Advertising Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make an advising appointment?

Meet your Advertising advisors and view details on all your advising options, including how to schedule a 30-minute appointment.

I don't see any available appointments. What are my options?

The appointments are posted for a week at a time. They are in high demand and become booked very quickly. Advisors post appointments each Wednesday morning for the following week only; therefore that is an excellent time to log-in to the appointment system. You may check for open appointments at any time because cancellations may occur. Express advising is also an option during Fall & Spring semesters. On Wednesday from 8-11 am and 1-4 pm, you can come in and sign up to see an advisor on a first come, first serve basis. No appointments are necessary for Express advising.

If I am a prospective student, how can I meet with an academic advisor?

If you do not have an MSU Net ID, you can still make an appointment with an advisor. You will need to call the appropriate advisor in order to schedule the appointment. This list will provide advisor names, the majors they advise and phone numbers. Please note: current MSU students are not permitted to schedule an appointment by calling an advisor.

How do I change my major?

If you are below 56 credits, you will need to go to your UUD office and notify them you would like your major changed. The major change can take 24-48 hours to be take effect.

If you are above 56 credits and you meet the ADV junior entrance requirements (see below), you will need to go to the Student Affairs Office of your current college, then to your current major Advising Office to pick up your files. Both files are then brought to 189 CAS. The major change will not be complete until you speak with an Office Assistant in 189 CAS.

When can I change my major to Advertising?

If you are below 56 credits, you can change your major at any point, assuming that you will complete the junior entrance requirements prior to earning 56 credits. If you are above 56 credits, you will need to complete the junior entrance requirements prior to changing your major into Advertising. Once all the grades are reported for the semester in which you completed your last requirement, you can begin your major change process.

How do I apply to the Department of Advertising, Public Relations, and Retailing?

There is no application. If you are currently an ADV major, your record will be reviewed upon completion of 56 credits. If you are not currently an ADV major, you can change your major to ADV upon completion of the junior entrance requirements. Once all the grades are reported for the semester in which you completed your last requirement, you can begin your major change process.

What are the junior entrance requirements for ADV?

You need to complete ADV 205, EC 201, and PSY 101 (with a combined 2.0 or higher), by the end of the semester you reach junior status (56 credits). You also need an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.

How do I calculate my major GPA?

Login into your STUINFO account. Click 'Courses by Subject'. Only use your ADV courses when calculating this.
Step 1: Calculate the GPA points for each ADV course by taking the credits earned in that course and multiplying it by the grade you received.*
Step 2: Add all of the GPA points together for all ADV courses.
Step 3: Divide total GPA points by total credits in ADV courses.

*If you received a 0.0 in a course the credits for that course must be added into your total credits in Step 3. If you repeated a course multiple times the most recent grade is the only one calculated into your major GPA, whether or not you received a higher grade.

If you need assistance calculating your major GPA come into 189 CAS with a piece of picture ID.

What are the prerequisites for a class?

Check out the Schedule of Courses or the Description of Courses for information on classes, including prerequisites, restrictions, descriptions and semester offerings.

How do I get an override for an ADV class?

If you are attempting to enroll for a class that is full or looking to have a prerequisite waived, you will need to contact the instructor of the class or the department offering the class to discuss these possibilities.

What is a 'late add' and how do I go about getting one?

The term 'late add' applies to adding any course after 5pm on the 5th day of classes (the Friday of the first week of classes). At this time you need written permission from the instructor giving you clearance to add the class. You need to take this written permission to the department office that oversees the course.

Where is the Advertising, Public Relations, and Retailing Office located?

309 Communication Arts & Sciences.

How do I drop a course?

Anytime prior to the start of classes, through the middle of the semester you can drop your own classes on the WebEnroll System.
If you are above 56 credits and it is after the middle of the semester you need to schedule an appointment with Ann Hoffman by calling Joyce Crandell at 355.1794.
If you are below 56 credits and it is after the middle of the semester you will need to contact your UUD office.

How do I find which professor is teaching a class?

Use the Schedule of Courses to find the professor teaching a specific class. If no professor is shown, you can contact the Advertising Department for more information (517.355.2314).

How do I contact a professor?

Visit the Directory.

What are the approved literature and writing courses?

An updated literature and/or writing list can be downloaded from the Degree Requirements section of the CAS Website or a copy can be picked up from 189 CAS.

What classes fulfill my Social Sciences cognate/focus?

Students must complete 12 credits in any combination of the following departments:
Anthropology (ANP), History of Art (HA), History (HST), Music (MUS), Philosophy (PHL), Psychology (PSY), Sociology (SOC), Political Science (PLS), Studio Art (STA), and Theatre (THR). The cognate is a great place to pick up credits at the 3/400 level.

What classes are in the creative, management, and general tracks?

The creative track includes
ADV 320, 322, 324, 426, and 428. The management track includes:
ADV 330, 332, 334, 336, 340, 342, 350, 352, 354, and 456. The general track can be any combination of the creative and management track, but a simple guide would be ADV 320, 330, 340, and 350. Remember that you only need three classes within a track to complete the requirement. For more information regarding the prerequisites of the classes within a track, please refer to the Description of Courses.

How do I find an internship?

Finding an internship is similar to finding a job. Once you find a position, contact the Advertising internship coordinator if you would like to earn credit. To get started in finding a position, consider these options:

1. Let family and friends know that you are looking; you never know what connections might be within your own circle.
2. Check out the bulletin boards by the ADV office in 309 Communication Arts & Science.
3. Register on MySpartanCareer.
4. If you are looking at a specific town, search the web for the Chamber of Commerce or town website for information regarding businesses in the area.
5. Consider not-for-profit organizations and find their local branch.

What if I am considering going to graduate school?

The first thing you should consider is taking the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or other appropriate entrance exam for the particular program you are considering. For further information on how to register for the GRE and testing services, check out the MSU Testing Office. For help in finding graduate programs in your area of interest, check out www.petersons.com for a comprehensive search of academic programs across the country.