Program Overview

---

Credential

Ontario College Diploma

Duration

Four semesters

Start Date(s)

January (Winter) September (Fall)

Locations

Belleville

Open to

Domestic Students

CIP Code

09.0903

Find your career

Opportunities in this creative field are vast and expanding. There are exciting positions in:

• Advertising and marketing communications agencies.
• Television and radio.
• Sales promotion companies.
• Online publications, newspapers, and magazines.
• In-house advertising and marketing departments for large companies.
• Charitable and not-for-profit organizations including health services, tourism, economic development, and municipal governments.

Graduates are prepared for a range of careers. You could work as a:

• Junior account executive or coordinator.
• Assistant or junior strategic planner.
• Social media strategist.
• Online community manager.
• Media or advertising sales representative.
• Junior copywriter.
• Online branded content developer.
• Junior or assistant brand or product manager.
• Internal marketing communications developer.
• Fundraiser.

Is it for you?

Are you an idea person? Successful students in this program are:

• Strategic planners.
• Creative thinkers and problem solvers.
• Inventive and expressive.
• Interested in brands, media, and popular culture.

How you'll learn

Experiential learning

In this program, you won’t get a lot of “chalk and talk.” There are no lectures, exams, or tests. Instead, you’ll develop your creative potential in an engaging and stimulating environment:

• Use your creativity and inspiration in a career that lets you play with ideas.
• Apply new learning right away with team projects and present them to faculty for immediate feedback.
• Work through hands-on case studies focusing on Canadian brands and companies such as Steam Whistle Brewery and WestJet.
• Develop brand identities and creative concepts for ads in magazines, newspapers, TV commercials, videos, and social media.
• Enjoy the freedom to be inventive and experiment, with a focus on storytelling and creative thinking.
• Get hands-on experience developing creative designs using the latest industry software, including Adobe Creative Suite.
• Earn recognition you can add to your résumé with program awards of distinction at the end of the year.
• Share your polished creations with invited guests during an annual showcase of student work.

Nobody knows you like you know yourself. Tailor your learning to your own needs:

• Evaluate and guide your professional development with self-directed activities promoting social, cultural, and personal understanding.
• Plan your own trips and workplace visits, individually or in groups, to explore your interests.
• Independent studies in the fourth semester can include a major project with a community partner or in an area of personal or professional interest (with faculty approval).
• Or, students may apply to pursue a semester-long field placement, continuing their independent learning on the job.

Outstanding faculty make the difference

• Get lots of one-on-one feedback from experienced teachers.
• Professors continue to liaise with industry professionals and advisors, bringing client experience and emerging trends to the classroom.
• The program solicits feedback from local industry leaders to ensure grads have the fresh, up-to-date skills, attributes, and abilities for which employers are looking.

Courses

Semester One

ADMC1000 Case Study 1

You delve into various marketing challenges faced by local and/or regional companies and explore the environment in which they do business. You are introduced to the principles and practices that guide successful companies in reaching their consumers with effective advertising and marketing communications. You take on real clients to work through advertising/promotions/marketing challenges and produce an integrated marketing communications plan that you present back to the client.

ADMC1002 Creative Strategy Execution 1

You begin to gain knowledge, understanding, and skills that are applicable to the development and execution of basic advertising and marketing communications materials. Workshops and lectures provide an introduction to digital graphics, copywriting, and design for marketing communications. You work on the development of creative concepts and the execution of ideas related to the Case Study class.

ADMC1001 Creative Thinking 1

This is a wide-ranging course with projects that take you outside the box, learning to employ divergent thinking and express ideas differently. You have fun with experimental thinking and “make believe.” The development of creative concepts and the communication of those concepts in novel and interesting ways are of key importance. This course provides a fun, informative, and very hands-on exploration of creative thinking.

GNED1100 Becoming a Global Changemaker

This Loyalist College graduate attributes course will help shape your perspectives, broaden your understanding of important issues affecting our societies today, and equip you with invaluable knowledge and skills that will inform your ability to influence your community in a meaningful and impactful way. By exploring topics such as cultural competency, Indigenous education, entrepreneurship, sustainability, health and wellness, and ecological literacy, you'll be equipped with a powerful toolkit that extends far beyond the classroom.

Semester Two

ADMC1003 Case Study 2

You research marketing challenges faced by local and regional companies and the environment in which they do business. You learn about objectives of advertising and marketing communications and the development of strategies. You begin to apply the principles and practices learned to reach consumers with effective advertising and marketing communications, considering both traditional, digital/social media and the part they play in the delivery of messages. These case studies continue to challenge you to work as part of a group on real client challenges and to develop team dynamic skills: exploring and learning, developing a basic strategic marketing communications plan, writing a report and presenting your work back to the client.

Prerequisite: ADMC 1000

Co-requisite: ADMC 1005

ADMC1005 Creative Strategy Execution 2

You practise skills that are applicable to the development and execution of creative marketing communications materials. Workshops and lectures provide continued exposure to digital graphics, copywriting, design, video, and audio techniques for marketing communications. There is an expectation of continued self-directed study in these areas. You work both individually and as a team, creating concepts that are integrated with the marketing communications plans developed within the Case Study class. You create objectives and strategies for communications, working within the framework of creative briefs to execute innovative marketing communications.

Prerequisite: ADMC 1002

Co-requisite: ADMC 1003

ADMC1004 Creative Thinking 2

This wide-ranging Creative Thinking course continues each semester, offering projects that challenge you to think in new ways. You carry on with more challenging activities that push you to see things in new ways and express ideas differently. You continue to enjoy experimental thinking and “make believe” exercises and learn the concepts of design thinking. The development of creative concepts and the communication of those concepts are of key importance. This course provides a fun, informative, and very hands-on exploration of creative thinking.

