Applications deadline
17 May 2026
Final general admission deadline for Summer Springboard programs.
In-person Program
Digital Advertising High School Course
Build a strategic communications campaign, video commercial and social media content while learning how brands compete for attention.
Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
In-person Program
Digital Advertising High School Course
Build a strategic communications campaign, video commercial and social media content while learning how brands compete for attention.
Last verified: 26 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
What Succeed checks
We review public program details such as eligibility, age range, cost, duration, location, format, accommodation, meals and application timing.
What Last verified means
Last verified is the latest date Succeed checked the public details shown on this page. Program dates, prices and availability can still change.
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Digital Advertising Course at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Closed
Eligibility
Entering Grades 9-12; 3.0 GPA
Age range / Year group
Ages 14-18
Location / Region
San Luis Obispo, California
Cost
$2,998-$5,398
Duration
2 weeks
Format
In-person
Latest deadline
17 May 2026 · Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Get next-cycle reminderMedia StudiesBusiness & Economics
Accommodation: Residential or commuter
Meals: Full board or weekday lunch
Certificate / Outcome: 3.0 CEUs plus certificate
Main output: Client communications campaign
Faculty: Cal Poly faculty
Digital Advertising Course summary
This hands-on course examines how advertising, public relations and social media compete for attention across modern media.
Students apply branding psychology, audience analysis and visual storytelling to a client-focused final project that includes a communications campaign, video commercial and social content.
It suits creative students considering marketing, communications or media careers who want practical work alongside a university-campus experience.
What is Digital Advertising High School Course?
The Digital Advertising High School Course is a hands-on Summer Springboard course at Cal Poly SLO. It introduces the marketplace of attention through digital public relations, advertising storytelling, social media, video, influencer marketing and other campaign channels.
Students move between analysis and production, learning how brands identify audiences and shape coherent messages. Practical work culminates in a strategic communications campaign, video commercial and social media content for a client.
Why Succeed highlights Digital Advertising Course
The course moves beyond theory by asking students to produce campaign assets for a client.
Its curriculum connects branding psychology, consumer analysis, campaign channels and visual storytelling.
Students work across graphic design, photography, video and audio rather than relying on one advertising format.
The campus experience combines academic study with college-readiness workshops and excursions.
Students can earn 3.0 continuing education units and a certificate after satisfactory participation.
Who is Digital Advertising Course for?
Best for
Creative high school students who want to test marketing, communications or media through practical campaign production and client-focused work.
Not ideal if
You want a low-cost online introduction, an exam-led course or a program focused primarily on advertising analytics.
Is Digital Advertising Course worth it?
This course can be worthwhile for students who learn best by making things and want to test whether digital communications feels like a serious academic or career interest. The client campaign, video and social content provide more concrete evidence of engagement than passive attendance alone.
The main limitation is cost: both tuition options require a substantial family commitment, with travel and some optional services potentially adding more. Its value is strongest when the student genuinely wants the campus experience and will reflect on the project afterward.
A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$2,998-$5,398; includes Residential tuition includes all meals and lodging., Residential tuition includes the academic course and excursions., Residential tuition includes weekend excursions., Commuter tuition includes lunch and the academic course., Commuter tuition includes excursions and weekday programming., Students can earn 3.0 CEUs and a completion certificate..
Accommodation
Residential or commuter
Meals
Full board or weekday lunch
Provider details
Review the Summer Springboard provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
2 weeks; San Luis Obispo, California.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Digital Advertising Course need?
Effort level
Moderate to high.
Best started
Begin six to eight weeks before the next admission deadline to prepare the application, budget and travel documents.
Main challenge
Turning audience insight into a coherent campaign across several media formats.
Typical preparation
Review recent advertising campaigns and identify their audiences and core messages.
Collect two or three examples of digital storytelling you can discuss critically.
Prepare short application responses and involve the student in the online application.
Plan tuition, travel and required documentation early if choosing the residential option.
Useful if
You already enjoy media, storytelling, design or marketing.
What do students do on Digital Advertising Course?
Students examine how advertising messages influence audiences, then apply those ideas through creative campaign development for a client.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Explore the marketplace of attention and compare digital with traditional media.
- 2
Study stakeholder relationships, branding psychology and persona development.
- 3
Analyze consumers, segment markets and identify target audiences.
- 4
Plan campaign channels and consider how communications are tracked.
- 5
Develop visual stories using design, photography, video and audio principles.
- 6
Produce a strategic communications campaign, video commercial and social content.
Digital Advertising Course dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Course session
5-17 July 2026
Digital Advertising Session 1 at Cal Poly.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Applications deadline | 17 May 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Course session | 5-17 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Students entering Grades 9-12
Minimum 3.0 GPA or equivalent
Must meet essential eligibility criteria
Student must participate in the application
International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency
How much does Digital Advertising Course cost?
