It’s no surprise that Marietta graduates are successful PR and marketing specialists, copywriters and corporate communications professionals. In the advertising and public relations track within our strategic communication major, you’ll learn about the nature of persuasion, media ethics, digital communication, advertising campaigns and more — and gain experience and professional connections that provide a valuable portfolio of projects to show future employers.
Majors all complete an internship, and often more than one; sites have included H. G. Heinz Corp., Ogilvy & Mather, Moroch Inc., Lake Chautauqua, Columbus Clippers and several other advertising and public relation agencies and nonprofit organizations. And with two radio stations, a television station, and an award-winning newspaper on campus and all run by students, you’ll be able to work in a variety of mass-media markets starting in your freshman year.
Join Marietta’s chapter of the American Advertising Federation for even more opportunities. Our students have competed — and taken honors — in national advertising and marketing competitions, attended career fairs and student conferences, met with industry professionals, and won prestigious regional and national scholarships.
Sample Four-Year Schedule
First Year (Fall Semester)
| Mass Media 101 | Media and Society (General Education Social Analysis) | 3 credit hours |
| Communication 110 | Human Communication (General Education Social Analysis) | 3 credit hours |
| Writing 102 | College Composition | 3 credit hours |
| General Education | Civilization & Culture | 3 credit hours |
| PIO 101 | Pioneer Path I | 2 credit hours |
| PIO 102 | Student Engagement | 1 credit hour |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
First Year (Spring Semester)
| Media Skills course | 3 credit hours | |
| Communication 230 | Communication Theory & Research I | 3 credit hours |
| Communication 203 | Fundamentals of Communication | 3 credit hours |
| General Education | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 credit hours |
| General Education | Scientific Inquiry (with lab) | 4 credit hours |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 credit hours |
Second Year (Fall Semester)
| Mass Media 207 | Media Writing I | 3 credit hours |
| Mass Media 230 | Intro to Public Relations | 3 credit hours |
| PIO 201 | Pioneer Path II | 3 credit hours |
| Elective or Language Proficiency Course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
Second Year (Spring Semester)
| Mass Media 225 | Intro to Advertising | 3 credit hours |
| General Education | Science with or without Lab | 3 or 4 credit hours |
| General Education | Artistic Expression | 3 credit hours |
| Communication/Mass Media elective | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Language Proficiency Course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 or 16 credit hours |
Third Year (Fall Semester)
| General Education | Artistic Expression | 3 credit hours |
| Communication/Mass Media elective | 3 credit hours | |
| Cognate course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
Third Year (Spring Semester)
| Mass Media 420 | Media Law and Ethics (Junior Core) | 3 credit hours |
| Mass Media 397 | Internship | 3 credit hours |
| Cognate course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
Fourth Year (Fall Semester)
| Communication/Mass Media Elective | 3 credit hours | |
| General Education | Civilization & Culture | 3 credit hours |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration Course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective or Secondary Concentration Course | 3 credit hours | |
| Cognate Course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
Fourth Year (Spring Semester)
| Mass Media 410 | Advertising & Public Relations Campaigns | 3 credit hours |
| Mass Media 430 | Capstone | 3 credit hours |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Elective course | 3 credit hours | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 credit hours |
* Remember that this schedule should just be seen as a guide toward your Advertising/Public Relations degree. Your schedule can be adjusted to accommodate a second major and/or minors at the College. You will work with your academic advisor to ensure that you graduate on schedule and with classes that most interest you and lead you toward the career path that you are working to achieve.
