Marketing Major

Start building your professional marketing skills right away, taking hands-on courses in your first semester. Intern with local companies, and graduate career-ready.

student surveys her work written out on a white board

Marketing Requires Art & Science

Build digital media skills, learn to interpret vital data, and gain practical experience interning with national brands.

Program Type: Major

School/Division: Robert P. Stiller School of Business

Required Experiences: Study Abroad; On-Campus Employment Opportunities; Internships

Let us help you find...: Internship; Pathway to Advanced Degrees; Freeman Foundation Grant; Current Students College Catalog; Admissions

Well-told stories power markets. Be a storyteller.

Today’s world is full of digital content, so how do companies stay above the noise? Stories. People don’t remember statistics and data — they remember emotions and experiences that create a connection between them and a company’s products.

To increase engagement, and ultimately grow revenue, successful marketing teams use narratives backed by data to engage their audience and drive conversions.

What is Marketing?

Marketing studies explore the process of creating and delivering value to reach target audiences. From sales to product development, marketing is a key aspect of business that impacts all aspects of an organization. As a marketing student, you’ll dive into developing omni-channel media fluency, master marketing strategy, gain the know-how to make data-driven decisions, and assess the legal and ethical implications of strategic marketing plans.

Why Study Marketing at Champlain College?

We believe hands-on learning is the best way to prepare you for your future career. You’ll start taking marketing courses in your first semester—in fact, you’ll hold industry-standard certifications before your sophomore year. It is this early learning that makes our Marketing students highly sought interns; employers know you’ll hit the ground running.

You’ll work with real clients each year and interning with innovative Vermont businesses like Ben & Jerry’s, Burton Snowboards, New Breed Marketing, and many more. By the time you graduate, your résumé will be full of professional experiences that will make you stand out from the job applicant crowd.

Work in the Global Marketplace

Champlain’s Marketing curriculum is designed to encourage a semester studying abroad. You’ll even have opportunities to take internships in other countries, fully immersing yourself in the local culture by experiencing the workplace.

Through an exclusive grant from the Freeman Foundation, our Marketing students have a chance to complete a summer internship in Asia at very little personal cost. The two primary destinations for students are Shanghai, China, and Kyoto, Japan, though you’ll find additional opportunities in various other cities and countries.

two students present their work to the class via a slide presentation

Different by Design

Get Hands-On

You’ll work closely with/intern for real, innovative Vermont businesses like Ben & Jerry’s and Burton.

Built-In Certifications

Industry-standard credentials like HubSpot and Google Analytics are built right into your classes – you’ll graduate ahead of the curve.

Work With Clients

You’ll take on real client work in your sophomore year, learning vital skills such as how to create strategies, conduct research, develop social content, write marketing copy, and more.

Facts & Stats

92%

of Marketing majors in the Class of 2023 were employed within six months after graduation. That’s success you can see.

$86,000

According to Glassdoor.com, marketing professionals earn competitive salaries, reflecting the high demand for their specialized skills.

Projected growth of overall employment of market research analysts over the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sign Up for Helpful Info

Sample Courses in the Marketing Major

Our Marketing curriculum is designed for students who are excited to learn the latest industry trends, tech, and practices in a dynamic and constantly evolving field. You’ll develop a foundation of knowledge and experience that will translate to any industry, and be prepared for the marketing jobs of tomorrow. Check out some of the engaging and hands-on courses in our program.

First Year

MKT 111

BUS 120 Marketing and the Organizational Mindset

Second Year

MKT 210 Consumer Behavior

MKT 250 Digital Marketing

Third Year

MKT 290 Marketing Internship

BUS 310 International Bus. and Macroeconomics

Fourth Year

MKT 450 Current Topics in Marketing

CCC 410MKT Marketing College Capstone

See the Learning Outcomes for the Marketing major

View Full Curriculum

Prerequisites
Credits

Business decisions begin with a fundamental understanding of the marketplace. From target market to competition,globalization to industry analysis, businesses must evaluate the marketing, organizational management, and international implications of decision-making. Students explore the behavioral and business decision-making process for marketing and management as they are introduced to these strategic processes critical to business success. Students will learn how to build and function within successful teams as they engage with Vermont-based businesses to analyze and recommend solutions to real-world business challenges and opportunities.

Prerequisites	BUS-110 or permisison of Assistant Dean
Credits	3

This course provides insight into consumer behavior, and how consumers engage in the decision making process. This includes an in-depth study of the internal, external, and situational influences on consumer behavior such as culture, learning, personality and lifestyle, values and motivations. Students will learn to assess current brands’ marketing strategies with respect to consumer behavior and develop an understanding of the impact consumerism has on various global populations.

