Clubs and Student Competitions

SMU Ad Club

The SMU Ad Club is one of the several hundred collegiate chapters of the American Advertising Federation (AAF). The club hosts a number of events throughout the fall and spring semesters, including panels with industry experts, agency visits, career fairs, and more. Membership is open to all SMU students, regardless of major or minor. Click here for more information on SMU Ad Club, the benefits of membership and how to become a member.

TAI Student Awards

The Institute strives to recognize students that go above and beyond to fulfill the mission of the Institute: Better Advertising. Better World. Recipients are selected by TAI faculty and staff and are recognized at the Institute’s annual awards event each spring. Award categories include TAI Anchor, Optimizer, Leader, Resilience, Service, Social Impact, Team Player, and Face of TAI. Awards are also presented to the top academic achiever in each specialization (creative, digital media strategy, and strategic brand management).

Kappa Tau Alpha (KTA)

Kappa Tau Alpha is a national honor society that recognizes academic excellence and scholarship in mass communication and journalism disciplines. Membership to SMU’s KTA chapter is by invitation only and is extended to the top ten percent of graduate and undergraduate Advertising students. Students eligible to join KTA are notified in the spring semester, and are inducted into SMU’s chapter in conjunction with Honors Convocation.

AAF NSAC Team (Ad Team)

The AAF’s National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) is a premier college advertising competition that provides students with real-world experience in developing an integrated marketing communication campaign for a real corporate client. Collegiate NSAC teams compete at the district, semi-final and national levels. Students interested in participating in SMU’s team, also known as Ad Team, are selected through a highly competitive application process each fall. The opportunity to participate in Ad Team is open to all SMU undergraduate students, regardless of major or minor. Students selected to participate earn credit for ADV 4399 Advertising Campaigns, a required course for the B.A. in Advertising (all specializations).

Creative Specialization Competitions

Students pursuing a B.A. in Advertising with a Creative specialization are encouraged to submit their work in regional, national, and international competitions. These competitions include the AAF’s American Advertising Awards (formerly the ADDYs), The One Show’s Young Ones Competition, National Student Show and The Art Directors Club of Houston, to name a few.