浅谈美国广告专业
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：
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.
·
lobal 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)
申请要求：
该专业对申请者的本科背景要求不严格，如果有商科背景或者广告背景自然会更好些，比如University of Florida就写明了：Students without basic course background or substantial professional experience in marketing or advertising are required to complete articulation courses before entering the program.
These prerequisite courses include Introduction to Advertising and Introduction to Marketing.
以下就对TOP100有广告专业学校的专业名称，所属学院，及GT要求逐一进行罗列：
1.
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Advertising / Public Relations Specializations
IBT GRE
2.
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
College of Media → Dep. of Advertising
Master of Science degree in Advertising
IBT 102
IELTS6.5+
接受GRE/GMAT
3.
University of Texas-Austin (47)
College of Communication →Dep. of Advertising and Public Relations
M.A. in Advertising
GRE
IBT 79
IELTS 6.5
4.
University of Florida (49)
College of Journalism and Communications
Master of Advertising
IBT80 GRE 550+550=1100 有先修要求：统计学“C+”
5.
Boston University (60)
College of Communication → Dep. Of Mass Communication, Advertising & PR
MS in Advertising (Management & creative track, or thesis track )
IBT100 (each25)
GRE
6.
University of Georgia (58)
Grady College → Dep. Of Advertising & Public Relations
M.A. Concentration on Advertising
IBT GRE
7.
Syracuse University (53)
Newhouse School of Public Communications
M.A. in Advertising
GRE Q: mid-500 V:mid-500 AW4.5
IBT 100
IELTS 7 （低于这分基本不录取)
国际生IBT平均108
8.
Southern Methodist University (66)
Meadows School of the Arts → Temerlin Advertising Institute
MA in Advertising
IBT
接受GRE/GMAT
9.
Michigan State University (71)
College of Communication Arts and Science
M.A. in Advertising
IBT90 GRE
10.
Marquette University (77)
J. William and Mary Diederide College of Communication
M.A. in Communications (Advertising and Public Relations方向)
IBT100
GRE Q:450
V:450
Total:1000
AW4.5
11.
University of Denver (89)
School of Communication → Dep. Of Mass Communications and Journalism Studies
MS Advertising Management 'Z(n}7UH&
GRE
IBT80
IELTS6.0
12.
St. Louis University (80)
College of Arts and Science → Dep. of Communication
M.A. in Advertising and Public Relations
IBT80 写作4.0
IELTS6.0+
GRE
13.
University of Alabama (83)
College of Communication → Dep. Of Advertising & Public Relations
M.A. in Advertising and Public Relations
GRE1000（VQ至少各400）IBT100
14.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (89)
College of Journalism and Mass Communications
M.A. in Journalism focus on Advertising
IBT100
GRE
推荐申请者有相关方面的实习经历，可以去广告公司、公司的广告部门或市场部。
总体来说，学校对IBT要求都比较高，对GRE的写作成绩也会有所考虑，提醒申请者注意这点。