Graduate Degree Requirements

Master of Science in Advertising

Note: If you are a current Advertising student graduating in 2012, your curriculum guide is listed under Current Students here.

Requirements

• 13 courses/52 credits
• You must also pass a Master’s Comprehensive Exam (Please see COM Bulletin).
• In the Thesis track, students prepare a thesis or a professional project in lieu of the exam.

Summary of Course Requirements

• 5 (five) core courses including a two-semester capstone experience involving hands-on work on ad campaigns for actual clients
• 1 (one) foundation course (choose one of two)
• 4 (four) concentration courses
• 3 (three) electives

Five Required Core Courses

COMCM707 – Writing for Media Professionals

COMCM708 – Principles and Practices of Advertising

COMCM722 – Communication Research

COMCM732 – Advertising Campaigns

Choose one (you may use electives to take more than one of these):

COMCM702 – Advertising and Society

COMCM704 – Contemporary Mass Communication

COMCM710 – Communication Theory

One Required Foundation Course

Choose one (you may also take the other as an elective):

COMCM717 – Fundamentals of Creative Development

COMCM721 – Advertising Management

Four Concentration Courses

Choose four (you may take more than four by using electives)

COMCM518 – Creating Video Campaigns

COMCM519 – Interactive Marketing Communications

COMCM712 – Consumer Insight & Account Planning

COMCM716 – New & Traditional Media Strategies

COMCM726 – Strategic Brand Solutions

COMCM751 – Advanced Art Direction

COMCM752 – Advanced Copywriting

COMCM753 – Portfolio Development I

COMCM754 – Portfolio Development II

Thesis Track

Four Required Core Courses

COMCM702 – Advertising and Society

COMCM707 – Writing for Media Professionals

COMCM708 – Principles and Practices of Advertising

COMCM732 – Advertising Campaigns

Six Required Thesis Track Concentration Courses and Three Electives

COMCM704 – Contemporary Mass Communication

COMCM710 – Communication Theory

COMCM721 – Advertising Management

COMCM722 – Communication Research

COMCM723 – Advanced Communication Research

COMCM909 – Thesis or Project Research

In addition, all graduate students will take 3 elective courses. These may be any graduate-level academic course at Boston University.

Study Abroad

Note: If you are interested in the London Summer Internship Program, please discuss it with your advisor and Professor Tobe Berkovitz as soon as possible as it requires careful planning. Students who will be participating in the London Internship Program may take CM 732 for 4 credits in the spring semester.

Graduate students in Public Relations, Advertising, Mass Communication and Journalism, or in the joint-degree program with International Relations, can opt to finish earlier by taking their third semester in London. Careful planning from the beginning is required. Consult your faculty or academic advisor. The London Internship Program provides 16 elective credits. Courses include International Media and Comparative Political Systems during the first half of the summer and an internship and generally International Marketing Communication during the second half. Each is a 4-credit course. Please note: Creative Track students will be able to participate in the London program, but will have to return to Boston the following fall to finish their required coursework.

Graduate Internships

Advertising students must complete two semesters in AdLab, a student-run advertising agency at the College of Communication. Through AdLab, students work in groups to complete ad campaigns for nonprofit companies. In addition, taking a graduate internship in any of the major areas of concentration is recommended as it provides valuable experience and networking opportunities. Registering for COM CM 809: Graduate Internship may allow you to receive course credit for an internship you secure.

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Some courses have prerequisites which are not listed above. All Mass Communication, Advertising & Public Relations requirements, prerequisites and course descriptions are listed on the Boston University Academics website.

It is strongly suggested that you consult with your advisor before each registration period. This will help you to follow the curriculum correctly. All curriculum questions should be addressed to your advisor. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all graduation requirements are met.