirements: Basic Level (6 Credit Hours)

• All courses specifically identified in the preceding Common Program Prerequisites section of this catalog are also required in the Basic Core, and must be taken along with the following;

Must be in progress or completed before applying to the program:

Complete all of the following: (6 Credit Hours)

For admission to the program, students must complete or be enrolled into and complete the following courses with a “C” or better (if in process at the time of admission, students who do not earn a “C” or better will be removed from the program).

• ADV 3008 - Principles of Advertising Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4000 - Public Relations Credit Hours: 3

May be completed before or after admission to the program:

Complete either economics class:

• ECO 2013 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3 (GEP/CPP)
• ECO 2023 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3 (GEP/CPP)

Complete either speech class:

• SPC 1603C - Fundamentals of Technical Presentations Credit Hours: 3 (GEP/CPP)
• SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3 (GEP/CPP)

Complete either statistics class:

• STA 2014C - Principles of Statistics Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
• STA 2023 - Statistical Methods I Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)

Core Requirements: Advanced Level (24 Credit Hours)

Complete after admission to the program:

• ADV 4101 - Advertising Copywriting Credit Hours: 3
• MMC 3200 - Mass Communication Law Credit Hours: 3
• MMC 3420 - Mass Media Research Methods Credit Hours: 3
• MMC 3630 - Social Media as Mass Communication Credit Hours: 3
• MMC 4411 - Ad-PR Campaigns Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 3100 - Writing for Public Relations Credit Hours: 3
• VIC 3001 - Visual Communication Credit Hours: 3

Internship: Select one (3 Credit Hours)

• ADV 4941 - Internship Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4941 - Internship Credit Hours: 3

Restricted Electives (15 Credit Hours)

Select from the following after admission to the program. If you choose internship, you may take either ADV or PUR, but not both:

• ADV 3001 - Advertising Strategy Credit Hours: 3
• ADV 4103 - Radio-Television Advertising Credit Hours: 3
• ADV 4300 - Advertising Media Planning Credit Hours: 3
• ADV 4941 Internship Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 3004 - Public Relations and Society Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 3210 - Communication Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4600 - PR Strategies Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4014 - Preparing for Public Relations Certification Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4110C - Public Relations Publications Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4203 - PR/Advertising Ethics and Law Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4400 - Crisis Communication Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4801 - Public Relations Case Studies Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4941 Internship Credit Hours: 3
• VIC 4312 - Power Branding Credit Hours: 3
• Additional restricted electives can be taken as approved by an advisor.

Capstone Requirements

The following Advanced Core course meets the Capstone Requirement:

• MMC 4411 - Ad-PR Campaigns Credit Hours: 3

Electives

• Select primarily from upper level courses, with school advisor’s approval. Must be from outside of the disciplines represented within school in order to not exceed the 48 credit hour cap. The majority of electives should be taken in the Liberal Arts to comply with the 48 hour Liberal Arts requirement.
  

Foreign Language Requirements

Admissions

• Met by graduation requirement.

Graduation

• Proficiency equivalent to two semesters of college instruction in a foreign language or in American Sign Language (ASL). Standardized examinations for foreign languages may be used. ASL proficiency is met by successful completion of ASL 2140 and ASL 2150 or an appropriate score on the ASL proficiency exam. Contact the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/csd/) regarding the ASL proficiency examination. Consult with the NSCM advising staff to understand how choosing ASL impacts hours needed to graduate.

Additional Requirements

• None

Required Minors

• None required. However if a minor is desired, it must be selected from outside the school in order to not exceed the 48 credit hour cap.
  

Departmental Exit Requirements

• To avoid delaying graduation, the student must request a review of requirements before registering for the last term.
• Students must achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) courses taken in the major.
  
• All attempts of UCF NSCM courses that could meet major requirements are included in the major GPA calculation, including those taken beyond the minimum required (e.g. additional restricted electives).
  

University Minimum Exit Requirements

• A 2.0 UCF GPA
• 48 semester hours of upper division credit completed
• 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
• 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
• A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
• Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.

Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120

Additional Information

Honors In Major

• Eligibility: Requirements for admission to Honors in the Major are: completion of at least 60 semester hours of college credits including at least 12 graded upper-division hours at UCF; at least a 3.5 GPA within the major; and at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA including all upper-division courses regardless of institution; complete ADV 3008 and PUR 4000 with a minimum grade of A (4.0) and MMC 3420 with a minimum grade of B (3.0).
• Admission: Application to admission to Honors in the Major program must be approved by both the Honors in the Major thesis adviser, the Advertising/Public Relations Area Program Coordinator, and The Burnett Honors College.
• More information about Honors in the Major can be found at https://honors.ucf.edu/research/.

Requirements:

• Students accepted into the Honors in the Major Program must complete the following:

Related Programs

• Marketing (B.S.B.A.)

Certificates

• None

Related Minors

• NOTE: Minors taught within the Nicholson School of Communication and Media are not open to Ad-PR majors.
• Business Minor
• Digital Media Minor
• Writing and Rhetoric Minor
• Hospitality Management Minor
• Marketing Minor
• Political Science Minor
• Psychology Minor
• Sociology Minor
• Mass Culture and Collective Behavior Minor

Advising Notes

• Student should consult with a School advisor.
• Students must satisfy each course’s prerequisites before enrolling in the class.

Transfer Notes

• Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
• Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information.

Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses

• None

Program Academic Learning Compacts

• Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm

Equipment Fees

• Part-Time Student: $15 per term
• Full-Time Student: $30 per term

Plan of Study

• One of numerous possible plans of study. See program description for all requirements.
• Consult a school advisor for alternate, new or more appropriate selections.
• Use your Pegasus Path planning tool in your myUCF portal to plan your courses through to graduation.

Freshman Year - Fall (13 Credit Hours)

• ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Math Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Credit Hours: 3
• Foreign Language (XXX1120C) Credit Hours: 4

Freshman Year - Spring (13 Credit Hours)

• ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
• SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3
• or
• SPC 1603C - Fundamentals of Technical Presentations Credit Hours: 3
• STA 2014C - Principles of Statistics Credit Hours: 3
• Foreign Language XXX1121 Credit Hours: 4

Freshman Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)

• Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 3
• Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 3

Sophomore Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)

• ECO 2013 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3
• or
• ECO 2023 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Credit Hours: 3
• Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 3

Sophomore Year - Spring (13 Credit Hours)

• ADV 3008 - Principles of Advertising Credit Hours: 3
• PUR 4000 - Public Relations Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Credit Hours: 3
• Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 4
• Apply to the program

Junior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)

Apply to program by Oct 1.

• MMC 3420 - Mass Media Research Methods Credit Hours: 3
• MMC 3630 - Social Media as Mass Communication Credit Hours: 3
• MMC 3200 - Mass Communication Law Credit Hours: 3
• GEP Credit Hours: 3
• Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 3

Junior Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)

If admitted, take the following;

• PUR 3100 - Writing for Public Relations Credit Hours: 3
• VIC 3001 - Visual Communication Credit Hours: 3
• Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 3
• Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 3

Junior Year - Summer (3 Credit Hours)

• Internship - ADV 4941 or PUR 4941 Credit Hours: 3

Senior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)

• ADV 4101 - Advertising Copywriting Credit Hours: 3
• Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 3
• Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 3

Senior Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)

• MMC 4411 - Ad-PR Campaigns Credit Hours: 3
• Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3

A second Internship as a Restricted Elective is strongly advised

• Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Free Elective-take outside of NSC Credit Hours: 3