Chapman University Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University




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Public Relations and Advertising Courses

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PR and Advertising Courses

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What You'll Learn
4-Year Plan
Professional Development
Entertainment Emphasis
Minors

Core requirements:

BUS 100 - Introduction to Business
FTV 130 - Introduction to Visual Storytelling
FTV 140 - Introduction to Film Aesthetics
MKTG 200 - Introduction to Marketing
COM 210 - Theories of Persuasion
FTV 230 - Principles of Advertising
FTV 231 - Principles of Public Relations
FTV 305 - Desktop Publishing
FTV 370 - Internet Communications
FTV 372 - Writing for Public Relations or
FTV 373 - Copy Writing
FTV 419 - Entertainment Marketing and Promotion
FTV 461 - Case Studies in Advertising or
FTV 470 - Case Studies in Public Relations
FTV 462 - Senior Project: Advertising Campaigns or
FTV 475 - Senior Project: Public Relations Campaigns

Total: 39 (Includes 5 upper division courses)

Electives:
Three elective courses are required (9 credits). Although students may take any course in the Dodge College for elective credit, the following courses are strongly recommended for students who want to be prepared to work in their chosen field.

Specialization in Public Relations

SOC 201 - Social Research Design
ENG 215 - Theory and Practice of Journalism
FTV 354 - Sports Public Relations
FTV 395 - Entertainment Public Relations
FTV 471 - Advanced Public Relations Writing
FTV 273/473 - Student Advertising Agency

Total: 12

Specialization in advertising

ART 110 - Foundation Course in Design
FTV 351 - Business Presentations
FTV 420 - Producing Commercials
FTV 460 - Student Advertising Agency

Total: 12

Units in major: 48
*(Includes 21 out of 36 total upper division units required for graduation)

What you'll learn
A graduate of the Public Relations and Advertising program should understand:

Context:

  • The functions of public relations and advertising
  • The history and development of public relations and advertising
  • Ethics and social responsibility in public relations and advertising
  • The relationship between public relations and advertising
  • Integrated marketing communications
  • The role of public relations in counseling an organization
  • The impact of advertising on an organization’s revenues and profitability
  • The publications, organizations, and resources available to public relations and advertising professionals
  • The role and organization of the media
  • How the Internet has changed the relationships of organizations and their publics
  • Public relations and advertising specialties, particularly in the field of entertainment
Theory:
  • Human communication theories and processes
  • Theories of persuasion
  • Theories of learning and perception
  • Theories of motivation
  • Research methods
  • The creative process
  • Design theory
  • Film aesthetics
  • Economic market theories of supply and demand
  • Product life-cycle dynamics
A graduate of the Public Relations and Advertising program should know how to:
  • Write well
  • Present effectively
  • Conduct primary and secondary research
  • Set public relations and advertising goals and objectives
  • Develop creative platforms or strategies
  • Plan and evaluate a public relations or advertising campaign
  • Segment markets and select target audiences
  • Design and create effective print and media communications
  • Use the Internet for strategic communication
  • Create a budget
  • Develop a media plan
  • Collaborate with teams

4-year plan
Course planning is an important part of your college success. The order below is recommended by the Dodge College faculty, but other sequences will also work. Fall and spring sequences are generally interchangeable, with the exception of Advanced PR Writing and the Campaigns and Case Studies classes which are only offered once a year.

Your decisions about class scheduling should take into account not only your graduation requirements, but also your educational and professional goals. We recommend meeting with your advisor each semester.

Courses marked by an * have prerequisites. See catalog for details. If taken in the recommended order, prerequisites will be fulfilled in the necessary sequence (with the exception of SOC 201 and ENG 215).

Upper division units
Junior and Senior year schedules require a minimum number of additionalupper-division electives. Students must complete 21 upper division units within the major (out of 36 upper division units required for graduation) and a total of 48 credits for the major.

Electives
Only the electives specified above will be accepted from departments outside of the Dodge College.

Two internships are also recommended.


