The art of advertising has been a part of the selling process for as long as people have exchanged desired products and services. Today, the advertising profession integrates the traditional concepts of TV, radio, and print ad production with other persuasive communications methods, including public relations, direct marketing, sales promotions and Internet marketing. The Advertising Communications major is a multidisciplinary major that combines the pragmatic business and selling aspects of advertising in the marketing area and the rhetorical, persuasive and creative elements of advertising in the communication area. The major allows students to draw on multiple areas of knowledge and skills necessary for career success in advertising and related fields.

Students in this major can pursue paths in advertising sales, graphic design, marketing, sales, and online advertising. Employment in this field is expected to increase about as fast as the national average, as growth in new media outlets such as online advertising will offset the decline in other media such as print advertising. Median annual wages in 2008 for advertising and promotions managers were $80,200.