Marketing Degrees
Effective marketing is a core component of every successful business and is often more important than the actual product or service being sold. Those who can understand what drives customer’s purchasing decisions and is creative enough to find a way to convince them to buy their company’s product, can realize success in a marketing career.
To prepare students for a career in this field, marketing programs provide basic business knowledge as well as education in marketing areas such as sales, advertising, consumer behavior and communications.
Degree Options
- Associate's Degree – This degree can lead to entry-level positions in areas such as customer service, advertising sales and retail sales management.
- Bachelor's Degree – For future marketing professionals, this degree provides all the necessary business training to begin a career in a variety of roles such as Media Planner, Buyer and Advertising Manager among many others.
- Master's Degree – This degree is for those who want to move into a managerial or consulting marketing role such as Marketing Manager or Marketing Consultant. As marketing is a competitive field, a masters degree will also give degree holders an advantage in landing the more coveted jobs.
- Doctoral Degree – Those who want to teach marketing at a top research university should pursue a doctoral degree in Marketing.
Schools
Marketing programs are available at all different types of schools including community colleges, universities, stand-alone business colleges and many online schools.
Coursework
The following is a list of the primary types of marketing classes a marketing student will take:
- Marketing Planning and Strategy
- Consumer Behavior
- Marketing Research
- Professional Selling
- Sales Management
- Advertising and Promotion
- International Marketing
- Marketing Communications
- Promotional Strategy
- Business-to-Business Marketing
Aptitudes and Interests
Successful marketing professionals tend to be analytical, creative, highly-motivated, flexible and decisive. Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective professional relationships are also very important. Those who have an interest in understanding human behavior, like to travel and who prefer to work with others are good candidates for this profession.
Career Options
Marketing careers are all related to the selling of products to customers but there are a multitude of positions that contribute to that goal. Following is a list of the most common careers:
- Marketing Manager
- Advertising Manager
- Market Researcher
- Buyer / Purchaser
- Management Consultant
- Salesperson / Sales Manager
- Brand Manager
- Product Manager
- Media Planner
- Public Relations Manager
- Entrepreneur
Related Majors
- Advertising – Has a narrower focus than marketing.
- Communications – Applies to broader audience rather than just customers.
- Business Management – Much broader scope but includes marketing.
How to Evaluate Marketing Programs
- Accreditation - Business schools that offer marketing programs should be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business or one of the six regional accreditation agencies.
- Internships – In this competitive field, internships are a great way to gain an edge over fellow job seekers so it is important that the school is able to help students find meaningful internships.
- Job Placement – The percentage of graduates who find jobs in marketing should be a key consideration.
- Reputation – The school’s reputation among employers can have a significant impact on the job-search for entry-level job seekers.
Learn More About Marketing Coursework
- MIT’s Sloan School of Management has provided lecture notes for their Marketing Management course online which can help students get a better idea of what a marketing major is all about.
- It is common for business school websites to include descriptions of the courses offered. For example, the University of Washington has course descriptions for their Business programs as does Bentley College for its Marketing majors. Prospective students should also check for course offerings at the schools they are considering.
Resources
American Marketing Association
Business Marketing Association
Online Course Finder
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