Course Objectives :

This course is designed to develop a critical understanding of the historical evolution of advertising in the United States during the twentieth century. Advertising interacts with all aspects of our culture. While theoreticians have not been able to determine to what extent advertising is shaped and shapes society, it is intuitive that there exists a mayor overlap between commercial speech and popular culture. This course concentrates in examining those economic, political and cultural factors that provide the environment for the development of advertising, and which are also affected by advertising itself.

The course should interest both advertising majors and non-majors. While technical knowledge of advertising is not required, because this is an upper division course, it is assumed that the students will be familiar with relevant aspects of economics, social sciences, marketing and mass communications.

Course Objectives :

This course is designed to provide students with practical decision making skills in advertising and promotions. Students will be required to engage in problem-solving exercises through the use of the case method. Group as well as individual analysis of cases will be required, as well as the completion of specific exercises and projects.