Program fee
$2,998-$5,398 — Commuter and residential tuition options.
Funding or discounts
- Program deposit: $600 — Paid with the application to hold a place.
- Application fee: From $99 — Mandatory and nonrefundable.
- Alumni scholarship: $500 — Published for the verified 2026 cycle.
What's included
Residential tuition includes all meals and lodging., Residential tuition includes the academic course and excursions., Residential tuition includes weekend excursions., Commuter tuition includes lunch and the academic course., Commuter tuition includes excursions and weekday programming., Students can earn 3.0 CEUs and a completion certificate.
How to apply to Digital Advertising Course
- 1
Open the official application portal and enter basic contact information.
- 2
Verify the email address and complete the account details.
- 3
Select Cal Poly, the preferred session, Digital Advertising and a tuition type.
- 4
Enter the student's information and complete the application with the student present.
- 5
Answer the short essay questions and sign the required agreement forms.
- 6
Pay the $600 deposit and application fee, then submit the application.
- 7
Complete any additional forms released after acceptance.
What does Digital Advertising Course cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Branding psychology
Explore influence, persona-building and how brands shape audience perceptions.
Audience analysis
Identify target audiences through market segmentation and consumer analysis.
Campaign strategy
Study campaign channels, stakeholder relationships and communications tracking.
Visual storytelling
Develop coherent messages through design, photography, video and audio.
Client campaign production
Create a strategic campaign, commercial and social content for a client.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Digital Advertising Course?
A typical day during the program.
9:00am
Students take part in their selected hands-on academic course.
1:30pm
Students join a recreational activity or course-related academic excursion.
3:00pm
College Readiness Workshops or True You sessions support future planning and personal growth.
7:00pm
Residential students join clubs or other scheduled evening activities.
Who teaches on Digital Advertising Course?
Cal Poly instructors are faculty members who teach through the university's Learn by Doing approach. The named Digital Advertising instructor, Dr. Casey McDonald-Liu, has experience in digital communications, international marketing, digital sales and social media communication research.
Cal Poly faculty provide access to the same facilities used by Cal Poly students.
Where do students stay on Digital Advertising Course?
Residential plan
- Campus accommodation: Students live in a Cal Poly residential community with shared apartment common areas and kitchens.
- Meals: Residential tuition includes all meals, with dining options for several dietary needs.
- Pastoral support: Mentors live nearby, while campus staff provide round-the-clock emergency support.
- Security: Dormitories use electronic access and university security patrols the campus 24 hours a day.
Non-residential plan
- Day attendance: Commuter students attend weekday programming from 9:00am to 5:00pm with lunch included.
The 2026 infosheet describes private rooms within shared apartments on gender-segregated floors.
What happens after Digital Advertising Course?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Use the completed campaign as evidence of interest in communications or marketing.
Build practical experience across video, social media and visual storytelling.
Earn 3.0 Cal Poly continuing education units after satisfactory performance.
Receive a Summer Springboard certificate of completion.
Explore careers that use strategic communication skills.
CEUs depend on satisfactory student performance.
Where does Digital Advertising Course take place?
The course takes place at Cal Poly SLO in San Luis Obispo, between California's rolling hills and Pacific coastline. Students use Cal Poly facilities and experience campus life, while excursions may include local beaches, Morro Bay, the farmers' market and other Central Coast destinations.
Digital Advertising is listed for the Cal Poly SLO campus only.
Digital Advertising Course FAQs
It covers the marketplace of attention, stakeholder relationships, branding psychology, consumer analysis, campaign channels and visual storytelling across digital media.
Students produce a strategic communications campaign, video commercial and social media content for a client.
Students can choose residential or commuter tuition. Residential students stay on campus with meals and excursions included, while commuters attend weekday programming and receive lunch.
Applicants must be entering Grades 9-12 and ordinarily need a 3.0 GPA or equivalent.
The named instructor is Dr. Casey McDonald-Liu, whose background includes digital communications at Walt Disney Studios, international marketing and digital sales.
Students receive a Summer Springboard certificate of completion and may earn 3.0 Cal Poly continuing education units after satisfactory performance.
Residential tuition includes the academic course, lodging, all meals, excursions and weekend excursions.
Commuter tuition includes the academic course, lunch, excursions and weekday programming from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Alternatives to Digital Advertising Course
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Students more interested in interactive media than advertising campaigns.
Online entrepreneurship and business study
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Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- (1) New Messages!
- (1) New Messages!
- Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- (1) New Messages!
- (1) New Messages!
- Apply Now | Enrollment | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
- Tuition Protection Plan T&C
- 2026 HS 2-week Cal Poly V6
- Digital Advertising | Course | Summer Springboard - Summer Springboard
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What we verified (on 26 Aug 2026)
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