Prerequisites	Complete BUS-120 or MKT-110.
Credits	3

Students will learn how to utilize digital platforms as part of a comprehensive and integrated marketing strategy. Through a mix of strategy, professional certification(s), and hands-on application, students will navigate the digital marketing ecosystem and apply best practices in the field.

Prerequisites	Complete MKT-110.
Credits	3

Marketing students gain practical experience in the workplace as interns in some aspect of marketing to gain in-depth exposure to the marketing field. Through coursework they will reflect on their experience as they explore what it is to be a marketing professional.

Prerequisites	Marketing Majors and Minors only. BUS 120 or MKT 110 and 30 credits completed.
Credits	3

To understand today’s global economy students will analyze country-specific socio-cultural, economic, political, and legal forces, as well as currency exchange rate mechanisms, tax systems, and other broad financial controls. Students will apply theories and strategies of international business and related macroeconomic principles to real-world issues and cases by conducting country risk assessments and developing foreign market entry strategies. Students will be challenged to identify their own sense of cultural identity through comparisons with differing country-level and individual cultural perspectives and recognize the implications for conducting business in varied cultural contexts.

Prerequisites	Take 30 credits and ECN-255
Credits	3

In this upper level marketing course, students will explore in depth a current topic in marketing that is impacting society and business. Given the ever changing nature of marketing there are always new areas to explore, and this course will allow students of all disciplines to engage with an important emerging topic selected by the instructor. This is a required course for marketing students and an elective option for all other majors.

Prerequisites	Any major with 90 credits completed.
Credits	3

The marketing capstone is a senior-level opportunity for marketing majors to pursue a self-directed independent project in their chosen area of professional interest. It is the culmination of their full body of course work including liberal arts, professional program and minor area of study. A heavy emphasis will be placed on being an ethically-minded marketing professional as well as the transition from student to professional.

Prerequisites	Marketing Major only (or Dean permission) with 90+ credits. All COR 300 level requirements completed
Credits	3

You might also be interested in these…

Based on your interest in the Marketing major, we thought you also might like to check out these other academic programs and opportunities.

Majors
- Marketing Communication Major
  
  Businesses run on stories and data. Tune in to emerging marketing strategies and graduate ready for your career, with impressive industry-standard certifications.
- Creative Media Major
  
  Develop your self-expression in our Creative Media major, and learn the business side of interdisciplinary production, digital creation, and entrepreneurship.
- Game Business & Publishing Major
  
  Gaming is global, and its future requires business leaders who understand the industry. Champlain College is a hub for gaming – study Game Business & Publishing and learn alongside your future peers.
Areas of Study
- Business & Data Analytics
  
  Drive change at the intersection of information and impact with one of these majors.

Sarah Ramsey '12 holds turns face up toward the sun, mountains behind her

Sarah Ramsey Strong Scholarship

The Sarah Ramsey ’12 Strong Scholarship is open to all students at the Stiller School of Business who wish to expand their professional and international experiences through study abroad or an overseas internship program during their junior or senior year.

The fund was established through gifts from family and friends in memory of Sarah Ramsey.

About the Scholarship

Seamless Transition to Grad School

Are you thinking about going to graduate school? Through Champlain College Online, you can seamlessly go from undergraduate to graduate student, enhancing your skills and career opportunities.

Pathways from Bachelor's to Master's Degree

Career Success

Marketing students graduate ahead of the curve with industry-standard certifications and experiences. 92% of Marketing majors in the Class of 2023 were employed within six months of graduation.

a marketing student shaking hands with a professional individual

Your Career Outlook

Learn more about our career-focused education

By the time you graduate, you will …

Demonstrate mastery in marketing strategy by applying market research data, consumer behavior theory, and in-depth analysis to create a strong foundation for the development of a brand that resonates with stakeholders.
Exhibit multi-channel media fluency, applying communication skills including oral, written, visual, digital, and technological to successfully engage multiple stakeholders.
Intentionally utilize an ethical, analytic, data-driven approach to continuously improve marketing approaches.
Carefully evaluate and assess not only the legal but also the ethical implications of strategic marketing campaigns, as well as their own individual actions and decisions.
Stay up to date in relevant marketing disciplines through formal and informal learning opportunities; continuous observation, investigation, and exploration; and an appreciation for the rapidly changing nature of the field.

You’ll Find a Career In…

Digital Marketing
Public Relations
Content Management
Directing Communications
Channel Marketing
Marketing Management

More Inside Marketing Major

Overview

Start building your professional marketing skills right away, taking hands-on courses in your first semester. Intern with local companies, and graduate career-ready.
Curriculum

Learn the fundamentals of marketing and consumer behavior on day one with Champlain's Upside-Down Curriculum.
Faculty

Our Marketing faculty go above and beyond to inspire your curiosity, learning, and growth. Small class sizes foster personal connections and mastery.

Become Champlain Ready

Take the Next Step

Visit Us Request Info