Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising
The Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising goes beyond skills and theory.
We teach students how to ask questions and solve problems to prepare for a thriving career and shape the field. As the first advertising program in the country, we continue to innovate the curriculum. Our students benefit from cross-disciplinary partnerships across campus.
Degrees & Programs
Undergraduate Programs
BS Advertising
Explore sales and marketing, social media, data analytics, branding, psychology, history, and design, while learning from the best researchers and practitioners in the field.
BS Computer Science + Advertising
Develop computational and creative skills in this degree offered jointly by the Sandage Department of Advertising and the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science.
Minors and Certificates
Graduate Programs
MS Advertising
Students gain access to a vast variety of faculty research, advertising theories, and many opportunities to explore their own research interests, culminating in a professional project or a thesis.
MS Strategic Brand Communication
Learn how to lead brands through this online program, which combines contemporary business management education with the latest in strategic integrated marketing, advertising, and multimedia communications.
Recent News
Hear from Our Students
Student Q&A
“Being part of the National Student Advertising Competition has brought so many fun projects. We get a brief every year from a Fortune 500 company, and we’ll devise an entire campaign and then compete regionally or nationally. Last year our campaign was about helping AT&T show Gen Z that they can discover life around them and see beyond the screen. We played into the idea of fostering better in-person connections with people.”
Learn more about Karys
Student Q&A
“We live in a world that’s increasingly digital and driven by technology, so having a computer science background is incredibly valuable. What makes this major unique, though, is the addition of advertising. It pushes you to think beyond just the technical side and really consider people—their behaviors, preferences, and how they interact with products and platforms. That perspective is useful in any field.”
Learn more about Rawan
Read more Q&As
Hear why advertising and CS + advertising students chose their major.
Student ProfilesImage Gallery
Congrats to the Kalis Award winners: Christina Kivarkis won Best Portfolio, Paige Walk won Best Single Ad, and Jacklynn Cartwright won Best Campaign.
What Our Students Say
Experiential Learning
Get in Touch
We’re happy to answer any questions you have to create a strong future at the College of Media.
Request information below to learn more about College of Media programs and visit experiences. If you would prefer to speak with us directly, don’t hesitate to call 217-244-4329 or email us at media-ssc@illinois.edu.
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