Master’s Program

Copywriting

Mockup of student work for a Birkenstock out of home ad
Birkenstock: Engineered For Slow / Miles Hanson (Copywriting, 2023) & Lindsey Evans (Art Direction, 2023)

Copywriters craft words to tell stories that create ultimate impact.

Often working alongside art directors, copywriters come up with concepts and ideas to solve creative challenges with their storytelling ability. They write everything for all forms of media and all lengths from headlines to taglines to scripts and have a deep understanding of a brand’s voice. In addition, copywriters conceive of big ideas and experiences that create buzz for brands.

If you want to be a Copywriter—or maybe someday a Creative Director—at ad agencies, in-house creative studios for brands, content studios, or tech startups, the Copywriting concentration is for you.

You might be a Copywriter:

If this sounds like you:

  • You believe in your heart that the right words, in the right order, can lift a mood, change a mind, or change the world
  • You have been told you have a way with words
  • You perfectly articulate in one sentence what your friend has been rambling about for 30+ minutes; you often hear “That’s exactly what I was trying to say!”
  • You are, might be, once were, could be a comedian with your perfectly timed punchlines and knack for storytelling and observational humor

If a day in the life of a copywriter sounds fun:

  • Crafting words to tell stories that create ultimate impact for a brand and people
  • Writing headlines, taglines, scripts, and any other long- or short-form content for various mediums—TV spots and streaming ads to radio and podcast ads to website and social media content to print ads and outdoor ads, and more
  • Conceiving great PR ideas and stunts that win attention for brands
  • Mastering a brand’s voice and tone

Copywriting at the Brandcenter

Studying Copywriting at the Brandcenter prepares you to hit the ground running as a Copywriter at ad agencies, in-house creative studios for brands, content studios, or tech startups.

Curriculum

You will not only perfect your craft in Copywriting, but you will also work collaboratively with your classmates across concentrations.

Here’s what you’ll do on all-concentration team projects as a Copywriter, as well as what your teammates will do:

What each concentration does on all-concentration team projects

ART DIRECTORS + COPYWRITERS

  • Using business insights from creative brand managers and consumer/cultural insights from strategists, develop creative ideas to solve business challenges, engage consumers, and bring brands to life
  • While copywriters generally focus on writing and art directors generally focus on visual design, most AD/CW teams collaborate on all creative aspects

CREATIVE BRAND MANAGERS

  • Focus on a client’s business, category, and competitors
  • Lead internal, cross-functional teams
  • Ensure creative work meets business objectives; evaluate ROI when possible

EXPERIENCE DESIGNERS

  • Develop and design digital products and/or physical experiences where brands and people interact
  • Focus on the user experience for the product or experience they’re designing
  • Provide guidance and ideas regarding new/emerging technologies

STRATEGISTS

  • Focus on consumers + culture
  • Lead research efforts (develop a research plan, conduct field research, and analyze results)
  • Turn research data into insights; develop strategic direction and work with creative partners to create concepts/work inspired by strategic direction

Here’s what your sixty weeks will look like:

Semester 1 (Fall) / Weeks 1-15

  • The Business of Branding (All concentrations)
  • Creative Thinking (All concentrations)
  • Visual Storytelling (Art Directors + Copywriters)
  • Problem Solving for Copywriters
Semester 2 (Spring) / Weeks 16-30

  • Concept Development (Art Directors + Copywriters)
  • Craft for Copywriters
  • Brand Engagement
Summer Between Your First and Second Years / Internship

A summer internship is not required, but we’ll give you the tools to help you land a great one at agencies and companies doing some of the industry’s best work. See Placement for more about internships.

Semester 3 (Fall) / Weeks 31-45

  • Brand Experiences (All concentrations)
  • Creative Fusion (Art Directors, Copywriters, and Strategists)
  • Portfolio Development (Art Directors + Copywriters)
  • Experimentation (Art Directors, Copywriters, and Experience Designers)
Semester 4 (Spring) / Weeks 46-60

  • Innovation (All concentrations)
  • Persuasion (Art Directors, Copywriters, and Experience Designers)
  • Advanced Portfolio for Copywriters

Prerequisites

Here are the prerequisites for copywriting applicants and for all applicants:

Prerequisites for Copywriting Applicants

Copywriting applicants should be able to:

  • Convey a story through words
  • Write both short-form and long-form
  • Recognize how a brand’s personality, tone, and voice behave in the world
  • Work within a larger team and embrace collaboration

Copywriting applicants should have:

  • Proficiency in Google Suite, Office Suite
Prerequisites for All Applicants

All applicants should be curiouscreative, and collaborative.

All applicants should be able to:

  • Think creatively and critically
  • Enjoy working and fully participating in teams
  • Manage time effectively and meet project deadlines
  • Relate to others and embrace open communication

All applicants should have:

  • Experience collaborating in a group
  • An enjoyment of creating/making
  • Professional ambition and drive
  • A bachelor’s degree

Copywriting Chair

Headshot of Holly Hessler

Holly Hessler

Chair & Professor, Copywriting

Student work mockups for Hot Hands
Nathan Bennett (Copywriting, 2021) & Liam McKay (Art Direction, 2021)

Ready to apply for Copywriting?

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Explore the Concentrations

Art Direction

Art Directors create and curate the visual expression of a brand.

Creative Brand Management

Business-, people-, and leadership-savvy, Creative Brand Managers lead client and agency teams to accomplish business objectives through creative solutions.

Experience Design

Experience Designers use the principles of human-centered design to develop digital products and physical experiences where brands and people interact.

Strategy

Strategists use their powers of curiosity about people, culture, and brands to drive strategy for advertising and brand communications.