 

Fall

Spring

Freshman
year

FTV 130   Visual Storytelling
FTV 140   Film Aesthetics

FTV 230   Principles of Advertising
FTV 231   Principles of Public Relations

Sophomore
year

Com  210  Theories of Persuasion
Mktg 200  Fundamentals of Marketing

Bus 100    Introduction to Business
FTV 305   Desktop Publishing

For those interested in PR

Eng 215    Theory and Practice of  Journalism* 

Soc 201    Social Research Design*

For those interested in advertising

FTV 260   Copy Writing* 

Art 110    Foundation Course in Design

 

Junior year

FTV 370   Internet Communication* or
FTV 419   Entertainment Marketing &
Promotion*

FTV 370    Internet Communication* or
FTV 419    Entertainment Marketing & Promotion*

For those interested in PR

FTV 372   Writing for Public Relations*
FTV 490   Internship

FTV 471    Advanced Public Relations Writing*
FTV 472    Student Public Relations Agency*

For those interested in advertising

FTV 351   Business Presentations
FTV 490   Internship

FTV 420    Producing Commercials*
FTV 460    Student Advertising Agency*

Senior year

FTV 462   Advertising Campaigns* or
FTV 475   Public Relations Campaigns*

 

FTV 461    Case Studies in Advertising* or
FTV 470    Case Studies in Public Relations*
FTV 490    Internship



Professional Development Requirement
All students in FTV 231 Principles of Public Relations and FTV 230 Principles of Advertising are required to complete the Professional Development Requirement in order to learn more about the fields of public relations and advertising through participation and involvement with activities outside the classroom. This requirement may be met by attending a PRSSA or Ad Club meeting to listen to a guest speaker or by attending a professional event, conducting an interview or participating in a job shadowing. See your professor for details.

Entertainment Emphasis
Located within the nationally recognized Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, the public relations and advertising degree offers a unique focus on entertainment marketing and promotion. Students interested in working in the film and television industry, sports, special events and many related fields will learn about working in these fields and how cross-promotion, product placement, and sponsorships touch both the corporate and non-profit worlds. Classes, guest speakers, partnerships with film students, internships and opportunities to travel to and work at film festivals are just some of the opportunities available.

Entertainment Learning Opportunities
  • Classes include Entertainment Marketing and Promotion, Sports Public Relations, Entertainment PR, Industry Insiders and Entertainment Arts Forum. In addition, students may integrate entertainment topics in other classes. For example, students in the PR Campaigns class designed a campaign for the Orange County Music Awards.
  • Film marketing: Students in the Entertainment Marketing and Promotion class team with film students to develop a comprehensive marketing plan for their films. Others work independently with student filmmakers to create press kits, marketing materials, and web sites.
  • Production opportunities: Public relations and advertising students work with broadcast journalism and television students to produce video news releases and other video programs.
  • Internships in marketing and publicity are available at the major studios and networks as well as at entertainment marketing agencies, music labels and through the Emmy Foundation and other industry groups.
  • Film festivals: Travel to Sundance during Interterm or work for the Newport Beach Film Festival during the spring semester.
  • Meet the pros: Screenwriters, directors and others visit Chapman on a regular basis to talk about their work (See Industry Insiders and Film-maker in Residence). Professionals in entertainment PR, the media, broadcast journalism and television also speak regularly in classes and at special events.

Minors
Students in other majors often choose to minor in public relations or advertising. Either minor is a good complement to business or graphic design. Public relations is also a good fit for students in performance majors who may wish to continue working in their area of interest (music, dance, theater etc.) even if they do not end up pursuing a performance career. Students wishing to minor in either public relations or advertising must submit a Change of Major/Minor form to the Dodge College office (they do not have to complete the Supplemental Application).

Minor in Advertising (18 credits)

FTV 230 - Principles of Advertising
Mktg 200 - Introduction to Marketing
FTV 130 - Introduction to Visual Storytelling
FTV 305 - Desktop Publishing
FTV 420 - Producing Commercials
FTV 462 - Advertising Campaigns

Minor in Public Relations (18 credits)

Com 210 - Theories of Persuasion
ENG 215 - Theory and Practice of Journalism
FTV 231 - Principles of Public Relations
FTV 372 - Writing for Public Relations
FTV 470 - Public Relations Case Studies
FTV 475 - Public Relations Campaigns

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