What Types of Degrees Are Available in Advertising and Marketing?
Students interested in the field of marketing and advertising can find a number of degree options at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Keep reading to get details on degree requirements and courses, and find out about potential careers.
Overview of Available Degrees in Advertising and Marketing
In this field, at the undergraduate level, you can choose from associate's or bachelor's degrees in advertising, marketing or combined advertising and marketing programs that focus on media campaigns and promotion. At the graduate level, you'll find master's and doctoral degree programs available in each of these fields. As with undergraduate programs, you'll also find combined marketing and advertising master's degree programs that focus on communication strategies.
Important Facts About This Area of Study
| Associate Degrees | Bachelor Degrees | Master Degrees | Doctorate Degrees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Courses | Advertising campaigns, business communications, marketing applications, sales promotions, social media marketing | Advertising research, media planning, marketing intelligence, branding, personal selling | Business to business marketing, brand management, advertising management, international advertising, advertising strategies | Marketing research, experimental design, behavioral research, empirical analysis, econometrics |
| Degrees/Certificates | Advertising and Sales Promotion, Retail Management | B.S. in Business | Master of Business Administration programs with concentrations in marketing or Master of Science programs that include specializations in areas like global marketing, digital marketing or brand management | Quantitative Marketing, Behavioral Marketing |
| Prerequisites | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent | Undergraduate degree; references and work experience | Relevant courses |
| Possible Careers | Professional sales, business promotion, customer service | Market research analyst, brand manager, account manager | Advanced or leadership positions in marketing research, account management or sales | Academic positions at colleges and universities |
Associate's Degree Programs
Advertising degree programs at the associate's level are generally available as part of communications programs and may be included in a combination form, such as an advertising and public relations or advertising and graphic design program. The latter combination could be offered through a fine arts department.
Marketing programs are typically part of business administration programs and include training in marketing research, consumer behavior, marketing management and salesmanship. These business-based programs can also include courses in advertising.
Bachelor's Degree Programs
At the bachelor's level, advertising degree programs may feature an option to choose a concentration in areas like media strategy, account management or social advertising. These programs can be found through both communications and business departments, so you can choose which background will benefit you most in your chosen career path. If you want to major in marketing, you may be expected to complete an internship to get practical experience in this field, in addition to taking courses.
Combined programs in advertising and marketing communications can generally be found as concentration options in bachelor's degree programs in marketing.
Master's Degree Programs
Advertising master's degree programs potentially focus on the management aspects of this field or offer opportunities to specialize in advanced areas like media planning, branding or international marketing. Marketing and advertising programs may have both thesis and non-thesis options. Some programs let you participate in an internship or a project if you aren't writing a thesis.
Doctoral Degree Programs
You can also find doctoral programs in marketing or advertising. These programs are research-based. Some programs might focus on a specific area, such as marketing strategies.
Some of the courses you take in a master's program may be used in doctoral programs, depending on the school. These programs generally require you to perform in-depth research and write a dissertation.
Career Info
In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that advertising, promotions, and marketing managers earned a median salary of $132,620. The job outlook for these professionals from 2016 to 2026 was projected at 10%, which is faster than average. The BLS also reports that market research analysts earned a median of $63,120 in 2018 with much faster-than-average growth of 23% projected from 2016 to 2026. During the same respective years, postsecondary business teachers brought in a median of $83,960 with 18% growth expected, according to the BLS.