Learn the art and business of advertising, promotion and branding.
The stats don’t lie: advertising and marketing is a huge industry. In the US, advertising alone employs nearly 250,000 people at 65,000 firms and accounts for more than $166 billion of business each year. Those stats don’t include roles at brands, tech firms or anywhere where advertising and communications matter.
In every corner of this industry, there is demand for skilled designers and art directors. If you’re working to become a graphic designer, the Business Minor in Advertising Management gives you the extra experience and credentials to stand out in a crowded field.
You’ll learn every piece of the business—strategy, promotion, campaign development and more—to be more prepared for the ever-changing world of advertising and marketing.
- PSU is connected. Portland has one of the country’s most dynamic advertising communities, and PSU has deep connections with local/regional advertising agencies and corporate ad departments.
- Learn the business, too. PSU has one of the few US advertising programs housed in a business school. As an advertising management minor, you will complement your creative talent with business sense and the strategic mindset needed to start your own creative enterprise, join an agency or internal brand creative team.
- Highly-experienced faculty. Most of PSU’s advertising faculty have years of experience in the advertising industry—and many remain active as consultants. They bring a professional perspective into the classroom, offering practical insight and career guidance.
- Real-world work. Our advertising minor offers you extensive opportunities to gain direct, hands-on experience in the classroom, on campus, and in the workplace. Demonstrate your ability by working for PSU’s student-run on-campus advertising agency, FIR, interning at a Portland advertising firm, creating communications campaigns in one or more portfolio workshops, and more. It’s real work that helps you stand out.
Business Minor in Advertising Management Highlights
- Put your skills to work with real clients in Creative Strategy, Advertising Campaigns, and FIR NW courses
- Budding entrepreneurs will gain critical skills needed to launch a freelance design business, including personal finance and marketing essentials
- Build your strategy skills to help clients solve real-world business problems
- Choose from electives in Finance, Media, or experiential projects
- Complement your major with an introduction to business
Advertising is a rapidly changing field, as digital media drives more brand and consumer interaction than ever before. Employers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors need talented design professionals for these roles, which means you’ll find a wide variety of career opportunities. Career areas include:
- Art director
- Graphic designer
- Brand designer
- Creative director
- Production designer
- Digital designer
- UX designer
- UI designer
- Multi-media designer
- Web designer
- E-mail marketer
- Social media designer
- Packaging designer
CURRICULUM
Download the Advertising Management Minor sequence sheet. (PDF).
ACCREDITATION
Portland State University is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).