Undergraduate Studies

With consumers seeing millions of messages throughout each day, advertisers must use creativity, skill and strategy to make an impact on their audiences. The Temerlin Advertising Institute for Education and Research (TAI) trains students to search for unique solutions in advertising, preparing them for work in advertising agencies, media firms, corporate marketing departments, design studios and more.

TAI is located in a top-five media market that affords many opportunities for industry experience through internships and guest lectures, industry field visits, directed study, and an annual lecture series. Students may also choose to study abroad, through advertising classes offered at SMU-in-London and other SMU-approved programs. Small classes ensure personal attention from the advertising professors, all of whom are prominent scholars and industry leaders. In-depth projects and internships prepare students for careers as account executives, account planners, media planners, art directors, copywriters and brand managers.

The Temerlin Advertising Institute was endowed by the Dallas advertising community through a pledge to augment scholarships, faculty salaries and public programs that enrich student learning and practical experience in advertising. Established in 2001, it is one of the nation's first endowed advertising institutes.

Major in Advertising

The B.A. in Advertising allows students to major in advertising and specialize their knowledge in one of three areas:

• Creative
• Digital Media Strategy
• Strategic Brand Management

Students must apply for admission to the major and a specialization simultaneously. Read more about the admissions process here.

Minor in Advertising

The minor in advertising offers the student a cogent overview of the social, economic, legal and marketing environments in which advertising functions. Courses offered in the minor are designed to satisfy the needs of the consumer of advertising messages, as well as those of a person who might choose advertising as a valuable adjunct to another career choice.

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Minor in Graphic Design

The graphic design minor provides a basic understanding and development of skills necessary for message design across various media. Topics and skill sets include identity (logos, branding collateral material, packaging), digital (social, mobile, online media), publication (magazines, newspapers, books), and other areas of design. The minor is designed for students who wish to incorporate an interest in graphic design into their major coursework or to pursue further study in a variety of design disciplines.

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