Marketing Major Guide

Majoring in marketing will provide you with a strong grounding in topics such as promotions, branding, and sales, as well as a solid foundation in related subjects such as communications, project management, and business administration. Students who major in marketing have access to a wide variety of career paths in virtually limitless business sectors and media. This means that graduates with marketing degrees generally enjoy strong job growth and a promising earning potential.

If you’re ready to earn your degree at one of the most prestigious schools in the world, get started with a look at the Most Influential Schools in Marketing.

Or read on to find out what you can expect as a Marketing Major.

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5 Reasons to Major in Marketing

1.Marketing majors are versatile.

Marketing is not just an industry unto itself. In fact, marketing ties directly into every industry, from retail, service, and finance to entertainment, sports, healthcare, and more. Organizations from every sector must find ways to reach their target audiences and consumers. As a marketing major, you’ll have the skill sets to help them get there, whatever the industry.

2.Marketing majors are highly employable.

In addition to gaining opportunities in nearly every field, marketing majors are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers are projected to grow at a rate of 6% by 2029. At present, this high demand means that, in 2019, the median pay for jobs in this sector was a healthy $135,900.

3.Marketing majors are tech savvy.

Today, organizations must be capable of marketing through every medium. In addition to traditional print ads and mass media marketing, companies must develop coherent digital marketing strategies as well. This can include web development, blogging, ad placement, search engine optimization, and more. In other words, part of becoming a competent marketing professional will be arming yourself with valuable technical skills and web literacy.

4.Marketing majors have a strong understanding of human behavior.

Marketing naturally incorporates major elements of human psychology. The goal of the marketer is to influence perception and behavior. Therefore, your education in marketing will provide you with greater intuition in understanding the factors that influence human decision-making. In addition to improving your skills as a marketer, these skills will make you more empathetic, more persuasive, and more capable of understanding perspectives which are different than your own.

5.Marketing majors are influential.

Marketing shapes the way we perceive organizations, products, and people. This, in turn, has a profound influence on how we eat, dress, shop, and live. Marketers create innovative ways to convey this influence. Today, top influencers in marketing are breaking new ground in strategic marketing, mobile app development, communication to multicultural audiences, and more.

Find out who the Most Influential People are in Marketing today!

What Kinds of Marketing Degrees Are There?

Depending on your school and degree level, your marketing major may be housed in a school of business or it may be part of its own marketing department. In addition, you may have several options when it comes to the focus of your marketing degree, especially at the advanced degree level.

• Associate in Marketing: A two-year degree in marketing can provide you with access to entry-level opportunities in both traditional and digital media. You’ll learn basic marketing principles and concepts. You’ll qualify for positions such as digital marketer, retail sales manager, or account executive.
• Bachelor of Marketing: Earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing will qualify you to lead in a number of different areas. This four-year degree provides theoretical grounding and practical skills that could qualify you to work as a brand manager, market research analyst, production manager, and more.
• Master of Marketing: Marketing is a competitive field. An advanced degree in marketing could make you a more attractive job candidate and produce greater opportunities for executive leadership. You could pursue this two-year advanced degree in marketing, or you may also be able to use your bachelor’s degree in marketing to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
• PhD in Marketing: If you wish to teach marketing as a professor at the post-secondary level, or you hope to lead peer-reviewed research in the field of marketing, you’ll need to earn this three-to-five year terminal degree.

*Note: Many, but not all, degree programs offer the choice between Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. Likewise, many, but not all, advanced degree programs offer a choice between Master of Arts, and Master of Science degrees. In most cases, the primary difference is the diversity of course offerings. “Science” degree courses will focus almost entirely on the major discipline, with a deep dive into a specific concentration, including laboratory, clinical or practicum experience. An “Arts” degree will provide a more well-rounded curriculum which includes both core/concentration courses and a selection of humanities and electives. The type of degree you choose will depend both on your school’s offerings and your career/educational goals. Moreover, there are sometimes numerous variations in the way that colleges name and categorize majors. The degree types identified here above are some of the common naming variations, but may not be all-encompassing.

What Are Some Popular Marketing Concentrations?

Your “concentration” refers to a specific area of focus within your major. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) provides a complete listing of college degree programs and concentrations (Classification for Instructional Programs), as sourced from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). According to IPEDS, which lists Marketing as part of the umbrella of Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Services, the following are among the most popular marketing concentrations:

• Marketing Research
• International Marketing
• Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations
• Merchandising and Buying Operations
• Retailing and Retail Operations
• Selling Skills and Sales Operations
• Fashion Merchandising
• Marketing/Marketing Management, General
• Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations

What Courses Will I Take as a Marketing Major?

Your concentration will determine many of the courses you’ll take as a marketing major. Likewise, you will be required to take a number of requisite courses on foundational topics such as Principles of Marketing and Public Relations. However, you will also have the freedom to select an array of courses that most interest you. This may depend on your chosen industry, medium, or on the dimension of marketing that best aligns with your skills.

Popular marketing courses include:

• Digital Marketing
• Business Mathematics
• Advertising and Promotion
• Marketing Research
• International Issues in Business
• Consumer Behavior
• Strategic Marketing
• Corporate Ethics
• Organizational Behavior

What Can I Do With a Major in Marketing?

Marketing plays a part in every industry and sector. This means that majoring in marketing can be your pathway into any field you desire. Moreover, because marketing occurs across various physical and digital media, you could specialize in many different areas of marketing. As such, your marketing major can lead to a wide range of career opportunities, including these top jobs:

• Advertising, Promotion, and Marketing Managers
• Market Research Analysts and Market Specialists
• Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents
• Public Relations Specialists
• Advertising Sales Agents

Curious how far you could go with a major in marketing? Start with a look at the top influencers in the field today!

Deciding on a college program can be challenging. Our roundup of what to major in can help you focus on what to study in college.

Check out the Most Influential Schools in Marketing and get started on your path to a marketing degree.

And if you’re shopping for the right college, be sure that you’ve reviewed our Resources on critical issues like Accreditation, Scholarships, Financial Aid, and more!