What Courses Do Marketing Majors Take?

  Business majors who specialize in Marketing will take courses that focus on multiple ways to develop and sell products to distinct customer markets, as well as learn various ways to promote a company’s products and services. Whether you enroll in a marketing program to obtain a degree to pursue a job with a specific company or register for continuing education marketing courses to augment the degree you already have, all students are required to take core business classes in Marketing Principles, Communication, Economics, Finance and Management. Additionally, most marketing programs require that students take general education courses in English and Math and electives, such as Psychology, Intro to Computers and supplementary business courses. The courses that you take will prepare you to join a rewarding, creative, fast-paced field that is continually evolving. Marketing Coursework Marketing is a very popular major, which means that most colleges and universities, and some trade schools, offer marketing courses. These institutions offer courses that focus on advertising and promotion, merchandising, statistical analysis, finances, and applied studies practicums. Additional classes such as Public Speaking, Business Writing, E-commerce Marketing Principles, Graphic Design, Sales, Logistics, International Marketing and specific web-based computer classes teach students to select the right target markets in which to promote a product, how and when to appeal to a specific target market, how much to charge for the product or service, and the best ways to manage relationships among business partners, business employees, and customers. The required and elective courses you would take for a specific school vary in that each institution creates its own marketing curriculum according to mandated accrediting regulations and its interpretation of past, present, and future marketing practices and ideas. Additionally, even though the titles of marketing courses vary from institution to institution, the courses cover the same information students need to be successful in the field. The following courses are illustrative of the titles of classes you may enroll in to receive your Marketing degree.

• Business to Business (B2B) Marketing
• Global Marketing Techniques
• Marketing Research
• Marketing Strategy and Management
• Product Management
• Retail and Sales Management
• Logistical Strategies
• Corporations and Financing

If you are unsure about which marketing degree program to enroll in, the following information can help you evaluate your goals and determine how much time and money you want to invest in attaining a Marketing degree. Associate Degree Courses Students can earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) or Associate in Science (AS) in Marketing in about two years. These degrees prepare students for marketing trainee jobs in multiple industries and entry-level jobs in retail, sales, customer service, distribution, and logistics. Examples of classes you may register for are:

• Principles of Marketing
• International Marketing Strategies
• Introduction to Retail
• Introduction to Salesmanship Techniques

Bachelor’s Degree Courses A Bachelor’s degree in marketing is a very popular degree, which takes four to five years to complete. The degrees offered are a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing (BS), Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing (BSB), or Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in Marketing. The classes in this program prepare students to apply to management-level marketing positions in every industry. Bachelor’s degree courses in marketing programs typically focus on economics and finance, core marketing principles, business communication terminology and practices, and general business trends. Bachelor’s programs will also include classes in specialized subjects that tech students principles such as these: Recognizing trends and strategies in selling and buying products and services Applying market research Fostering the relationship between companies and their clients Identifying sales management issues Examining the core elements of sales practices Understanding consumer behavior Mastering the elements of creating a professional image, developing a winning attitude, and abiding by business ethics Calculating retail pricing on both cost and profit based approaches Additionally, most programs require that students take electives in Literature, Math, Psychology, and Business. Some courses for a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing are:

• Managerial Communications
• Macroeconomics
• Public Relations
• Principles of Marketing
• Quantitative Methods
• Principles of Finance
• Business to Business Marketing

Master’s Degree Courses Obtaining a Master’s degree in Marketing takes about two years to complete after you have received a Bachelor’s degree in any subject area. Master’s degree programs in Marketing offer two types of degrees: Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in marketing or a Master’s of Science (MS) in Marketing. These courses prepare students to lead and establish the most powerful companies in the world. While each graduate degree track offers advanced instruction in marketing and managerial theories and practices, the courses have a distinct goal: MBA classes train students to develop an expansive set of business skills that can be applied to every business industry. Classes will cover marketing methods, leadership skills, organizational structures and offer related lectures and in-depth discourse about business strategies. MS courses focus on marketing-related issues, the psychology behind consumer behavior, marketing and sales research, and marketing for specific industries as in entrepreneurial, multi-national, and nonprofit marketing. Specific courses for a Master’s in Marketing include:

• Internet Marketing and E-commerce
• Product Innovation
• Global Marketing Strategies
• Advanced Quantitative Analysis

Doctoral Degree Courses Earning a Doctorate in Marketing will prepare you for a career as a professor, a lecturer, a paid consultant, or a private researcher. Courses focus on data analysis and interpretation, teaching techniques, evaluating marketing techniques, understanding theories, and research formats. Ph.D level classes also instruct students in advanced concepts in the methodology and psychology of marketing. Doctoral students take some of the following classes:

• Behavioral Marketing
• Multinational Marketing
• Multivariate Statistics
• Transportation and Distribution Theory
• Concepts and Foundations of Product Planning
• Marketing Models

As the business industry continues to grow and become more internationally and internet based, students who take courses in Marketing will familiarize themselves with the terminology, practices, and goals of a fast-paced field. Not only will they learn how to plan and think strategically but also how to conduct research, analyze and present data, and think independently.