UMUC

School of Undergraduate Studies

Marketing

Students may seek either an academic major or minor in marketing.

Major in Marketing

The marketing major develops well-rounded individuals with the skills required of today’s marketing professionals and the business acumen to function in the global business environment. The curriculum provides a balanced course of study that exposes students to a common body of knowledge and leads them to understand marketing processes and situations, think independently, communicate effectively, and appreciate their own and other cultures. Marketing graduates should be well positioned to achieve increasingly higher levels of marketing management in corporations, marketing agencies, or entrepreneurial endeavors.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a major in marketing will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate marketing situations and make informed marketing decisions.
  • Identify information needs critical to the practice of marketing and articulate questions, gain access to relevant resources, evaluate and organize information sources, and integrate new information into the marketing decision-making process.
  • Explain the eight universal marketing processes for consumer and organizational markets: (1) environmental scanning and analysis; (2) marketing research and analysis; (3) segmentation, targeting, and positioning; (4) product development and differentiation; (5) valuation and pricing; (6) channel and value-chain management; (7) integrated marketing communication; and (8) relationship building.
  • Explain the significance of global markets and the application of the eight universal marketing processes to develop global marketing plans.
  • Trace the historic evolution of the marketing discipline and how marketing has contributed to the political, economic, and legal environments of today’s global society.
  • Develop competency in the technological applications used by the marketing profession to enhance the eight universal marketing processes.
  • Describe the complex nature of corporate ethics and the social responsibility of organizations in the conduct of marketing activities, as well as the personal responsibility to understand other cultures and negotiate different perspectives.
  • Examine the benefits and consequences of marketing activities on the physical environment and on the lives of others.
  • Develop effective written and oral communications consistent with the professional marketing environment.
  • Develop the leadership skills necessary to function as a senior staff member in a marketing department or marketing agency.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in marketing requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework, including 36 credits for the major; 41 credits in general education requirements; and 43 credits in the minor, electives, and other degree requirements. At least 18 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Marketing Major - Course Requirements

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the BS in marketing. Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options

Coursework for the major is indicated by ‡

First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and writing courses.

  • EDCP 100 Principles and Strategies of Successful Learning (3) (strongly recommended as first course)
  • LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)
  • WRTG 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)
  • MATH 106 Finite Mathematics (3) or higher-level math course
  • BMGT 110 Introduction to Business and Management (3) (strongly recommended elective for students with no prior business experience)

Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)

  • ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics (3) (related requirement for the major; also fulfills the first behavioral and social sciences requirement)
  • NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3) and NSCI 101 Physical Science Laboratory (1) or other course(s) to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory requirement
  • WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ writing requirement
  • IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3) or CMST 303 Advanced Application Software
  • ‡ STAT 230 Business Statistics (3)
  • PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3) or a foreign language course or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, or literature course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement

Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)

  • PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3) or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology or other course to fulfill the second behavioral and social sciences requirement (discipline must differ from first)
  • BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3) or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy or other course to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture requirement
  • HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3) or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865 or other ARTH or HIST course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement in historical perspective (discipline must differ from other humanities course)
  • ECON 203 Principles of Microeconomics (3) (related requirement for the major)
  • ‡ ACCT 301 Accounting for Nonaccounting Majors (3) or ACCT 221 Principles of Accounting II (students should note prerequisite)
  • SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3) or WRTG 390 Writing for Managers or other course to fulfill the communications/ writing or speech requirement
  • ‡ BMGT 364 Management and Organization Theory (3)
  • IFSM 300 Information Systems in Organizations (3) or ACCT 326 Accounting Information Systems (related requirement for the major; fulfills the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement; students should note prerequisite)
  • ‡ MRKT 310 Marketing Principles and Organization (3)

Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

  • WRTG 394/394X Business Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ upper-level intensive writing requirement
  • ‡ BMGT 380 Business Law I (3)
  • ‡ MRKT 395 Customer Relationship Management (3) or other supplemental major course
  • ‡ MRKT 354 Integrated Marketing Communications (3) or other supplemental major course
  • ‡ MRKT 410 Consumer Behavior (3)
  • ‡ MRKT 454 Global Marketing (3) or other supplemental major course
  • ‡ MRKT 412 Marketing Research Applications (3)
  • ‡ BMGT 496 Business Ethics (3)

Capstone Course for Major (to be taken in the last 15 credits)

  • MRKT 495 Marketing Policies and Strategies (3)

Minor and/or Elective Courses (to be taken within the last 60 credits along with required major courses) (34)

Total credits for BS in marketing: 120