Schedule of Classes

Introduction to various marketing careers as they relate to key issues in marketing; new product development, advertising, customer service, marketing research, public relations, distribution/logistics, professional selling and retail management. An emphasis is placed on experimental learning and the development of presentational, team building, and other marketing-related skills.

Conducting background research, developing an effective marketing presentation, exposure to presentation software packages, and making oral marketing presentations; sales presentations, background information on specific companies, competitive analysis, target market presentations, presentation of a marketing plan.

Selling-buying process. Selling strategies from the perspective of a professional customer problem-solving approach. Practical exposure to selling concepts, problems, and techniques in a variety of selling situations.

Elements of a comprehensive marketing plan and their interrelationships. Determination of product, pricing, promotion, and channel strategy: analysis, planning, and control of marketing strategy in a socially and ethically responsible manner. Emphasis on improving decision making in a dynamic external environment.

Systematic gathering, recording, and analysis of data related to marketing of goods and services. Choice of research design, methods of data collection, survey sampling, analysis and interpretation of data, and preparing the research report.

Behavioral science concepts applicable to the understanding of consumer decision making: personality, perception, and group and cultural influences. How these concepts can be used to develop more effective marketing strategies.

Introduction to advertising and promotions management from an integrated marketing communications perspective. Promotional techniques: advertising, sales promotion, direct marketing, publicity/public relations, personal selling, point-of-purchase communications. Techniques explored through the context of planning, developing, and implementing comprehensive promotional campaigns. Regulatory, social, and economic factors that influence the firm's promotional activities.

Examines the theories and practices used to plan, organize, and control exchange relationships in a global context. The approach will go beyond viewing exchange relationships from a strictly physical sense (movement of goods and services) to focus on the interaction between trading partners and how firms are using channel strategies to gain a competitive advantage.

Explores the game changing nature of social media and its impact on traditional marketing activities. Social media allows customers to interact with each other and the brands that they use on a daily basis in new ways. These advances/changes/disruptions may have profound influences on all marketing activities from product development through promotion. Course includes review of word-of-mouth-marketing and study of tools for shaping marketing activities surrounding emerging media (e.g., social networking sites, wikis, multimedia sharing sites, blogs, and virtual worlds).

Retailing from the management perspective. Emphasis on retail policies and organization, operation of buying and selling functions, merchandise control, store systems, personnel management, retail accounting, and expense control.

Topics of special interest which may vary each time course is offered. Topic stated in current Schedule of Classes. May be repeated, for up to 6 hours credit in nonredundant topics.

Advanced study of professional selling techniques focusing upon specific knowledge areas and skills that contribute to competitive advantage, long-term customer relations, and customer satisfaction. Emphasis is placed upon students developing functional sales experiences, both individually and in group settings.

In-depth, strategic perspective on advertising management. Students will learn how to manage, facilitate, and direct the advertising function. A special emphasis will be placed on developing advertising strategies. The case method will be used with real-world situations.

Studies or research undertaken by well-qualified, advanced students under the guidance of a faculty member.

Advanced marketing or sales student experience in the field of professional selling. Both practical and academic components are included. The practical component will often take the form of an in-depth study of a sales-related topic, an experience in sales with a company, a research project, a sales simulation, or a blend of these or other elements that will be tailored to each individual student's needs. Repeatable up to 3 hours.

Marketing management problems, policies, and solutions. Case studies of marketing problems, research, and applications of marketing techniques to business problems.

In-depth analysis of the problems facing marketing managers in service and nonprofit organizations. Interdependence of marketing, operations, and human resources.

Individual readings for qualified students, under the guidance of a member of the faculty. Repeatable to a maximum of 3 credit hours.