美国广告专业介绍
众所周知何为普遍意义上的广告，可能对这两个字的第一反应就是出现在电视上的广告节目，但广告作为一门学科，它准确的定义是什么，维基百科是这样来定义广告的：
A form of communication used to help sell products and services. Typically it communicates a message including the name of the product or service and how that product or service could potentially benefit the consumer.
广告的目的在于：
To persuade potential customers to purchase or to consume more of a particular brand of product or service.
广告专业的就业范围较为广泛，可以在公司、企业、政府部门、非盈利机构、广告代理机构等地方工作，职位包括：
•?Advertising Media Planner
•?Media Traffic
•?Copywriter/Illustrator
• Creative
•?Production Manager
•?Director of Advertising
•?Director of Public Relations
• Public Relations Specialist
• Account Executive
再以具体的2个学校为例子，来看看该专业毕业生的职业定位：
UIUC：
The Department of Advertising's goal is to prepare critical thinkers with strategic skills to navigate the consumer communications industry and academy now and in the future. The Department educates future leaders in the advertising industry and in business, government, non-profit and academic organizations.
Syracuse University：
Most of our students go into advertising agencies, but there are also jobs with media companies, marketing firms, and research companies. Recent graduates have taken such positions as:
•?Assistant Account Executive at Young & Rubicam/Wunderman, Chicago.
•?Junior Copywriter at Carol H. Williams Advertising, Oakland, Calif.
• Brand Manager at Eli Lilly, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Assistant Media Planner at Foote Cone and Belding, New York City.
• New Business Strategist at TBWA/CHIAT/DAY, New York City.
• Media Assistant at Weber Shandwick Worldwide, Baltimore, Md.
• Global Logistics Analyst at Bristol Myers Squibb, Plainsboro, N.J.
• Assistant Account Executive at Grey Worldwide, New York City.
• Brand Manager at Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, Hollywood, Calif.
这个学校是列了学生在美国就业的情况，但从职位上也可以看出该专业的就业方向。
在美国，广告专业属于传播下的一个分支，大多设置在传媒学院下面。美国综合排名前100的学校中，设置该专业Master课程的学校不多，大约在15所左右，包括了：
1.University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (28)
2.University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign (39)
3.University of Texas-Austin (47)
4.University of Florida (47)
5.Boston University (56)
6.University of Georgia (58)
7.Syracuse University (58)
8.Southern Methodist University (68)
9.Michigan State University (71)
10.Marquette University (84)
11.University of Denver (84)
12.St. Louis University (88)
13.University of Alabama (96)
14.University of Nebraska-Lincoln (96)