Lubbock, TX, January 1999:  For the third consecutive year there was a record number of college advertising and public relations students and graduates, primarily caused by an increase of 20 additional schools reporting for the annual directory, Where shall I go to study advertising and public relations?
 

The fall enrollment of students numbered 39,615, up from 36,648 (8 percent), and the number of graduates increased to 12,068, from the previous year of 11,658 (3.5 percent).  Undergraduate student enrollment increased to 37,278 from 34,179 (9 percent) the previous year.  However, there was a decrease in graduate students with 2,337 from 2,469 the previous year (-5.4 percent).

The data for the annual audit came from 211 schools reporting 306 programs for the 1999 edition of Where shall I go to study advertising and public relations?   This is the 35th edition of the publication.  The annual research project was funded in part by the America Academy of Advertising, American Association of Advertising Agencies, Direct Marketing Association, Promotional Products Association International, Public Relations Society of America, Louisiana State University and Texas Tech University.

Information in the directory is primarily directed to high school students and counselors including: degrees offered, entrance requirements, tuition and fees, accreditation, numbers of students, graduates and faculty, organizations and the person to be contacted.

Data in the national directory are divided into three different type of programs:  advertising, public relations and joint advertising/public relations.  Since 1992, when the directory added public relations, the number of advertising programs reporting has dropped from 120 to 108, while the number of public relations programs reporting has increased from 119 to 145.  A trend that has been noted is the number of schools that have unified the two programs into one, showing an increase from 23 to 53.

Advertising programs remained largest in the total number of students (16,233), followed by public relations (15,964) and joint advertising/public relations programs (7,418).  Public relations programs conferred the largest number of bachelor degrees (4,513), followed by advertising (4,486) and advertising/public relations (2,103).

Advertising programs lead in the number of undergraduate students (15,337), public relations programs (14,874), advertising/public relations (7,067).  There were decreases in the number of advertising (896) and advertising/public relations graduate students (351) while public relations graduate students increased (1,090).

Advertising Programs

The University of Texas' Department of Advertising reported the largest figures in the majority of advertising categories.  It conferred the largest number of undergraduate and graduate degrees (260), the largest number of doctoral students enrolled (22) and the largest fulltime faculty (14).  Michigan State University's Department of Advertising reported the largest number of undergraduate and graduate students (864).  The University of Florida conferred the largest number of doctoral degrees (6).

Public Relations Programs

The University of Florida's Department of Public Relations dominated most categories in public relations:  number of all degrees including undergraduate and graduate (172), and undergraduate and graduate students total (737).  The University of Maryland had the largest number of doctoral students (15).

Joint AD/PR Programs

The number of schools which have joined their public relations and advertising programs into one has doubled over the past seven years.  Although current data were not available from Boston University, it continues to be a leader in many categories.  It had the largest number of undergraduate and graduate degrees (317), the largest number of undergraduate and graduate students (725), and the largest fulltime faculty (22).  Northwestern University confers the largest number of master's degrees (90).

Editors of the directory are Billy I. Ross, Louisiana State University and Keith F. Johnson, Texas Tech University.  Further information can be obtained from Advertising Education Publications, P.O. Box 68232, Lubbock, TX  79414.

Media will be provided a review copy of the 1999 Where shall I go to study advertising and public relations? upon request.