Advertising/Public Relations Career Guide

Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths

Academic Resources

Explore our Ad and PR resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.

Curriculum Guide

Advertising and Public Relations Department

CLAS Advising Center

What Can I Do With This Major?

 

Student sitting in broadcasting studio

Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.

Career Resources

Unlock your career potential in Advertising and Public Relations! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory. 

Career Assessment - PathwayU

Jobs via Handshake

Ad/PR Internship Feed

Career Communities

Menu of Experiences

Sample Ad/PR Internship Sites

Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.


Ad/PR Internships

General Information on Internships

Join A Student Organization

Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!


Student Organizations

Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills

Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.


Electives to Consider

Community Service Opportunities

Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.

The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.

Civic Engagement Center

Ad/PR Study Abroad Options

Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.

Expand your knowledge of advertising and public relations on a global scale by participating in a study abroad experience. You will gain unique skills and learn about diverse perspectives that will serve you as you move into your career. 

Ad/PR Study Abroad

Explore Internships Abroad

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.

Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship

Getting Started

Fellowship Opportunities

Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships

Finding a Fellowship


Ad/PR Career Spotlights

Ad/PR spotlights

Jesse Schmitt '22 Spotlight

Jesse Schmitt '22

Some of my favorite memories come from my time running GrandPR, GVSU's student-run communications firm. It was both challenging and rewarding, and I met many of my closest friends because of it.

Jaime Guzior '12 Spotlight

Jaime Guzior '12

My favorite memory is attending chapter meetings every Sunday with my Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority sisters.

Amberly Dzimira '23 Spotlight

Amberly Dzimira '23

I loved my time working at the GVSU Alumni Relations Office as a student communications assistant. I had a great time facilitating the alumni events and bugging the student graphic designer, who remains one of my closest friends.

View More Ad/PR spotlights

  • Assistant Account Executive – Seyferth PR
  • Marketing Lead – Trotec Laser, Inc.
  • Public Relations Associate - Rock Ventures, LLC
  • Search Specialist - Evolvics
  • Public Relations and Social Media Coordinator - SpartanNash
  • Content Manager - BlackTruck Marketing and Media
  • Communications Coordinator - Holland Engineering, Inc.
  • Retail Marketing Coordinator - Wolverine Worldwide
  • Media Management & Marketing – Alive Media, LLC
  • Freelance Graphic Designer – New York City, New York
  • Digital Advertising Specialist – Deksia
  • Customer Success Manager – DealerOn
  • Sales Executive– Zillow Group
  • Media Buyer/CRM Planner – Lake Michigan Credit Union

Attend Events

Career Community- Communication & the Arts

There are no upcoming Career Community- Communication & the Arts at this time

View More Career Community- Communication & the Arts

career communties

Consider joining the Communication and the Arts Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!


Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate or Professional Programs

Students with an Ad/PR degree may continue on to a graduate program.  Here are some examples of programs students have pursued:

  • Master of Arts in Advertising
  • Master of Arts in Strategic Communication
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Arts in Public Relations

     


Discover More

Join a career community

Watch videos of professionals in this field

Check out our podcast

Career Center Resources

Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.  



Page last modified February 27, 2025