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Marketing
Tell me more about...
The Major
Who Succeeds
Careers
Internships
Websites
THE MAJOR WHO SUCCEEDS CAREERS INTERNSHIPS WEBSITES



THE MAJOR
The Marketing major is a department within the College of Business.
For more information about the field of Marketing, view the Marketing Department video or the COB's new promotional video.

JMU Concentrations: Business to Business Marketing, Business to Consumer Marketing

Admission and Progression Standards for this major:

Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSMKTG.shtml

Description of Major:
The Marketing Department offers a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing. The major prepares students for entry-level career positions by developing specialized skills in the creation, communication, and delivery of value to customers. Marketing students:

. develop in-depth knowledge on identifying, attracting, and evaluating customers;
. evaluate marketing alternatives and commit to a course of action, using financial, organizational, environmental and ethical criteria to guide decision-making;
. learn and use information technology tools for customer research and strategic performance; . apply marketing skills, doing client-based projects, company internships, community service, and managing student organizations.

The marketing curriculum at JMU offers students an opportunity for majors to choose a marketing concentration to provide further focus within marketing studies. The concentration in Business to Business Marketing prepares students who are interested in gaining a more in-depth review of the issues facing businesses that market products and services to other businesses and organizations. The concentration in Business to Consumer Marketing provides an in-depth study, analysis, development, and marketing of goods and services for sale to consumers using traditional store, catalog, and electronic buying methods. The Marketing Department also offers a minor in European Marketing. Students interested in pursuing a business major are encouraged to begin taking lower level business courses as early as possible.

Tell me more about this field of study.
Marketing is an extremely broad field involved with a product or service from its conception to its sale, service and maintenance. Marketing is the study of the business activities related to the offering and/or movement of goods or services from the producer to the consumer. Marketing examines issues such as the consideration of what product to make or what services to provide;how to distribute and price the product or service, as well as how to communicate its merits. Course work in marketing may include topics such as fundamentals of the marketing process, research, consumer behavior, integrated marketing communications, new product development, professional selling, internet marketing, services marketing, and variety other areas.

Tell me more about specializations in this field.

As a result of marketing being such a broad field there are many areas of specialization including sales, retail, advertising, promotion, new product development and marketing research. The Business to Business Marketingconcentration is the ideal concentration for a job in product development and sales. Product development deals with marketing related to a specific product. Activities may involve planning and development, production and distribution, direct marketing and other types of promotion. The Business to Consumer Marketingconcentration helps students develop knowledge and skills relating to store management, consumer segmentation, interactive retailing, and development of marketing strategies for reaching consumer markets. Marketing promotion includes customer and media analysis as well as creative development of promotional plans. Individuals may work in media planning and buying, promotions, or various other areas.

What common major or minor combinations from other departments complement this major?
Some students combine Marketing with other business fields such as Finance, Management, or Economics. Other common combinations with Marketing include Art, Communication Studies, Creative Writing, Health Communication, Psychology, Sport Communication or a foreign language.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
The ideal marketing student is energetic, creative, likes to work with people, has innovative approaches for solving business problems, and is a self-starter. Problem-solving, verbal and written communication skills, team management skills, and self-motivation are also important characteristics for success.

CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated careers that utilize skills and experiences developed during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some fields will require graduate study or further training. The listing below offers examples of possible career paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.


  • Account Coordinator
  • Account Executive
  • Account Manager
  • Advertising Executive
  • Associate Project Manager
  • Brand Manager
  • Brand Marketing Coordinator
  • Business Development Consultant
  • Buyer
  • Circulation Manager
  • Commercial Sales Representative
  • Consumer Affairs Specialist
  • Convention Organizer
  • Copywriter
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Direct Mail Specialist
  • District Sales Manager
  • Forecast Analyst
  • Franchise Owner
  • Fundraiser
  • Global Marketing Manager
  • Internet Marketing Specialist
  • Marketing Events Coordinator
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Market Research Interviewer
  • Marketing Strategist
  • Media Buyer
  • Media Planner
  • Meeting Coordinator
  • Membership Relations Assistant
  • Packaging Specialist
  • Pricing Analyst
  • Promotions Director
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Research Analyst
  • Retail Merchandiser
  • Sales Consultant
  • Sales Manager
  • Strategic Marketing Manager
  • Web Content Coordinator
  • Web Merchandiser
  • Web Account Executive

Who employs Marketing graduates?
Please visit the Marketing Career Information page for a listing of some of the companies that hired recent marketing graduates for entry-level positions. The majority of students with marketing degrees will start in sales as an entry point. With your increased experience and education, expect to move into a position oriented towards marketing management. Industries that typically employ marketing graduates include: Airlines, Advertising Agencies, Banks / Financial Institutions, Consumer Product Companies, Federal/State/Local Government Agencies, Firms Marketing Consumer Goods, Insurance Agencies, Healthcare Facilities, Hospitals, Manufacturing Companies, Non-Profit Agencies, Pharmaceutical Companies, Public Relations Firms, Publishing Companies, Radio / TV and Motion Pictures Studios, Retail Stores, Transportation Firms and Sports Teams.

INTERNSHIPS AND PRACTICA THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT
Students who are interested and qualified may take MKTG 494, Marketing Internship with the approval from the Internship Director. Joining one of the various Student Marketing Organizations is another great way to interact with other marketing majors and meet marketing professionals.

WEBSITES
Advertising and Public Relations: http://www.careers-in-marketing.com/ad.htm
Careers in Catalog Marketing: http://www.the-dma.org/jobbank/careerindm.shtml#4
Careers in Customer Acquisition and Retention: http://www.the-dma.org/jobbank/careerindm.shtml#6
Careers in Database Marketing: http://www.the-dma.org/jobbank/careerindm.shtml#3
Careers in Direct Response Advertising Agencies:http://www.the-dma.org/jobbank/careerindm.shtml#1
Careers with Suppliers: http://www.the-dma.org/jobbank/careerindm.shtml#7
Federal Jobs: http://www.ourpublicservice.org/OPS/programs/calltoserve/toolkit/#3 (scroll to Academic Guides, then "Business")
Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations Managers (OOH): http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos020.htm
Marketing Career Paths: http://www.marshall.usc.edu/web/marketing.cfm?doc_id=2890 (link to web)

A broad range of resources on career fields, internships, and job search information is also available in the Career and Academic Planning Resource Center located in 303 Wilson Hall.

 


Career and Academic Planning Publication
James Madison University
Career Guide to JMU Majors, 9th Edition, © 2008