Online Master’s in Advertising

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Any prospective student applying to online master’s in advertising degree programs should be aware of their varied options. Students must know some crucial factors like the institution’s environment to promote education, research, and learning in this field; admission requirements; financial aids or scholarships provided; extent of student support services; mentoring programs; and practical exposure to the field. The team at  Online Masters Colleges has curated a list of some best degree programs across the country. Here is a list of the best online master’s in advertising programs: 

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Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

The master’s in advertising online degree program provides students with the opportunity to learn skills that will help them further their careers in different advertising fields. It prepares them to build a creative bent of mind and learn from accomplished professionals. The program is designed to prepare students for real-world advertising. Students who take up these master’s programs come from varied undergraduate degrees and are not required to have an advertising major. However, students coming from non-advertising backgrounds may be required to take certain courses like advertising and statistics before entering the program or concurrently during their first semester. The online advertising degree is mostly 36 credit hours, depending on the program’s format, university, coursework, and concentrations or electives provided by the institution. In addition to coursework, students are generally required to complete a final portfolio for review. 

The master’s in advertising online programs benefit students as they are popular over their offline counterparts since they allow the students to keep their current jobs and manage any other priorities while continuing to pursue their degrees. Graduate students pursuing an online advertising master’s degree can choose on-campus, online, and blended or hybrid programs, which would combine online and on-campus classes. 

Online Master’s in Advertising Degree Types

When applying for a master’s the student must understand the types of master’s in advertising degrees available across different institutions. There are two types of online master’s in advertising degrees available. They are Master of Arts or MA in advertising online and Master of Science or MS in advertising online. 

Students applying for graduate programs must give the Graduate Record Examination or GRE and submit their scores while applying to a graduate program. Some colleges also have the GRE requirement as an option; therefore, if the students wish to, they can submit their GRE scores or not. Having a master’s program with no GRE requirement makes it accessible to more students. Some examples of colleges offering online master’s in advertising no GRE programs are The University of Illinois, The University of Texas at Austin, and The University of Oregon. 

A master’s degree is a valuable addition to a person’s career. However, for some students, dedicating two years to a master’s degree is not feasible. Such students can opt for accelerated online master’s programs. This option of accelerated master’s is advantageous for students as it saves costs, reduces study time, and lessens the burden of extra courses. Here are a couple of accelerated online master’s in advertising programs:  

SMU Temerlin Advertising Institute – offers a master’s in advertising that consists of 27 credit hours of graduate coursework.  

The University of Illinois Urbana-champaign – offers a master of science in advertising that can be completed with a minimum of 12 credit courses. 

Fastest Master’s Online 

There are many free master’s in advertising online courses available as an option for students. Such courses in the field of advertising can enhance one’s knowledge, skills, and expertise. It is worth mentioning that free courses are often not accredited and hence cannot be used in place of a master’s degree in the job market. Nonetheless, free courses can be used to gain additional knowledge about advertising, which can be helpful for one’s studies and career. Here are a few free master’s in advertising online courses: 

The online master’s in advertising degree costs would differ from program and institution. Tuition, course material, additional elective costs, and travel are the main costs borne by students; travel costs would be an exemption for students pursuing this program online. The tuition fee for an online master’s in advertising program ranges from $10,000 to $53,225, depending on the requirements of the institution and program. Alongside working full-time while studying, there are several different funding mechanisms students can use to fund their graduate studies, some of which are:  

Graduate School Scholarships 

Graduate school scholarships can cover the partial or total cost of a degree. They are mostly awarded based on the student’s merit. However, other factors can also qualify students for scholarships, like community, cultural heritage, socioeconomic background, and so on.  

Grants for Graduates 

Grants are a good opportunity to seek financial assistance to alleviate the cost of a master’s. They are usually awarded to specific target groups or areas of education and research. While they may not be based on the student’s academic accomplishments, other factors are considered when awarding grants.  

FAFSA 

Students can apply for federal aid, work-study, and loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA form. The college to which the student applies uses FAFSA data to determine if a student is eligible for federal aid. 

Graduate Assistantship 

This is an excellent option for students who want to build a network with people and fund their education at the same time. Graduate assistants assist faculty members or departments with teaching, research, and other academic activities in exchange for a fee reduction or waiver. 

