LUBBOCK, TX, January 2004:  A record 14,746 advertising and public relations students graduated from 196 colleges and universities during the past year, an 11 percent increase from the previous year and reflecting a 21 percent growth over the past decade, according to data in the just published 2004 edition of Where shall I go to study advertising and public relations?

The 40th annual edition of the directory is compiled and edited by Billy I. Ross, Louisiana State University and Keith F. Johnson, University of Southern Mississippi.  Annually it reports on the status of advertising and public relations education in the United States.

In addition to Louisiana State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi, other research sponsors include the American Association of Advertising Agencies, American Advertising Federation, American Academy of Advertising, Advertising Division of Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Direct Marketing Association, Lubbock (TX) Advertising Federation, Texas Tech University and the Houston Chronicle.

Nine more universities reported data for the 2004 edition, an increase of 4.8 percent.  The schools reported 279 programs:  95 in advertising, 136 in public relations and 48 with joint advertising/public relations programs.  Last year, 269 programs were reported.

There were 43,810 students enrolled this fall, an increase of nearly 4 percent from the previous year's 41,982.  Compared to the growth in students, the increase in fulltime faculty was also 4 percent, 915 from 875.

Of 2,326 graduate students enrolled, 2,117 are working on masterís degrees and 209 in doctoral programs.  A tight job market is one of the major reasons for continued increases in graduate students, according to the co-editors.

The directoryís information is used by high school students and counselors for information about colleges and universities with advertising and public relations programs.  Professional organizations and media utilize the information on the number of graduates coming into the fields and the number of students enrolled at each of the schools.

The research project measures programs in advertising, public relations and joint advertising/public relations.  Public Relations programs have the largest number of students and graduates; advertising has the largest number of graduate students.  Joint advertising/public relations programs have shown growth in recent years, yet remained constant this year.

Advertising

From the 95 programs in advertising, there were 5,861 graduates during the past year, an increase of more than 11 percent.  Of that number, 5,373 were bachelors, 459 masters and 29 doctoral. The number of fulltime faculty showed a slight increase of 1 percent, 347 from 341.

Presently enrolled are 15,381 undergraduate students, 952 masters and 133 doctoral.  The combined enrollment (16,466) is a slight decrease from the previous year, less than 1 percent.

School leaders in specific categories include Michigan State University awarding the most Bachelor Degrees (340); Roosevelt University the most masterís degrees (60).  The University of Georgia and Michigan State University awarded the most doctoral degrees (5) and the University of Texas reported the most fulltime faculty (19).

Junior/senior enrollment increased slightly, and the number of masters students increased almost 12 percent, to 133.  Michigan State University reported the greatest number of junior/senior enrollment (562) while Roosevelt University (IL) reported the greatest number of masters enrollment (170).  Ten programs reported four doctoral students each.

Public Relations

Public relations showed increases in all areas.  The number of programs increased from 129 to 136, greater than 5 percent.  Graduates rose by nearly 14 percent (6,204 from 5,446), while the number of students enrolled was 18,196 compared to 17,027 the previous year, an increase of nearly 8 percent.

The 6,204 graduate degrees included 5,900 bachelor, 289 master and 15 doctoral.  Of the students presently enrolled, 17,489 were undergraduates, 639 masters and 68 doctoral.  The number of fulltime faculty showed a slight increase, 3 percent (368 from 357).

School leaders in specific include the University of Florida awarding the most Bachelor Degrees (261), Boston University the most masterís degrees (38); and the University of Georgia the most doctoral degrees (5).  The University of Florida reported the most fulltime public relations faculty (10).

The increased enrollment in public relations programs continued the 11-year trend of growth.  The University of Florida reported the most junior/senior enrollment (480), Colorado State the greatest number of masters students (81), and the University of Georgia reported the greatest number of doctoral students (20).

Joint Advertising/Public Relations Programs

The same number of Joint AD/PR programs, 48, reported this year.  From this number there were slight increases in nearly all areas, except graduate students declining from 546 to 534, a little over 2 percent.

The number of graduates was up to 2,681 from 2,538, more than 5 percent.  Bachelor degrees increased to 2,466 bachelors, 214 masters and one doctoral.  The number of students increased to 9,148 from 8,794, an increase of 4 percent.  Doctoral students remained the same, 8, while masters were down to 526, about 2 percent.  The number of fulltime faculty was up to 200 from 177, a 13 percent increase.

School leaders in many specific include Pennsylvania State University awarding the most bachelor degrees (269) and Emerson College (MA) the most masterís degrees (85).

Pennsylvania State also reported the greatest junior/senior enrollment (669) and Emerson the greatest number of enrolled masters students (243).

Other information on each school listed in the directory includes type of program, accreditation, degrees offered, financial assistance, entrance requirement, tuition and fees, student organizations, and the person to contact for more information.  This information may also be found on the Advertising Education Publications web site <www.whereshalligo.com>.