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MSU Denver
Marketing at MSU Denver
Marketing is critical to business success. Marketing is about delivering value to consumers and generating revenue for the organization. What could be more important than that? It’s about developing the right products, for the right people, at the right price, in the right places, and with the right communication. Every organization has a marketing function, creating many career opportunities. Marketing matters.
We believe that learning is an active process. Our AACSB-accredited Marketing program offers small classes—packed with ambitious business students, and led by professors with years of relevant industry experience. Students also complete real, hands-on marketing projects—including solving real problems for actual businesses.
Is our marketing major right for you? Perhaps our new (for Fall 2021) BA in Professional Selling, hosted by the state’s only Center for Professional Selling? Maybe our minor or one of our certificates? Want to know about career prospects and our hands-on learning? See below for more—and if you have questions, please email us.
Marketing Major: What Will I Study?
When you major in Marketing, you build broad business skills through the Business Core, and you develop marketing expertise through both required and elective Marketing classes.
Our BS in Marketing is available on-campus or 100% online.
The Business Core courses and Additional Business Requirements are required for all BS business majors, including Marketing. A grade of “C-” or better must be earned in each course throughout the Business Core, Additional Business Requirements, and major.
Work with our academic advisor, Donelyn Jones, for help taking the right courses in the right order. Here’s a semester-by-semester Marketing student planning guide (2020-21) to get you started. All information below reflects the current catalog; make sure you refer to the catalog for your catalog year for exact requirements.
Click to expand each category of classes.
| Course | Title | Credits |
| BUS 1850 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| BUS 1950 | Business Communication | 3 |
| ACC 2010 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC 2020 | Principles of Accounting II | 3 |
| CIS 2010 | Foundations of Information Systems | 3 |
| CIS 3300 | Business Analytics I (Descriptive and Predictive) | 3 |
| CIS 3320 | Business Analytics II (Prescriptive) | 3 |
| FIN 3300 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MGT 2210 | Legal Environment of Business I | 3 |
| MGT 3000 | Organizational Management | 3 |
| MGT 4950 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| MKT 3000 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
Total Hours: |
36 |
|
| Course | Title | Credits |
| BUS 3040 | Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability | 3 |
| MTH 1320 | Calculus for the Management and Social Sciences | 3 |
Total Hours: |
6 |
|
Marketing majors have a combination of required courses and marketing electives. You will build a solid foundation in marketing, while choosing electives that arm you with expertise in the areas the interest you most. Each of the required courses is offered in both on campus and online formats.
| Course | Title | Credits |
| MKT 3010 | Marketing Research | 3 |
| MKT 3310 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MKT 3710 | International Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 4560 | Marketing Strategy | 3 |
| MKT 3000+ | Marketing electives – choose four classes | 12 |
Total Hours: |
24 |
|
We offer a broad range of relevant, current, and useful marketing electives in a variety of formats (on campus and online). As a Marketing major, you may also double-count major classes toward a Certificate in Sales or Digital Marketing (more info on certificates below).
| Course | Title | Credits | On campus | Online |
| MKT 3100 | Retail Marketing | 3 | X | |
| MKT 3110 | Advertising and Promotion Management | 3 | X** | |
| MKT 3160 | Sales Management | 3 | X | |
| MKT 3190 | Marketing for Social Good | 3 | X* | |
| MKT 3200 | Digital Marketing Fundamentals | 3 | X* | |
| MKT 3250 | Personal Selling | 3 | X | |
| MKT 3300 | Marketing of Services | 3 | X | |
| MKT 3320 | Inside Sales | 3 | X | |
| MKT 3330 | Marketing and Sales Metrics | 3 | X | |
| MKT 3350 | Social Selling | 3 | X | |
| MKT 3500 | Sports Marketing | 3 | X | X |
| MKT 3610 | Business-to-Business Marketing | 3 | X | |
| MKT 3750 | Multicultural Marketing | 3 | X | X |
| MKT 3910 | New Product Development | 3 | X | |
| MKT 3980 | Internship in Marketing | varies | ||
| MKT 3981 | Internship in Sales | varies | ||
| MKT 4110 | Brand Management | 3 | X | |
| MKT 4200 | Content Marketing | 3 | X | |
| MKT 4250 | Advanced Selling | 3 | X | |
| MKT 4300 | Social Media Marketing | 3 | X | |
| MKT 4520 | Seminar in Marketing Management | 3 | X | |
| MKT 4540 | Digital Marketing Science | 4 | X* | |
| BUS 3010 | Global Business Experience (travel) | 3 |
* Hybrid class; meets once per week in-person with the rest of the work online
** Synchronous online class; remote class that meets online at an assigned date and time
Professional Selling Major: What Will I Study?
