Why Marketing at SBU

 “A major in marketing allowed me to receive a well-rounded business degree while utilizing and strengthening my creativity.” 

Anderson Conte 

Career Opportunities in Marketing on the rise

 Dr. Michael Russell, Chairman 

Department of Marketing, St. Bonaventure University 

When students ask why they should major in marketing, my response is straightforward and market based. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities in marketing careers will increase much faster than other disciplines.

Job opportunities in marketing fields such as advertising, marketing management, public relations, and sales management employment are projected to see double-digit growth in the next five to 10 years, with salaries in these fields being amongst the highest of all college graduates. 

Why? Although there are a number of explanations, I would suggest the following three factors account for much of the demand for marketers:

• A technology expansion. As society becomes more based in technology, a new industry has been created. Terms such as interactive marketing or web design did not exist until recently. Our curriculum integrates traditional as well as new social media marketing strategies. Graduates of our program are obtaining positions in Internet-based companies that did not exist five years ago. 
   
• An expanding market.  Most service firms are now applying marketing principles in their operations. These firms also include non-profit institutions (universities, hospitals, accounting firms, charitable institutions) and political candidates. 
  
   
• A change in policy. Deregulation of several major industries including banking, telecommunications, transportation and even utilities has required these industries to rely heavily upon marketing expertise.

Is a marketing path at SBU right for you?

Maybe. Successful marketers tend to be excellent communicators, critical thinkers, and relate well with others. Our graduates tend to find careers in sales and sales management, advertising, sports marketing, direct marketing, retailing, marketing research, brand (product) management, sales promotion and a wide range of Internet-related businesses.

Each career area in marketing requires a different set of skills.

• Students interested in pursuing careers in sports marketing are encouraged to take internships with our Division I Athletics program or with a professional sports team.
• Students interested in careers in advertising often take courses in English or journalism and mass communications.
• Students interested in pursuing a career in pharmaceutical sales are advised to minor in the sciences. 

We encourage our students to customize their program to fit their

interests and professional goals. Not only do we encourage specialization, we feel that learning from experience is the best way to expand your knowledge.

Various courses include hands-on experience, such as conducting executive interviews, creating advertising portfolios and a final capstone project in which all marketing students prepare a marketing plan for an actual client. This project enables our students to present future employers with concrete evidence that they are capable getting started right away in the world of marketing.

Why marketing? Let our students tell you why

I asked marketing majors to comment on their choice of a major. The comments included the following:

• “I want a career where it is fun to go to work every day.” -- Jena Makowski 
• “I chose marketing as my major because I can make an impact that is seen and heard.” -- Colby Brown  
• “I chose marketing as a major because it will give me the tools I need to run a successful business after graduation.” -- John Lombardo  
• “I chose marketing because of the growing opportunities it provides after graduation.”  -- Mike Vieyra 
• “During my marketing internship, I was allocating thousands of advertising dollars for a major hotel.” -- Matt Corasanti 
• “While marketing has proven to be a challenging major, it is also very rewarding.” -- Sarah Biryla 
• “Through several internship opportunities, I feel assured that I will be able to succeed in a wide range of careers after graduation.” -- Emily Winter 
• “Developing an integrated brand communication strategy was the most rewarding and challenging task I have had as a student.” -- Brenden Biryla
• “Coming into St. Bonaventure, I was undecided business.  I decided on Marketing because it was a great way for me to apply my creativity in business applications.” -- Jeff Brown