International Summer Advertising Academy | Courses
The courses offered through the ISAA program are based on courses that already exist in the Sandage Department’s undergraduate curriculum. They will not be offered for University of Illinois credit, but students may earn course credit with their home institutions for the courses. The University of Illinois will send a report of the courses taken and grades earned in those courses to the students’ home institutions, along with a program certificate, approximately one month after the conclusion of the program.
Tentative Course List (students choose two):
| Course Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations | Introduction to the practice and profession of advertising. Course material covers various functional areas of advertising, public relations and integrated brand promotion. Topics also include how advertising and public relations relate to society in cultural, social, ethical and regulatory contexts. |
| The Language of Advertising | Students will learn terms, concepts, and practices for advertising in the U.S. and global contexts. Also covered: listening and speaking (in an advertising context); classroom culture (participating in discussions and asking questions); business writing; and presentation skills. There is a focus on speaking with accuracy and clarity. Both general English language skills as well as specific advertising writing skills will be covered in this class. |
| U.S Culture | Students will explore United States culture through examination of cultural artifacts, rituals, advertising, film and more. |
| Global Advertising | Explores theories of culture and communication and applies them to advertising issues in the context of globalization. Through case studies and an applied project, students will develop strategies for advertising and communicating messages to local and global audiences. |
Students will choose to attend The Language of Advertising (meant for students where English is not the first language) or U.S. Culture for Monday through Thursday morning session. In the afternoons, students can choose either Introduction to Advertising & Public Relations or Global Advertising. Afternoon courses will be either Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. A list of required textbooks and course packs will be made available prior to the beginning of the program, for purchase by the students.
Courses will be taught by Illinois faculty or adjunct lecturers from other institutions or the communications industry. Fridays will be reserved for work time, cultural immersion trips, and visits to industry sites.
On Fridays, enrollees and University personnel may travel to Chicago and other Midwestern locations for interactions with industry experts. Examples could include:
- Account planners and account executives at top-tier advertising agencies
- Advertising professionals at Google, Yahoo, other online experts
- Agency and client experts in global advertising
- Agency experts in online, social media, digital, mobile
- Agency experts in content creation
- Others, as appropriate
The University of Illinois has a vast network of alumni and friends, which makes it possible for us to gain access for students in our programs that would otherwise be unavailable. Those in our network are counted in the top positions in media, creative, sales, digital, account management, research, and client-side marketing. They often teach in our programs and interact with students.