New for 2021-22! Earn your BA in Professional Selling, through our nationally recognized Center for Professional Selling.
Our bachelor’s degree teaches the professional selling process, the importance of trust and relationships, value creation and communication, sales enablement technology, and what to expect from a career—all from faculty with real-world experience.
The experiential nature of the program provides students with opportunities to role play, network, and complete real sales assignments.
In addition to the required general education courses, you have to take 51 hours of required major classes, plus 12 hours of major electives, as noted below:
Click to expand each category of classes.
| Course | Title | Credits |
| ACC 1010 or
ACC 2010 |
Fundamentals of Accounting or
Principles of Accounting I |
3 |
| BUS 1850 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| BUS 1950 | Business Communication | 3 |
| BUS 3040 | Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability | 3 |
| CIS 2010 | Foundations of Information Systems | 3 |
| FIN 3150 | Personal Financial Planning | 3 |
| MGT 2210 | Legal Environment of Business I | 3 |
| MGT 3000 | Organizational Management | 3 |
| MKT 2250 | Introduction to Sales | 3 |
| MKT 3000 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 3160 | Sales Leadership | 3 |
| MKT 3250 | Personal Selling | 3 |
| MKT 3320 | Inside Sales | 3 |
| MKT 3330 | Marketing and Sales Metrics | 3 |
| MKT 3350 | Social Selling | 3 |
| MKT 3750 | Multicultural Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 4250 | Advanced Selling | 3 |
| Total Hours: | 51 | |
| Course | Title | Credits |
| MKT 3000-4999 | Upper-Division Marketing Courses (excluding those required, above) | |
| MKT 1260 | Customer Service | 3 |
| COMM 3010 | Business and Professional Speaking | 3 |
| MGT 3530 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
| MGT 4050 | Purchasing and Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| MGT 4620 | Performance Management and Reward Systems | 3 |
| MGT 4640 | Employee Training and Development | 3 |
| Total Hours: | 12 | |
Marketing Minors and Certificates
Non-marketing majors can benefit from our program through earning one of the minors we offer: Marketing, Advertising and Promotion, Sales, and Digital Marketing.
Our certificates—Sales, and Digital Marketing—are a great add-on for Marketing majors. Each certificate is also available as a stand-alone credential, such as for those who already have a degree.
All information below reflects the current catalog; make sure you refer to the catalog for your catalog year for exact requirements.
A minor in Marketing gives you a broad set of skills and knowledge that can be applied in any marketing setting. The minor is a great addition to an industry-specific major such as Hospitality, Healthcare Management, or Sports Management.
It also is an excellent choice for students majoring in other areas of business (e.g., Entrepreneurship, Management, Finance, Accounting, CIS), as all business employees should understand the revenue-producing arm of the organization.
| Course | Title | Credits |
| BUS 1950 | Business Communication | 3 |
| MKT 3000 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 3310 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MKT 4520 | Seminar in Marketing Management | 3 |
| Approved marketing electives | 6 | |
| Total Hours: | 18 | |
Are you creative? Do you dream of working in an advertising agency, or of crafting strategies to reach a specific target audience? The Advertising and Promotion minor will set you up for success in the creative side of marketing. This minor is an excellent addition to a degree in Communication Design, Communication Studies, Art, Music, or for anyone who will need to promote their own business.
