PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Drake’s marketing major provides a rigorous and relevant understanding of the skills needed by marketing practitioners. It focuses on the role of marketing in cross-functional companies. Majors receive broad exposure to different marketing activities with elective courses that allow them to individualize their degree programs. By combining required courses with electives, majors learn fundamental terms and processes used in marketing. They learn how to use information to diagnose and analyze marketing problems, and how to use this information to develop and implement customer-based solutions. Majors also can improve their skills through internships with organizations in central Iowa. Graduates choose from a wide range of careers, including product and services management, research, consumer analysis, advertising management, sales and promotion, and Internet-based interactive marketing.
DEGREE OPTIONS
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in marketing
PROGRAM SIZE
Approximately 200 students are enrolled in the major. The average class size is 30.
FACULTY
The marketing program includes 4 full-time faculty. All full-time faculty are engaged in teaching classes from the introductory to advanced levels.
• Mary Edrington, assistant professor of marketing/internship coordinator, earned her MBA at the University of Iowa. Her teaching interests include promotional management, consumer behavior and services marketing.
• Dr. Raymond Hubbard, Thomas F. Sheehan Distinguished Professor of Marketing, earned his Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His teaching and research interests include marketing principles, marketing research and marketing policy.
• Dr. Chip Miller, associate professor of marketing, earned his Ph.D. at the University of Washington. His teaching and research interests are in the areas of marketing management and international marketing.
• Andrew Norman, assistant professor of marketing, earned his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona. His teaching and research interests include marketing principles, consumer behavior, and creating customer value.
REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES FOR A MAJOR
124 total; at least 42 of these hours must be earned in courses numbered 100 or above. Required marketing courses for the major are:
MKTG 113 –– Marketing Research
MKTG 118 –– Marketing Management
In addition, the student must select, depending on interest, four of the following:
MKTG 106 –– Promotional Management
MKTG 108 –– Database Marketing
MKTG 110 –– Principles of Retailing
MKTG 114 –– Sales Management
MKTG 115 –– Consumer Behavior
JMC 121 –– Advertising Principles
MKTG 170 –– Global Marketing
REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES OUTSIDE MAJOR
At least 62 of the 124 credit hours must be taken in courses other than business.
The Drake Curriculum, required of all undergraduates, is designed to help students meet personal and professional goals as they acquire fundamental knowledge and abilities in ten Areas of Inquiry, including communication, critical thinking, artistic experience, historical consciousness, information and technology literacy, international and multicultural experiences, scientific and quantitative literacy, values and ethics and engaged citizenship. Students work closely with their academic advisers to craft a program of study in general education that prepares students for civic and professional leadership. The Drake Curriculum also requires first-year seminars, which foster development of critical thinking and written and oral communication skills through a topical focus; and a Senior Capstone, in which students demonstrate the capacity to bring information, skills and ideas to bear on one project.
In addition, non-business requirements for the marketing major include one economic course numbered 100 or above; SOC 1 –– Introduction to Sociology and PSY 1 –– Introductory Psychology.
REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES FOR A MINOR
The marketing minor prepares students in the fundamental principles and practical applications of marketing while allowing some specialization through marketing electives. Applicants must have completed at least 42 credit hours that include: Introductory Accounting 1, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Sociology/Psychology 1 and one statistics course. Required marketing courses include:
MKTG 101 –– Marketing Principles
MKTG 113 –– Marketing Research
MKTG 118 –– Marketing Management
Students also must complete 2 of the following:
MKTG 106 –– Promotional Management
MKTG 108 –– Database Marketing
MKTG 114 –– Sales Management
MKTG 115 –– Consumer Behavior
MKTG 170 –– Global Marketing
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES/INTERNSHIPS
Students are encouraged and assisted in their efforts to obtain paid internships with firms in the Des Moines area and beyond. These experiences augment the classroom experience and allow students to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting, thus enhancing their overall educational experience.
CAREER OPTIONS
Students prepare for careers in marketing management and research, product management, consumer analysis, advertising management, selling and sales management, promotion, wholesaling and related positions. Graduates of Drake's marketing program have obtained careers that include product/brand managers, market researchers, sales representatives, advertising account managers, merchandise buyers, purchasing agents and entrepreneurs.
ORGANIZATIONS
The American Marketing Association is the principal professional association for marketers around the world. The AMA has a student chapter at Drake as well as a professional chapter in Des Moines. Student members are invited to attend professional chapter meetings in addition to the on-campus monthly student chapter meetings. Other professional organizations in the College of Business and Public Administration include Alpha Kappa Psi and Delta Sigma Pi, national professional business fraternities; and Beta Gamma Sigma, a national professional business society.
NOTED ALUMNI
• George Cohon, BN'58, senior chairman, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada and Russia
• Ronald D. Pearson, BN'62, chief executive officer and chairman of the board, Hy-Vee Food Stores Inc., Des Moines, IA