Information on Master’s Degree Programs in Copywriting
Majors Overview July 2, 2015This article talks about master’s degree programs in copywriting and their educational requirements, coursework, and job and wage outlook.
Master’s Programs in Copywriting
Although few schools, if any, offer master’s degree programs specifically in copywriting, prospective students can find graduate-level copywriting courses within master’s degree programs related to public relations, advertising, or mass media. Schools most commonly offer a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Advertising. These programs provide enrolled students with the practical training, educational background, and creative skills they would need for the creation, development and execution of advertising strategies. Students enrolled in some master’s degree programs in advertising are allowed to choose a particular track of study, such as art direction, copywriting, or sales.
Students pursuing a copywriting concentration are taught about conceiving and creating content and slogans for specific products. Students also gain an understanding of market trends, and expertise in creating copy for specific demographics, working with the art department representatives and account representatives, editing copy and creating content for online deployment. The completion of internship experiences and thesis projects are also requirements in most master’s degree programs in advertising.
Educational Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, English, advertising, journalism, creative writing or a related area. They must also submit satisfactory Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores and meet a grade point requirement.
Coursework
Coursework is devised to provide students with the practical means necessary for executing creative ideas. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Market analysis
•Understanding consumer trends
•Social media
•Script writing
•Digital campaigns
•Interactive concept development
•Portfolio
•Product creation
•Advanced Copywriting
Job and Wage Outlook
Professional copywriters are required to develop and write the content for commercials, advertisements, and branded properties. Over the 2012 – 2022 decade, copywriters under the broader category of writers and authors are expected to enjoy a slower-than-average job growth rate of three percent (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, these professionals brought in an average annual wage of $55,940 (BLS).
