Advertising

About the Department

The Department of Advertising is recognized as one of the largest and most respected programs in the U.S. Courses are designed to provide a foundation for problem-solving, strategic thinking and persuasion techniques that drive marketplace communication.

Coursework is complemented with opportunities for:

  • Internships at major ad agencies and brands
  • Portfolio- and resume-building work and networking with Ad Society and the Advertising Advisory Council, a group of professional mentors
  • Various immersion opportunities including The Agency and Elevate
  • Undergraduate advertising and health communication research
  • Participation in regional and national advertising competitions.

Students graduate prepared for the challenges of culturally diverse and technologically changing marketplaces. In this spirit, students have two track options: the Advertising Agency Track and the Persuasive Messaging Track.

Advertising Agency Track

Students in the Agency Track are prepared for any entry-level agency role after graduation. Along with core requirements, students choose 11 elective credits in the major. After completing required prerequisites, students take the Advertising Campaigns class as a capstone, which allows them to experience agency roles and work hands-on with a real client before they graduate.

Persuasive Messaging Track

Students in the Persuasive Messaging Track have a more customizable educational experience. Students choose 14 elective credits along with their core advertising courses and two required experiential learning (EL) courses. Experiential learning opportunities include courses such as Creative Advertising Competitions, Undergraduate Research, Cultural Branding, Great Ideas in Marketplace Communication, and Advanced Internship. Lists of EL courses are sent through the listserv every semester and are available through PATH.

Below are quick links to find information about the department.

Contact Information
Faculty and Staff 
Adjunct Faculty
Track Options
Advertising Curriculum
Advertising Courses
Advertising Syllabi
Combined Degrees
Advertising Course Sequence
Advising for Advertising
Internal Transfers
Advertising Internships
Equipment Requirements
Advisory Council

Five Things You Should Know:

  1. The department is home to nearly 600 majors.
  2. Approximately 200 of those majors participate in Ad Society, which has organized professional networking trips to Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Austin, and Miami in recent years.
  3. The UF advertising department leads the nation as one of the top universities in student placements for the 4 A’s Multicultural Advertising Internship Program (MAIP).
  4. The department is a national leader in AAF’s Most Promising Multicultural Student (MPMS) wins.
  5. In the recent years, graduates have landed jobs at Leo Burnett, Dentsu Aegis, Saatchi & Saatchi, Disney, and Google.

Notable alumni include:

  • Neisha Tweed Bell, facebook’s Global Head of Inclusive Content & Experience, Creative Shop
  • Kirsten Flanik, President and CEO, BBDO New York
  • Scott Hagedorn, CEO, Omnicom Media Group North America
  • Jim Jenkins, Founding Director, O Positive Films
  • Darrell Hammond, former Prime Time Player, Saturday Night Live
  • Cliff Marks, Former President, National CineMedia

Involvement Opportunities

The Advertising Department urges students to get involved in the college and gain experience. Below is an overview of the organizations advertising students most frequently become involved with.

Ad Society
Students receive indispensable advice from speakers and mentors, hands-on experiences, opportunities to visit agencies, and a chance to hold a leadership position amongst fellow peers.

The Agency
Led by professionals, staffed by students and inspired by faculty, The Agency is a team of seasoned professionals and hand-selected twenty-somethings with a passion for ideas that resonate with young consumers.

STEM Translational Communication Center
Join STCC to help improve human health and well-being by making scientific research more accessible, understandable, and actionable