Advertising and Promotion Minor Required Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
| MKT 3000 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 3110 | Advertising and Promotion Management | 3 |
| MKT 4110 | Brand Management | 3 |
| MKT 4300 | Social Media Marketing | 3 |
| Elective Courses (see below) | 6 | |
|
Total Hours: |
18 |
|
Advertising and Promotion Minor Elective Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
| MKT 3190 | Marketing for Social Good Credits | 3 |
| MKT 3250 | Personal Selling Credits | 3 |
| MKT 3300 | Marketing of Services Credits | 3 |
| MKT 3310 | Consumer Behavior Credits | 3 |
| MKT 3710 | International Marketing Credits | 3 |
| MKT 3750 | Multicultural Marketing Credits | 3 |
| MKT 3980 | Internship in Marketing Credits | 1-15 |
| MKT 4200 | Content Marketing Credits | 3 |
| MKT 4520 | Seminar in Marketing Management Credits | 3 |
Advertising and Promotion Minor Alternate Elective Courses
Students may take one of the following courses (3 credits) to replace one elective course.
| Course | Title | Credits |
| ART 1531 | Studio Foundations: 4D | 3 |
| JMP 1000 | Introduction to Journalism and Mass Media | 3 |
| JMP 2430 | Introduction to Media Production | 3 |
| JMP 2700 | Fundamentals of Public Relations | 3 |
| MKT 3200 | Digital Marketing Fundamentals | 3 |
The Sales Certificate is a great fit for Marketing majors and for other students pursuing any of the BS degrees in the College of Business, since you can double-count classes and thus reduce the number of required courses. It’s also great for returning students seeking professional/continued education.
The Sales Minor is a great option for students with any major that requires a minor or who want a sales credential to show to potential employers. Talk to our advisor for more information on which is right for you.
Both the certificate and the minor have the same requirements.
Sales Minor/Certificate Required Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
| MKT 3000 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 3160 | Sales Leadership | 3 |
| MKT 3250 | Personal Selling | 3 |
| MKT 4250 | Advanced Selling | 3 |
| Elective Courses (see below) | 6 | |
|
Total Hours: |
18 |
|
Sales Minor/Certificate Elective Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
| MKT 3300 | Marketing of Services | 3 |
| MKT 3320 | Inside Sales | 3 |
| MKT 3330 | Marketing and Sales Metrics | 3 |
| MKT 3350 | Social Selling | 3 |
| MKT 3610 | Business-to-Business Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 3750 | Multicultural Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 3981 | Internship in Sales | 1-15 |
The Digital Marketing Certificate is a great fit for Marketing majors and for other students pursuing any of the BS degrees in the College of Business, since you can double-count classes and thus reduce the number of required courses. It’s also great for returning students seeking professional/continued education.
The Digital Marketing Minor is a great option for students with any major that requires a minor or who want a credential to show their digital marketing skills to potential employers. Talk to our advisor for more information on which is right for you.
Both the certificate and the minor have the same required courses, totaling 16 credits. The minor requires 3 additional credits from the listed electives (total 19 credits), and the certificate requires 6 credits from the listed electives (total 22 credits).
Digital Marketing Minor/Certificate Required Courses
| Course | Title | Minor | Certificate |
| MKT 3000 | Principles of Marketing | 3 | 3 |
| MKT 3200 | Digital Marketing Fundamentals | 3 | 3 |
| MKT 3310 | Consumer Behavior | 3 | 3 |
| MKT 4200 | Content Marketing | 3 | 3 |
| MKT 4540 | Digital Marketing Science | 4 | 4 |
| Elective Courses (see below) | 3 | 6 | |
| Total Hours: | 19 | 22 | |
Digital Marketing Minor/Certificate Elective Courses
Choose elective(s) from the following. The minor requires three credits from the following list, and the certificate requires six credits.
