Draft 2025-2026 Catalog 
    
    Nov 09, 2024  
Draft 2025-2026 Catalog

Marketing Major


Major Lead: Kelly Weidner

Academic research and executive experience have repeatedly highlighted the critical role marketing plays in business success. In addition, there is clear evidence that performance among non-profit and government organizations also depends on effective marketing.

In this context, the marketing curriculum and major provides students with a strong foundation in the principles and tools of the discipline. The framework begins with a customer focus and includes formulating products and services that meet and anticipate consumer wants and needs, determining appropriate price/value considerations, developing efficient distribution systems, and creating marketing communications programs to support the marketing effort.

Topics relevant to best practices in business and consumer sectors include: social media and digital marketing, branding, public relations, advertising strategy, behavioral pricing, marketing analytics and research methods, global competition, multicultural segmentation, creation of new business models and innovation strategies. Additionally, the program provides multiple opportunities to examine the role marketing plays in society and how it affects the common welfare.

Please visit the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)  department page for more information.

Program Learning Outcomes


It is expected that Marketing majors upon graduation will be able to:

  • Describe the role of marketing in organizations, industries/sectors and society
  • Identify key marketing tools and models (for example, segmentation, purchase decision models)
  • Apply relevant primary and secondary research techniques to identify marketing challenges and opportunities facing an organization or community
  • Assess markets using appropriate marketing tools and models
  • Conceptualize and develop appropriate marketing strategies in response to challenges and opportunities uncovered during market analyses
  • Evaluate and defend recommendations based on marketing goals and with an appreciation for the impact on broader society

Major Requirements (68 units)


Business Core


Required Courses


The business core and foundation courses cover the basic business topics needed for a career in business. Consistent with the direction of business today, the business core at the McLaren School of Management highlights issues related to the global business environment, diversity and ethics. Oral and written communication, quantitative reasoning, information literacy, and critical thinking are also stressed throughout the curriculum.

All Business majors must complete a set of business foundation and core courses, as well as the required University Core Curriculum . Students admitted to the McLaren School of Management’s Honors Program take the Honors Program core. Please see School of Management Honors Program . The required foundation courses are also used to satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements (see faculty adviser). Students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in their foundation and business core coursework.

Marketing Requirements (20 units)


Degree Planner


First-Year


Fall Units
Rhetoric and Composition 4
Core B1: MATH 106 - Business Statistics   4
Core E: ECON 112 - Principles of Macroeconomics   4
Elective 4
BUS 100 - Launch into Business     2
Total Semester Units 18
Spring Units
Core A2: Rhetoric and Composition 4
Core E: ECON 111 - Principles of Microeconomics    4
BUS 201 - Principles of Financial Accounting   4
Elective 4
Total Semester Units 16

Sophomore Year


Fall Units
BUS 202 - Principles of Managerial Accounting      4
BUS 204 - Foundations of Analytics   4
Core 4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
BUS 205 - Applied Business Technology   2
BUS 302 - Marketing Principles  4
BUS 304 - Foundations of Organizational Behavior   4
BUS 305 - Principles of Finance  4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 18

Junior Year


Fall Units
BUS 301 - Business Law    4
BUS 308 - Systems in Organizations   4
BUS 360 - Marketing Research  4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
BUS 363 - Consumer Behavior   4
Upper-Division Major 4
Core 4
Core 4
Total Semester Units 16

Senior Year


Fall Units
Upper-Division Major 4
Core  4
Core  4
Elective 4
Total Semester Units 16
Spring Units
BUS 403 - Entrepreneurial Strategy   4
Upper-Division Major 4
Elective 4
Elective (if needed) 4
Total Semester Units 16

*This information is subject to change, the degree planner is a sample, and students should consult with the department for any updated information.