Copywriting

Overview

Copywriters, first and foremost, are idea people. They’re also wordsmiths, salespeople and storytellers. A great copywriter would have already thought of a better way to say everything you just read. In collaboration with art directors and designers, copywriting students create intelligent, compelling communication pieces – the very pieces they need to land that great job. At the Creative Circus, they learn strategic thinking, copy crafting and the finer points of advertising writing from instructors who are accomplished professional writers themselves.

At The Creative Circus, the copywriting curriculum is based on real world problems and practices, where coursework is broken down into three basic areas of study – strategy, concept and execution. To be successful, a copywriter must show proficiency in all three. The results of this program are gathered, edited and polished, becoming the student’s portfolio – the most important tool during the job hunt and subsequent career.

Curriculum

Initial classes focus on the fundamentals of strategy, creativity, communication and the computer. In strategy classes, a Copywriter defines strategies that are applied to projects in the concept classes. In early writing classes, the finer points of headline writing and how to craft informative body copy are addressed. Basic principles of typography and design are also taught during the early quarters.

Once the fundamentals have been established, the copywriting student is ready to apply these skills in the concept classes, the core of our curriculum, which is taught at all levels. Here students are paired with Art Directors to work on a wide variety of speculative real-world assignments.

Weekly, the creative team presents its ideas to a professional who critiques the work just as a creative director does in an agency, dispensing direction with plenty of inspiration.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from The Creative Circus, a copywriter’s final portfolio must show proficiency in strategic thinking, conceptual interpretation, and creative execution. The work in the portfolio should also show a range of creative solutions, audiences, types of media, and voices. Prior to graduation, every student creates a personal identity package, a resumé, mini-books, and a web site.

Career Services

During the final quarter, students meet with the Director of Career Services to discuss career goals and objectives. Graduating Copywriters also work with an industry professional on personal presentation skills that will benefit them during interviews or presentations to a client.

Graduates have access to our alumni listings, agency contacts, portfolio reviews and direct personal assistance from the Director of Career Services, whose services alumni can continue to use the throughout their career.

Copywriting Courses

For more information on the Copywriting program, contact our Department Head of Advertising.

Placement statistics by program can be found here.

Click here for additional program disclosure information.