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communication students discussing marketing strategy

Communication: Advertising and Public Relations

Advertising and Public Relations serves as a critical touchstone between the worlds of art and commerce.

You will learn to be critical consumers of media while exploring the process of creating and executing persuasive messages that will resonate with target audiences.

With a strong multimedia background and practical learning experiences, you’ll graduate poised to put your corporate communication skills to work. Gain the skills necessary to pursue jobs in creative fields, advertising, public relations, and marketing.

Top Reasons to choose Communication: Advertising and Public Relations at florida southern college

Go Beyond

Develop key relationships with professors and network with industry professionals by establishing partnerships that will extend well beyond your time of study at Florida Southern College. Students are encouraged to join Lux 12, our very own student-run digital marketing agency, which provides social media and other communications content to local brands. It’s a great way to build real-world and portfolio experience.

Guaranteed Internships

Our students are guaranteed an internship where they can apply critical concepts and skills learned in the classroom. These internships also serve as key networking opportunities with professionals that often extend after graduation.

Industry Relevant Experience

We focus on an industry-leading curriculum that highlights the latest trends in the marketing space. Our instructors bring years of experience into the classroom to help make course content as real life as possible.

Conference Opportunities

Interested in presenting your academic work before a panel of peers and judges? The Department of Communication provides valuable opportunities to present your work at statewide and national academic conferences and competitions.

Location, Location, Location

The Department of Communication is located in Lakeland, directly between the two major media markets of Tampa and Orlando, which gives you valuable options when choosing your professional internship or developing your career path. Other key media markets in South Florida are just a short drive away.

AdFed and FPRA

Join AdFed or Florida Public Relations Association, Florida Southern’s student-run professional networking organizations. Our monthly campus meetings bring local and nationally recognized speakers to talk with students about the latest trends in the industry.

Employment Outlook

Alumni Occupations

$69,226
Estimated Salary of Communication Alumni From This Program
74%
Alumni Working in a Field Related to Advertising and Public Relations

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The experiential learning opportunities, dynamic coursework, and passionate staff afforded me so many opportunities. I entered the working world incredibly prepared, and I owe that preparation to the lessons I learned at FSC.

— Emma Hamrick

Meet our Mocs

Sarah Dube

Sarah Dube

I love all of the opportunities that are available in the Communications department. From FSCTV to The Southern to Luxe 12, there's always a way to get involved that will prepare you for your future. I feel like I've learned just as much participating in these organizations as I have in the classroom.

Dominic Mottola

My favorite part about this semester has been preparing my portfolio for the big job hunt to come. Lux12 has been a good way to stay connected, we get to interact with different on-campus groups and just interacting within the group keeps that feeling of connectivity to the campus

Jessie Praley

The Communication Department’s community feel and closeness makes me feel like it’s our own family. Especially since I am an out of state student, it made me feel right and home. They have encouraged me and pointed me towards what I want to do in life.

Kelsey Elmhorst

I love the professors that I have, they are always more than willing to help inside and outside of the classroom.

Wendy Kiesewetter

Get involved. One of my favorite things about FSC is the amount of student organizations and how active the student body is. From attending one of the many on-campus events to becoming the officer of a student organization, getting involved in any way will open many doors for you as well as allow you to meet like-minded people.

Outcome Focused

COM 4400 Strategic Communication Campaigns. This course examines the development of strategic communication campaigns, including goals, objectives, and strategies. Students will conduct research and design strategic messaging for a client or employer who is seeking to achieve measurable outcomes that influence target publics.

View Academic Catalog

A visit is the next step. Online or In‑Person.

Schedule a campus tour or take our video tour of one of the nation’s most beautiful campuses. Participate in our daily online Admission Info Session or a MocTalk webinar to learn more about Florida Southern.

Learn More about visiting our campus

Save Time with a 4+1 MBA

At the end of the junior year, all Florida Southern College students are eligible to be considered for early admission to the Florida Southern MBA program.

Learn More about Save Time with a 4+1 MBA

Featured Advertising and Public Relations Faculty

Dr. Alex Ortiz
- Associate Professor of Communication

My teaching philosophy relies on combining lessons that incorporate the theoretical with the practical — it’s a balancing act for sure, but one that gives my students a broader sense of advertising’s role in our world while ensuring that the latest trends are spotlighted in the classroom. In addition, I will frequently take my students on tours of local and national advertising agencies to give them a firsthand perspective of the inner-workings of the industry.

Read More about Dr. Alex OrtizMeet Our Faculty

Clubs and More

Advertising majors are encouraged to participate in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), which provides an opportunity to work on a real-life advertising campaign.

You’ll have numerous opportunities to network with industry professionals and tour advertising agencies as a member of our student advertising and public relations organizations.

Learn More about florida southern's clubs and organizations

Program Details

Available in: 

  • BA
  • BS
  • Minor

First-Years

All freshman applicants to Florida Southern Colleges full-time degree programs must submit the following information:

Transfers

Applying to Florida Southern as a transfer student is easy.

If transferring less than 24 credits, we also need your:

  • Official high school transcript
  • SAT and/or ACT scores

Communication: Advertising and Public Relations Program Contact

Office of Admissions

Admissions Counselors
863.680.4131

Dr. Cara Mackie

Chair of Communication
863.680.3863

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