Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Advertising B.S.


TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study

The Advertising major in the Muma College of Business is unique in that it is a collaborative effort between the Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Marketing Department in the Muma College of Business. The major complements an existing Advertising track in the Mass Communications major and provides students the opportunity to combine the creative, media, and account planning aspects of advertising with knowledge, skills, and abilities in accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, marketing and strategy.

University Admissions - Muma College of Business


Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:

Progression Requirements - Muma College of Business


All students entering USF for the first time in Fall 2017 or later, who subsequently earn three (3) D and/or F grades in any or any combination of the following courses at USF will be required to change their major to a major more appropriate to their goals and academic performance and to a major not conferred by the Muma College of Business. The courses are: ACG 2021 , ACG 2071 , CGS 2100 , ECO 2013 , ECO 2023 , MAC 2233   (or equivalent), and QMB 2100   (or equivalent).

Graduation Requirements - Muma College of Business


Satisfactory completion of the following requirements: 

  • General Education Program (36 credit hours), including State Core General Education Requirements;
  • State Computation (6 credit hours); 
  • State Communication (6 credit hours, in addition to ENC 1101  and ENC 1102 ); 
  • Minimum of 120 unduplicated credit hours;
  • A minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on all coursework taken at USF and an overall 2.0 GPA average on all college-level coursework;
  • Major and college requirements in a chosen degree program;
  • Nine credit hours of coursework taken during the summer term(s) (if entered USF with less than 60 credit hours); 
  • Registration and successful completion of at least thirty (30) of the last sixty (60) credit hours;
  • 42 credit hours of upper-level coursework;
  • Civics Literacy;
  • Foreign language admissions coursework.

State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Muma College of Business


Following Florida BOG Regulation 8.010, state mandated common course prerequisites are lower-division courses that are required for progression into the upper division of a particular baccalaureate degree program.

Transfer credits will be accepted from accredited institutions; however, all hours earned may not be applied toward USF business degree requirements. Individual courses will be evaluated by an academic advisor and appropriately credited toward requirements in the student’s program at USF.

Florida public state or community college students enrolled in an Associate of Arts (AA) program should normally complete the general education requirements and the State Mandated Common Prerequisites at a Florida College System institution. As a rule, AA students should avoid taking any business courses at the state or community college that are listed as 3000- and 4000-level courses at USF. Normally, courses in finance, marketing, management, and accounting, as well as other business administration courses, taken at the lower division level will not be accepted for upper division credit at USF in business administration. In general, business courses taken at the lower level, at technical schools, or as part of professional or military training, are not applicable to the degree programs of the Muma College of Business. Exceptions to this policy will be made only upon proper validation of such courses. Validation consists of successfully completing specified advanced courses in the discipline.

Florida College System students pursuing an Associate of Science (AS) program in Business Administration are fully admissible to USF Muma College of Business, but may only earn a major in Management. Please see a business advisor to determine the articulation courses, discuss admission to the Muma College of Business and prepare a program plan for degree completion. 

Florida College System students pursuing an Associate of Science (A.S.) program in any other discipline should contact the Office of Undergraduate Studies, SVC 2002, (813) 974-4051, for information regarding course transferability and degree articulation.

Completion of the following State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites (or equivalents) with a grade of C- or higher in each course and an overall 2.5 GPA in the seven (7) courses:

  • ACG X021 Principles of Financial Accounting or ACG X022 or (ACG X001 & ACG X011) - 3-6 credit hours
  • ACG X071 Managerial Accounting or ACG X301 - 3 credit hours
  • CGS X100 Computers in Business or CGS X100C or CGS X570 or CGS X060 or CGS X531 or CGS X000 or ISM X000 or CGS X518 or CGS X101 - 3 credit hours
  • ECO X013 Principles of Macroeconomics - 3 credit hours
  • ECO X023 Principles of Microeconomics - 3 credit hours
  • STA X023 Introductory Statistics or STA X122 or QMB X100 - 3 credit hours
  • MAC X233 Elementary Calculus - 3 credit hours

Required Courses (66 credit hours)


Business Foundation Courses (required of ALL Business majors): 9 courses; 27 credit hours


A minimum grade of C- in each Foundation Course and an overall 2.0 GPA is required.

Other business required courses (6 credit hours)


Supporting Required Courses: 1 course; 3 credit hours


The following course is a prerequisite and supporting course for this major. It is required for the major. The degree will not be awarded if this course has not been taken by the end of the student’s final semester.

Major Core Courses: 8 courses; 23 credit hours


Students must complete the courses below with a minimum grade of C, not C-.

Major (Restricted) Electives: 5 courses; 13 credit hours


Additional Information - Advertising B.S.


Other Requirements


  • All Advertising majors must participate a study abroad experience.
  • All Advertising majors must live in the Zimmerman Advertising Program (ZAP) Living Learning Community during their freshman year.

GPA Requirements


At least a minimum of a C (not C-) grade must be earned in each course. An overall GPA of 2.0 is required in the major for graduation.

Residency Requirement


In the major, 15 of the 21 Advertising hours and 12 of the 17 Marketing hours must be taken in residency at USF.

Internship Opportunities


Advertising students will be required to complete internships as part of their degree program.

Research Opportunities - Muma College of Business


Undergraduate students in any degree program are able to participate in undergraduate research. Several options exist to show mentored undergraduate research activity on a student’s official transcript. Those who wish to enroll in an undergraduate research course should consult with their academic advisor to understand how the credit will apply towards the degree requirements. If no credit is needed, students may be eligible to enroll in the 0-credit IDS 4914  course. This course will not impact degree credits or GPA but will show on an official transcript and document the experience. The Office of High Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research (HIPUR) is able to assist with further inquiries.

Advising Information - Muma College of Business


Tampa campus location: BSN 2102
(813) 974-4290 or schedule an advising appointment online at https://www.usf.edu/business/undergraduate/advising/appointments.aspx

Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (Friday is reserved for walk-in’s only)
Please refer to the website for most current office hours and advising availability information: https://www.usf.edu/business/undergraduate/advising/

For questions email bsnadvising@usf.edu
Be sure to include your name, U#, and contact information with your question.

St Petersburg campus location: DAV 134
Mon-Thu: 8:00a.m. – 6:00p.m.
Fri: 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.
(727) 873-4511 USFSP-advising@usf.edu
Website:  https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/academics/academic-resources/academic-advising/about/index.aspx

Sarasota-Manatee campus location: SMC C107
(941) 359-4330  sar-advising@usf.edu
Website: https://www.sarasotamanatee.usf.edu/academics/academic-resources/academic-advising/