GNED General Education Elective

General Education Courses

Semester Three

ADMC2000 Case Study 3

You work on real client marketing challenges faced by regional or national companies and the social, economic marketing environment in which they do business. These studies include a substantial focus on consumer behaviour: consumer needs, wants, and desires; consumer attitudes and perceptions; and consumer values and beliefs. You delve into market segmentation and develop consumer profiles and sketches. You also study the importance of brand images and the way marketing communications contribute to their development. You go on to identify objectives of advertising and marketing communications, develop comprehensive marketing communications plans, and write creative briefs that would ultimately guide the development of creative material. These case studies continue to challenge you to work together and develop team dynamic skills: exploring the industry, applying principles learned, writing a comprehensive report and presenting your work to the client.

Prerequisite: ADMC 1003

ADMC2002 Creative Strategy Execution 3

You work both individually and in teams to add to your knowledge and understanding, and practise skills that are applicable to the development and execution of creative marketing communications materials that are clearly part of a cohesive campaign. There is an expectation of continued self-directed study in the areas of digital graphics, copywriting, design, video, and audio techniques for marketing communications, in addition to the workshops and lectures provided. Throughout, there is a growing emphasis on multi-faceted creative campaigns involving various traditional, digital, and social media vehicles.

Prerequisite: ADMC 1005

ADMC2001 Creative Thinking 3

The very hands-on Creative Thinking course continues into second year, offering fun and challenging projects that take you outside the confines of traditional problem-solving. Lateral thinking, free association, brainstorming, design thinking, and experimentation all come into play as you challenge yourself to develop ideas that go beyond the ordinary. There is a focus on you creating/developing your own challenges.

GNED General Education Elective

General Education Courses

Semester Four

ADMC2003 Case Study 4

The fourth-semester Case Study course continues to focus on real client challenges. Case studies may range from small, focused advertising campaigns to large integrated marketing communications plans. The final project in this course is not limited by the type of client or budget restrictions that you may have encountered in the past. This time you are in full control. You plan and execute the pre and post-launch of a business that you create from the ground up. You may focus on not-for-profit institutions, service-branded companies, packaged goods companies, spirit (alcohol) brands, health-related brands, cultural brands, sports brands, entertainment companies, and digital apps. You work in an increasingly autonomous manner through a series of sessions with program faculty to progress through the development of each phase in a professional manner. This course continues to challenge you to work together and critically apply the knowledge and skills developed in previous courses.

Prerequisite: ADMC 2000

Co-requisite: ADMC 2005

ADMC2005 Creative Strategy Execution 4

In this course, apply the knowledge, understanding, and skills to execute creative marketing communications materials. You will work on the development of creative concepts related to the team’s Case Study. Demonstrate a full understanding of consumer insights by developing communications objectives and strategies. Work within the framework provided by creative briefs to generate, defend, and execute creative ideas, covering a complete marketing communications campaign. In addition, you will focus on branding yourself as you prepare to enter the workforce.

Prerequisite: ADMC 2002

Co-requisite: ADMC 2003

ADMC2004 Creative Thinking 4

The development of creative concepts and the communication of those concepts are of key importance to advertising/marketing communicators. This course continues to provide a fun and very hands-on exploration of creative thinking. This final Creative Thinking course continues to offer challenging activities that take you outside the box, preparing you for the rigours ahead in a very creative industry in which you must continuously meet new objectives and solve problems in novel, interesting, and memorable ways.

*Courses subject to change.

Admission requirements

Required academic preparation

• OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, and
• Grade 12 English (C) level or equivalent

OR

• Mature applicant

Recommended academic preparation

• Communications Technology

Academic upgrading

Are you missing admission requirements? Discover how Career and College Prep at Loyalist can help you get started on your journey.

Costs

Domestic students

Approximate costs (2025 – 26, two semesters at full-time student status)

• Domestic Tuition: $2,722.08
• Full-Time Ancillary Fees: $1,595.26
• Total: $4,317.34

Additional student-purchased costs may include textbooks, supplies, software, and other resources. Additional expenses related to off-campus experiential learning activities may also be incurred.

*All fees are subject to change. Fees for programs shorter or longer than two semesters will be adjusted accordingly. In addition to the costs listed above, some programs also have program ancillary fees based on their specific requirements. For a detailed breakdown of tuition and ancillary fees – including any program-specific charges – please visit the Tuition and fee schedule 2025–26.

Paying for college

At Loyalist College, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to your success. We’re here to help you navigate the costs of college and connect you with a variety of financial aid programs, resources, and donor-supported awards. Explore paying for college.

Further study

Pathways and university transfer

What’s next? Build on the knowledge and skills you learned at Loyalist by continuing your academic journey. Return to Loyalist to complete a second diploma or a post-graduate program in as little as a year, or receive credit recognition for your Loyalist studies when pursuing a degree at a university. Explore pathway opportunities.

Related programs

Graphic Design

Fast-track your way to a career in graphic design! In six consecutive semesters over two years, gain the skills to turn creative ideas into impactful designs. Dive into projects in digital content creation, UX/UI design, cross-platform branding, advertising, and beyond.

Business Sales and Marketing

People with sales and marketing expertise are revenue generators – they make an impact on the bottom line, a talent that’s in demand. Prepare for a career in commerce, health care, IT, manufacturing, advertising, telecommunications, or sports and entertainment.

Television, Filmmaking, and Digital Content Creation

Learn a variety of skills, from television production and digital filmmaking to web streaming and interactive content creation. Access to digital cameras, audio, lighting, and grip equipment, you can tell stories with impressive production value and add to your portfolio.

Choose small.