Undergraduate Information

Advertising and public relations are the disciplines that organizations use to communicate with their constituencies: customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, public-interest groups, voters, and the general public. The mission of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations (APR) is to serve as a leader in the generation and dissemination of innovative concepts and methods to solve advertising and public relations problems, and to provide innovative, high-quality instruction for students.

The APR curriculum for undergraduate majors includes courses in communication research, strategic writing, design, management, and media and campaign planning, among others. The Capstone campaigns course requires students to work with local and regional organizations to help solve real communication issues.

The APR faculty seeks to educate highly competent, focused students who will be recognized for their leadership qualities—their abilities to discern issues relating to both the practice of their profession and its role in society; to develop and execute successful communication programs; and to lead others effectively.

APR is the largest department in the College. The 900 undergraduate majors in advertising (400) and public relations (500) represent more than half of the students in the College. The number of APR majors has grown significantly from 550 majors in 1996.

The APR program is one of the 10 largest in the country. The program is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Recent APR graduates have gone to work in a variety or organizations across the country, including ABC 33/40, The Ad Council, Alabama Power, Alagasco, American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, CBS-42, Charlotte Observer, Children’s Dance Foundation, the Cirlot Agency, Coastal Living Magazine, Comedy Central, Country Music Hall of Fame, DavisDenny Advertising, Department of Defense, Dye, Van Mol & Lawrence, Eli Lilly, Iowa Grain Company, GodwinGroup, The Hearst Corporation, Ketchum Public Relations, McCann-Erickson, MS&L Public Relations, Phizer, Publicis USA, Randall-Reilly Publishing, Rhodes College, Salvation Army, Southern Living Magazine, Time Warner, Tuscaloosa News, The University of Alabama, University of West Alabama, Young & Rubicam and many others.

Advertising Major

Getting advised

Declaring the major

General requirements

Core requirements

Preprofessional requirements

Special requirement

Minimum grades

Upper-level major courses/Minimum GPA

General electives

ADV major course sequence

Declaring a minor

Minor requirements

Choosing a minor

Second minor

Second major

Suggested course plan for the major

Sample advertising course checksheet (2004–06/2006–08 catalogs)

Prerequisite courses

Political communication concentration

Internship/practicum

Independent study

Public Relations Major

Getting advised

Declaring the major

General requirements

Core requirements

Preprofessional requirements

Special requirement

Minimum grades

Upper-level major courses/Minimum GPA

General electives

PR major course sequence

Declaring a minor

Minor requirements

Choosing a minor

Second minor

Second major

Suggested course plan for the major

Sample PR course checksheet (2004–06/2006–08 catalogs)

Prerequisite courses

Political communication concentration

Internship/practicum

Independent study

Advertising and PR Minors

Declaring the minor

Getting advised

Advertising minor requirements

PR minor requirements

Minimum GPA/minimum prerequisite grades

Prerequisite courses

Current Opportunities

Internships

Independent study

Workshops and career fairs

Scholarships

Student organizations

Timetables

Advising

Registration

Suggested course plans

By status (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior)

Degree audit

Application for graduation

Academic calendar

Academic Services

APR Computer Labs

Media Writing Lab

English Writing Center

C&IS Reading Room

C&IS Career Services

UA Career Center

The R&D in Gorgas Library

Center for Teaching and Learning

Office of Disability Services

Academic Resources

Academic calendar

Class schedule

Class registration

Core classes

Graduation/commencement

Transfer course equivalency

Undergraduate catalogs

FAQs

How do I declare my advertising or PR major?

Do I have to have a minor?

What can I minor in?

How do I declare my minor?

How do I declare an advertising or PR minor?

How do I get an adviser?

What is the special requirement for the advertising or PR major?

What are the prerequisites to APR, MC, and other key communication courses?

What is an internship?

What is a practicum?

What is independent study?

What are the Core requirements for the advertising or PR major?

How do I get a list of classes that meet Core requirements?

How do I transfer from another UA college or school?

How do I transfer from another institution?

What is a degree audit and when should it be completed?

When should the application for a degree be completed?

How do I get a plan for academic success?

How do I get a letter of good standing?

What is academic warning?

What is academic suspension?

Contacts

Degree audit

Graduation requirements

Application for degree

Internship/practicum

Plan for academic success

Letter of good standing

Scholarships

Department

College

University

Transfer admission/course evaluation

Checksheets/records