Welcome to the Advertising Program at the University of San Francisco.

Our vibrant, multidisciplinary program was designed in consultation with advertising industry professionals. Our faculty include a number seasoned global advertising industry professionals, and our graduates go on to work at top agencies like Ogilvy, Havas, Wieden + Kennedy, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, and BBDO, and for companies like Google, Marvel, Sephora, and Nike.

We'll train you with all the theory, tools, and practical applications needed to make a success of your prospective career in advertising.
   Your major consists of three parts:
* first, foundational courses to introduce you to critical theory,
* then, a choice between track electives, equipping you with the necessary tools to specialize in an area of advertising,
* and lastly, your capstone experience, giving you a year of practice before graduation.

Take Fundamentals of Creative Strategy in your first semester, ideally with ÒAdvertising and Consumer CultureÓ if you start with us in the Fall or ÒAdvertising and PersuasionÓ if you start with us in the Spring. Once you pass the "Creative Strategy" course, you can move on to the Fundamentals of Creative Development and then onto our capstones.

You may be curious about the track electives. There are three tracks available. All students will be automatically registered in the general track when they elect advertising as their major, for a BA degree in Advertising. But you may switch to a different track, or concentration, of your choice.

The general track best suits those pursuing an account planning- or service career, brand communication-related jobs, or marketing nonagency roles.

The creative concentration gears you up to become a copywriter, art director, graphic designer, or digital creative. To take the creative concentration, you must declare a Design Minor. Choosing this in your first or second year is best, as the Design Minor takes four semesters to complete.

The Òstrategy and researchÓ concentration, is for students keen on working in strategy planning in an advertising-, media- or brand agency, a consumer research company, or to consult.

When you choose to do and complete the Òcreative concentrationÓ, or the Òstrategy & researchÓ concentration, it will show up as such on your degree certificate. 
 
You may also wonder about our capstones. There's a choice of two. The first is completing a year-long internship. The second option is called ÒCampaign ProjectÓ, where you compete in the annual American Advertising Federation's National Student Advertising Competition, working on a real-live client brief.

How many courses should you take per semester? The answer is, ideally, four. Usually, our courses count for four credits each. That works out to 16 credits or units per semester.  Taking 16 units every semester for four years will give you exactly the 128 units required for graduation. Taking 18 credits per semester is possible if necessary.
      
Throughout your time at USF, you will work closely with your academic major adviser each semester to choose your classes and map out your path to graduation.

What should you take in your first semester?

We'd recommend the following:
1. ADVT 101 Advertising and Consumer Culture (or 102 Advertising and Persuasion if you are starting in spring term)
2. ADVT 201 Fundamentals of Creative Strategy
3. Begin your Core A2 Rhetoric and Composition writing requirement
4. Another Core class. We recommend First Year Seminars or Transfer Year Seminars, or perhaps a second or foreign language course.

Let's briefly discuss the Core A2 ÒRhetoric and CompositionÓ course and the foreign language requirement.

There are many different courses and pathways to fulfill your Core A2 (Rhetoric and Composition) requirement. Simply Google "USFCA Placement Tests" and click on Directed Self-Placement (for Rhetoric). Then, complete the self-placement test and make your choice. Note that nearly all students will take two or more courses to complete Core A2: you may be starting with RHET 106 or RHET 110, or take another course.

As an advertising major, you must reach third-semester proficiency in another language. If you want to continue with a language that you may have already studied (or speak as a native language), take the online placement test to find your appropriate level. On the USFCA Placement Tests selection list, click Foreign Language Placement Test to take the test.

A great idea to take in your first semester is USF 101, a one-credit course. This orientation- and university- "life coaching course," as some may call it, settles you into USF university life and covers everything from study and time-management techniques to academic planning and exploring career paths.

If you need any help, don't hesitate to contact us. 
advertising@usfca.edu
415.422.5213

When registration opens at new student orientation, you will have the opportunity to meet your faculty. We will review the courses you have selected for this semester and answer any questions you may have.

Welcome to USFÕs Advertising Program. We look forward to meeting you soon.