Advertising and Public Relations Bachelor of Science Degree

You’ll learn how to: 

• Plan effective communication campaigns 
• Design eye-catching and persuasive advertisements 
• Create digital content 
• Manage media strategies across both traditional and online platforms 

Personalizing your educational path, you’ll choose electives in areas such as social media strategy, analytics, or new media design and build practical skills in: 

• Visual communication
• Digital advertising
• Multimedia storytelling
• Writing
• Media planning

Exposure to the industry and opportunities for real-world experiences are fun and fundamental to the RIT advertising and public relations major. Through Technically Speaking, our student-run, faculty-led advertising and public relations agency, you can work directly with real clients on real projects—an invaluable way to build your portfolio, confidence, and professional experience.

Beyond the classroom, we visit advertising and PR agencies during agency crawls, connect with professionals at networking events, and compete in local and national competitions including the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Rochester Pitch Competition and the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition.

How Can You Customize Your Education for Your Career Goals? 

As an advertising and public relations student at RIT, you’ll have endless ways to level up your degree. Whether you choose an immersion, a minor, or even a double major, you can shape your education around what excites you and build skills that future employers will appreciate. Think of it as designing a college experience that’s uniquely yours.

Discover What Inspires You

Where do you see yourself making an impact? Maybe you want to promote important public health campaigns, help your favorite museum reach new audiences, or plan unforgettable events. Nearly every industry imaginable needs professionals with the skills and experiences you’ll develop at RIT. With the right combination of courses, prepare for the future you’re dreaming about.

• Love the creative side of advertising? If you’re fueled by creativity, you’re at the right place at RIT.  Add a minor in 2D or 3D studio arts, photography; media arts and technology; or even creative writing to boost your creative toolkit. 
• Envisioning a career in the high-demand healthcare industry? Pair your major with health communication; health, culture and society; or global public health. Hospitals and care centers, medical device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical and health insurance companies are just a few industry niches that need skilled and adept advertising and public relations professions. 
• Does the world of business beckon you? Round out your business and operations savvy with a minor in marketing, finance, international business, or management information systems.
• Seeking to be a change-maker in non-profits or public affairs? Adding minors or immersions in political science, public policy, or international relations can broaden your expertise and equip you for positive impact.

No matter what you choose, you’ll find virtually endless options at RIT as you select from more than 127 minors, 75 immersions, and many options for double majors. Your academic advisor and faculty mentors are here to help you explore your options, choose the right courses, and build a path that fits your goals and your passions, and your RIT Career Coordinator can help you prepare to land your first professional job.  

Fast Track Options for Advanced Degrees

RIT Accelerated Combined Bachelor’s/Master's Degrees

Today’s careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.

• Advertising and Public Relations BS/Communication MS: In the advertising and public relations BS/communication MS, you will apply tech tools and data analysis to deploy advertising and public relations campaigns that connect with audiences and reach organizational goals. You will then build on this foundation by selecting research areas that focus on your career goals and provide deeper expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) use in communication, social media, visual communication, health communication, and civic engagement. Learn more about RIT Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees. 
• +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway: Successful RIT applicants who are offered admission into the BS degree in advertising and public relations as an incoming first-year student may also be offered conditional early acceptance into the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway. This option enables you to earn both your BS degree and an MBA in as little as five years of study. Learn more about the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway.
• +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn more about the +1 MBA.

A Foundation for a Career in Law

The RIT College of Liberal Arts offers two options for students whose ultimate goal is a career in law: the Pre-Law program and the 3+3 Law program. Beginning with a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations can build skills like public speaking, strategic planning, and critical thinking that transfer well and provide a solid foundation for a legal career. 

• Pre-Law Program: RIT’s pre-law program will help you navigate the admission process for law school, prepare for your LSAT, explore a range of legal careers, and guide you through course selections to bolster your success in competitive law school applications. The program is open to students in all majors. 
• 3+3 Law:  A fast track to law degree, this option lets you earn a bachelor’s degree at RIT and a Juris Doctorate degree at either Syracuse University’s College of Law and University at Buffalo School of Law. Interested students may apply to the option directly, with successful applicants offered admission to RIT and conditional acceptance into either Syracuse University’s College of Law or University at Buffalo School of Law.

Teaching Partnership Programs

RIT's advertising and public relations degree is eligible for RIT’s Teaching Partnership Programs, 4+1 options for earning your bachelor’s degree at RIT and a master’s degree in education at a partner university. 

Whether your goal is to go into early childhood or elementary education, become a secondary education teacher with a content area specialty at the middle or high school level, or work in higher education, these programs with local universities provide a guided pathway. As you progress, you’ll benefit from focused academic advising, career exploration opportunities, and RIT resources for research, learning, and skill development.  

Learn more about RIT’s Teaching Partnership Programs.