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Download the 2011-2012 curriculum guide for Advertising (80 KB, PDF)

The classes and staff at CCS always kept me challenged.

After graduating from the AD program, I had the confidence to go on and start my own business using what I learned. Without CCS, I would have never dreamed I would be doing what I am now!
- Karry Brook '05

CCS was a huge eye opener for me!

They are honest and tough which is just what you need to be able to make it in this business. I can honestly say that I went to school, graduated, and now I am working in MY FIELD. CCS doesn't put pretty, fluffy images of what your job and life will be like. It's real, you have deadlines so it better be on time! CCS is your job.
- Ashley McIntosh, Art Director Greenlight Marketing Class of 2006

At CCS Ad School, you'll learn the business of the business through total immersion.

You'll eat, drink and skip sleep for advertising. You'll learn from the ground up: strategy, research, execution and presentation. Everything a marketable creative should know. You'll be respected for more than your layout skills. You'll be respected for your ideas.
- Andrew W. Wright Art Director Doner Class of 2006

Advertising: Design

Are your ideas always more creative than everybody else's? Do you look at things differently? Do you love art, music, film, and writing? Is passion your middle name? Are you the class clown? A bit of a misfit?

Well, advertising is a great career choice because you can do, and be, all these things that you love.

Our faculty of advertising professionals prepares you to become a successful art director (and maybe even a copywriter) in an advertising agency. Projects are the same kind you'll experience in the real world. You'll research, analyze and identify marketing opportunities and strategies. Then you'll use your own unique creativity to produce persuasive advertising.

Advertising agencies want today's art directors to create cutting-edge messages across a broad array of media. So you'll make everything from print ads, billboards, radio spots, posters, websites, integrated campaigns, to commercials for TV and new media. You'll be drawing, writing, photographing, singing and playing. You'll work hard, but you'll have a lot of fun, too. And maybe even win an award or two.

Faculty and visiting professionals coach you to use your creativity, vision and sense of humor to create dynamic work and presentations.

Most importantly, you'll have a killer portfolio. That's what gets you the job – and a paycheck.

When you land that first job, you're expected to contribute right away. You need to know what to do and how to do it. The Advertising Department prepares you for the professional world with opportunities for internships at major advertising agencies in Detroit and around the country. This experience sets us, and you, apart from the competition.

So if you think you don't quite fit the mold of "ordinary", join us.
We're just like you.

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN ADVERTISING DESIGN

The art director is the visual half of the creative team. They’re able to take a message and communicate it through imagery, imagery that tells a story. A story that touches people emotionally and persuades them to think about a specific product or cause.

As we become a more visual society, the best art direction transcends borders and communicates a specific message that can be understood in any country.

The courses in art direction include everything from drawing classes to digital skills, marketing and media, concept and ideation process, storyboarding, TV commercial production, microsite design and more.

One of the unique features of our Department includes the addition of the Copywriting major. With this new discipline, art directors partner with copywriting students to create full blown advertising campaigns that span a broad array of media. This is exactly how it’s done in the real world of advertising agencies. Cool, huh?

Plus, when you graduate, you and your partner may even be hired as a team to create the world’s next big campaign. Does this sound like you? Well, what are you waiting for?

See you on the Super Bowl.

Designed and created by DDM Marketing & Communications.