| Course | Title | Credits |
| CIS 2110 | Structured Problem Solving in Information Systems | 3 |
| JMP 2450 | Basic Interactive Production | 3 |
| MKT 3330 | Marketing and Sales Metrics | 3 |
| MKT 3350 | Social Selling | 3 |
| MKT 3980 | Internship in Marketing | 1-15 |
| MKT 4110 | Brand Management | 3 |
| MKT 4300 | Social Media Marketing | 3 |
Career Prospects
Marketing is a profession that touches nearly every industry. Here are a few marketing-related disciplines you can pursue:
- Advertising
- Digital marketing
- Services marketing
- Brand or product management
- Retailing and experiential marketing
- Global and multicultural marketing
- Media planning and buying
- Professional selling
- Social media
- Channel management
- New product development
- Marketing research and analysis
- Strategic marketing management
- Distribution and supply chain management
Learning Through Experience
We believe that experience matters, and that you should be able to learn and apply practical skills while you are studying with us.
That is why many of our marketing professors provide students with opportunities to work with real organizations, solving real marketing problems.
That’s also why we encourage our students to take internships—most of which are paid! You can earn credit and pay your bills, all while you gain industry experience.
Client Projects/Service Learning
MSU Denver marketing students have served hundreds of organizations all along the Front Range and beyond, including for-profit companies and non-profit organizations of various sizes and industries. Students have opportunities to work with organizations and learn how to develop marketing strategies in areas such as:
- Branding
- Social media
- Digital marketing
- Integrated marketing communications including advertising
- International marketing
- Professional selling
- Strategic marketing planning
- Marketing research
If your business or organization is interested in exploring client project opportunities with the Department of Marketing, please contact the department chair, Nicole Vowles, at: [email protected]. Be sure to tell us:
- Your name
- Your email
- A few sentences about your organization
- A brief description of the type of marketing project you would like to pursue with the help of marketing students
If it’s a good fit, we’d love to help you—and help our students by getting them more real-world experience.
Internships
As a student, one of the most impactful experiences you can have is an internship.
By working with an employer in the field of marketing or sales, you will gain hands-on professional experience, build expertise, meet people in your field, and get to know more about the work that you love (and even about those areas you don’t love so much).
Internships can be for credit, for pay, or both.
If you have completed MKT 3000 Principles of Marketing, you can complete an internship for one of your four marketing major electives (3 credits out of 12 required).
To earn 3 credits, you must work 150 hours and report to someone with marketing/sales expertise. You complete some academic work along the way.
The Internship Process
- Find an internship.
- Use the C2 Hub’s Career Link or find one on your own.
- Please talk to your marketing faculty for guidance about the type of work you are interested in.
- For internship advising, contact Dr. Nicole Vowles ([email protected]).
- Apply for credit (if you’d like to earn academic credit).
- Start by contacting Kira Castle ([email protected]), the internship coordinator from the C2 Hub.
- You will complete an online form, your manager will add to it, and then it is sent for approval from the Marketing Department.
- Enroll in the class. The Marketing Department will complete this step for you once your internship is approved.
- Complete the internship and the academic work.
Now you’re closer to graduation and have valuable industry experience!
Employers
Do you have a marketing or sales internship or job listing you’d like to fill with an MSU Denver student or alum? Please post your position with us.
Want to get even more involved, through career fairs, informal networking, campus interviewing, and more? Learn more about our opportunities for industry partners.
Guest Speakers
Calling alumni and other marketing professionals!
We believe in preparing students for the business world, and a key part of that preparation is connecting our students with working business professionals.
Would you be interested in speaking to a class, participating in a networking event, or serving on a panel?
Want to get involved with our nationally recognized Center for Professional Selling, via sales role plays or competitions?
Please email department chair Nicole Vowles at [email protected] to get connected to a class or event that is the best fit for you.