VCU Brandcenter


THE DEAN'S PERSPECTIVE

Though the work here is a fair representation of what is being done at the VCU Brandcenter, it is worth noting that it is difficult to put much of the larger problem solving that happens at the school on this page. No other school challenges its students to think the way our students think. Writers, art directors and technologists solve business problems, and strategists and brand managers are taught to think creatively. Creativity, after all, is creativity. We believe in the idea, and we approach each business or communications problem with complete media neutrality. In November, BusinessWeek named us one of the top business/design schools in the world, alongside great schools such as Dartmouth, Harvard, Stanford and UC Berkeley. Not to mention the fact that Creativity magazine ranked us the No. 1 ad school—overall and in all three categories (quality of program, quality of graduates and innovation). And Advertising Age just named us the No. 1 digital media and marketing school.

—Rick Boyko
Director/Professor



WHAT WE OFFER

PROGRAMS OFFERED
Art Direction, Communications Strategy, Copywriting, Creative Brand Management and Creative Technology

DEGREE OFFERED
Master of Science in Mass Communications

CURRICULUM
Includes classes such as Strategic Thinking, Visual Communications, Film Storytelling, Building Brands in International Cultures, Strategic Brand Concepts, Culture, Contemporary Research Methods, Digital Engagement and Presentation Skills

NUMBER OF STUDENTS
Approximately 200 total

FACULTY
We have 12 full-time faculty, all of whom have run agencies, companies and/or major brands.

INTERNSHIPS
Most Brandcenter students participate in a paid internship program,working at agencies such as Crispin Porter+Bogusky; Goodby, Silverstein & Partners; Martin Agency; TBWA/Chiat/Day and Wieden+Kennedy and at companies such as Circuit City, EA Sports, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Nike and TimeWarner.

JOB PLACEMENT
The job placement rate is 95 percent within the first six months of graduation.

ADVISORY BOARD
Our board of directors includes industry leaders from the best agencies and companies in the world including:
@radical.media
AICP
Brunswick Corp.
COLLINS:
Compass Consulting
Crispin Porter+Bogusky
DDBWorldwide Communications Group
Droga5
grandparents.com
Martin Agency
McCann Worldgroup
MindShare
Modernista!
Mother
Ogilvy & Mather
Publicis Groupe
R/GA
Talerman+Partners
Taxi
TimeWarner Global Media Group
USA Today
Wieden+Kennedy
Yahoo!

RECENT AWARDS
  • Ranked the No. 1 advertising program by Creativity magazine (overall and in all three categories—quality of alumni, quality of program and innovation)
  • Included as one of the Top 60 global business/design programs by BusinessWeek
  • Named the No. 1 digital media and marketing school by Advertising Age

DID YOU KNOW

Our faculty has more than 180 cumulative years in the business.

CONTACT US

If you have questions about the program or would like to schedule a visit to the school, please call 800-311-3341 and ask to speak with:

Karen Berndt
Admissions Coordinator
kberndt@vcu.edu

or

Katherine Keogh
Student Affairs Coordinator
kkeogh@vcu.edu

Or visit our Web site at www.brandcenter.vcu.edu.

The VCU Brandcenter is located at 103 S. Jefferson St., Richmond, Va. 23284.

Admissions
  • Classes start each fall.
  • We begin accepting applications in January. You can download the application and instructions on how to apply from our Web site, www.brandcenter.vcu.edu.
  • We award $100,000 in scholarships. Students can apply for scholarships at orientation.
Contact Angela Carola, Director, Custom Marketing Solutions, at 212-210-0407 or acarola@adage.com.