Graduate students have opportunities to fund their education by applying for different kinds of scholarships. Scholarships help students reduce their financial expenses considerably. Students can apply for scholarships based on academic success or merits in music, art, sport, etc. Here are some scholarships for a master’s in advertising degree: 

The LAGRANT Foundation 

The LAGRANT Foundation is a nonprofit organization addressing the lack of diversity in advertising, public relations, and marketing. They provide scholarships, professional development, career development workshops, and so on.  

Award/Amount

$3,250 

Application Deadline   

February 28, 2023 

PRSA Houston Scholarships 

The PRSA Houston Scholarship program awards scholarships to junior, senior, and graduate students pursuing degrees in public relations, advertising, or related fields. 

Award/Amount 

$1,000 to $3,000 

Application Deadline 

March 31, 2023 

Axia Public Relations Scholarship 

The Axia Public Relations scholarship assists outstanding students with financial needs in pursuit of their public relations or related careers like advertising, journalism, hospitality, event management, design, human resources, and so on.

Award/Amount

$2,000 

Application Deadline   

April 30, annually 

After earning their online advertising master’s, graduates could typically work in a wide range of settings where advertising is crucial. They can take up roles in public relations, communications, design, photography, and so on. Graduates would have the option to work in government agencies, non-profit organizations, advertising firms, industries, and so on.  

There are many roles where graduates can use their online master’s in advertising, which include job positions such as:  

• Account Executive 
• Brand Strategist 
• Ad Agency Executives 
• Product Managers 
• Advertising Managers 
• Marketing Representative 
• Social Media Manager
• Account Coordination 
• Content Manager 
• Web and Graphic Designer 
• Copywriter 
• Strategic Planner 
• Public Relations Manager 
• Advertising Sales Representative  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor of Statistics (BLS), the advertising job outlook is 10% faster than the average for 2021-31. The list below highlights the statistical data provided by the BLS on a few career options students can consider after earning an advertising online master’s: 

Certifications assure that the professionals working in a particular industry have the necessary ability, knowledge, and expertise to do their jobs efficiently. They help students get credibility to achieve high-level positions. Usually, every state has its certification requirements; therefore, the geographical location where a graduate wants to work is a critical factor.  

Advertising professionals would need to demonstrate high qualities of professionalism and industry-relevant skills while working on the job. Certification could help them demonstrate such standards. There are no direct certifications for online master’s in advertising in the United States. However, related professional certifications are available from the American Marketing Association (AMA). The AMA provides certification for digital marketing, marketing management, and content marketing. Advertising students interested in working in these related fields can consider these certifications.  

The Certified Sales Professional certification is a common certification deemed advantageous for advertising managers. This certification verifies the competency of a professional’s skills on the ground. 

Licensure does not apply to professionals in the advertising field. However, an advertising license is required by any person or organization wanting to engage in advertising activity (executing outdoor advertising, distributing advertising matter, etc.) 

An online master’s in advertising student can benefit from using a wide range of resources. Joining one or more professional associations could benefit them in terms of professional networking and gaining confidence in the advertising field. Since advertising is a very dynamic field, tapping into various resources helps students and professionals keep track of changing trends and how to manage them effectively by drawing inputs from leading industry professionals. Here are a few resources to get started:  

1. American Advertising Federation (AAF) – As a member of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), students will have the opportunity to be part of a talented group of individuals who can provide access to connections, professional development, and resources that one would need to be successful in the field of advertising.  
2. Association of National Advertisers (ANA) – The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) is one of the leading marketing and advertising institutions. It helps its members to be efficient marketers, build stronger brands, and lead industry and societal changes. ANA empowers individuals to be high performers through their professional developmental programs. 
3. Association of Network Marketing Professionals (ANMP) – The Association of Network Marketing Professionals (ANMP) unites various network marketing professionals with whom their community members share a common agenda. They help members maximize their income through strategic resources, career-building education, and access to leading professionals in the industry. 
4. Promax – Promax is one of the largest associations supporting the entertainment marketing community. They are a global association that represents thousands of individuals who market, create, and distribute content through media fields.  Promax helps students connect, explore, and expand in the field.
5. International Advertising Association (IAA) – The International Advertising Association (IAA) is one of the most influential networks, which has a broad global spectrum consisting of brands, tech platforms, media, PR, marketing research, and so on. They provide professional development programs as well.