Bachelor of Science in Marketing

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Learn How to Build Brands and Market Products in Today’s Complex Business World

Degree:

Bachelor of Science in Marketing Degree

Application:

$0 application fee. No essays/exams.

In today’s global marketplace, effectively generating interest in a company’s brands, products, and services requires an industry-current mix of strategy, research, data analytics, and a multi-platform execution of key marketing tactics. Equipped with up-to-date knowledge and skills in the latest communication technologies and marketing fundamentals, focused professionals can pursue a broad range of careers, from brand managers and advertising executives to public relations specialists, content marketers, and market research analysts.

National University’s online Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree challenges you to develop a deep understanding of traditional and emerging marketing concepts within the ever-changing framework of current global business conditions. Coursework is designed to help you develop a keen understanding of how to design, manage, and evaluate marketing campaigns for organizations in every industry. You’ll also be challenged to think strategically and sharpen your communication skills.

Degree Requirements

To receive a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as articulated below, 45 of which must be completed in residence at the National University, 76.5 of which must be completed at the upper-division level, and a minimum of 69 units of the University General Education requirements. In the absence of transfer credit, additional general electives may be necessary to satisfy the total units for the degree. The following courses are specific degree requirements. Refer to the section on undergraduate admission procedures for specific information regarding admission and evaluation. All students receiving an undergraduate degree in Nevada are required by State Law to complete a course in Nevada Constitution.

National University awards credit in quarter units, with each academic year divided into four 12-week quarters. 

Each quarter is made up of three 4-week classes, with one class per month. Under the current policy, 4.5 units of credit are awarded for courses.

Preparation for the Major

8 Courses

4.5 Quarter Units

This course is the introduction to contemporary marketing theory and practice in both the local and global marketplace. Basic concepts of marketing are examined with an emphasis on marketing positioning, segmentation and targeting as well as product development and distribution.

4.5 Quarter Units

Key mathematical and statistical concepts useful for understanding business problems and making informed decisions with the right tools are introduced. Concepts relate to numbers, formulas, linear equation models and descriptive statistics. Applications focus on personal decisions and decisions within businesses in the areas of finance, discounts, pricing, interest rates, loans, insurance, investment, payroll and taxes. Microsoft Excel is the software used in this class. MNS 205 and MTH 210 are the primary quantitative courses required for MNS 407. Students who have taken college algebra or calculus (MTH 215 or MTH 220) are exempt from this course.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MTH 12A and MTH 12B, or Accuplacer test placement evaluation

An introduction to statistics and probability theory. Covers simple probability distributions, conditional probability (Bayes Rule), independence, expected value, binomial distributions, the Central Limit Theorem, hypothesis testing. Assignments may utilize the MiniTab software, or text-accompanying course-ware. Calculator with statistical functions is required.

4.5 Quarter Units

In this course, students will study the price system, market structures, and consumer theory. Topics covered include supply and demand, price controls, public policy, the theory of the firm, cost and revenue concepts, forms of competition, elasticity, and efficient resource allocation, among others.

4.5 Quarter Units

This course provides an examination of aggregate economic activity. It includes a study of aggregate supply and demand, the monetary and banking systems, aggregate economic accounting, inflation, unemployment, the business cycle, macroeconomic policy, and economic progress and stability, among other things.

4.5 Quarter Units

A survey of basic accounting theory and the application of accounting principles, this course includes the recording and summarization of business transactions in the form of financial statements under the rules of generally accepted accounting principles. (GAAP). It is designed for students who have little or no prior knowledge of financial accounting, this course corresponds to Principles of Accounting I at other colleges.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: ACC 201

This course is an overview of the use of financial accounting and cost accounting data for the design and preparation of reports to aid management in organizing, directing, controlling, and decision-making functions. The topics include the fundamentals of cost accounting, budgeting and responsibility accounting for cost and profit centers.

4.5 Quarter Units

A survey of contracts, sales, agencies, personal property, commercial paper and associated topics. Emphasizes prevention of litigation and liability arising from business operations.

*May be used to meet General Education requirements. MNS 205 can be waived if students have transfer credits for college algebra and/or calculus (the equivalent of MTH 216A and MTH 216B, or MTH 220). MNS 205 must be taken if students do not have transfer credits for MNS 205 or MTH 216A and MTH 216B or MTH 220.

Marketing Requirements

16 Courses

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

An introduction to the fundamental knowledge required to manage and lead a marketing team. This course is important because new marketing graduates in the 21st century require a unique set of marketable, proactive marketing management and change leadership skills, to thrive in the ever-changing global marketplace. This course sits atop the entire strategic marketing degree and covers the management and leadership skills needed to succeed in global markets, including such topics as cultural dynamics, management styles, and political and legal environments. Students learn how to assess their own personal style and understand how to access global marketing opportunities in conjunction with developing and implementing marketing strategies to capitalize on those opportunities.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

An introduction to the cultural environment of global markets, including such topics as cultural dynamics, management styles, and political and legal environments. Students learn how to assess global marketing opportunities as well as develop and implement strategies to capitalize on those opportunities.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

A course that gives the student an overview and practical application of contemporary methods for gathering, analyzing, and preparing market research for use in marketing decision making. It focuses on defining organizational information needs and designing appropriate research methods to obtain it. Specific topic areas include qualitative and quantitative research

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

This course gives the student an overview and practical application of emerging business models in contrast to the traditional business models within the strategic marketing plan. It focuses on defining customer lifetime value in the emerging platform business world. Specific topic areas include sharing economy, subscription services, fractional ownership, value exchange, data monetization, business to individual, and inventory-free retail.

4.5 Quarter Units

Recommended Preparation: MKT 302A

The course introduces the marketing legal framework with a focus on companies related to ethics and consumer rights. Contemporary marketers need to understand the various laws in the domestic and international context for business-to-business, business-to-consumer, and the emerging business-to-individual context. The advent of the digital platform revolution, new communication channels, and new marketplaces, increase the mandatory need for knowledge of legal consequences connected to strategic decisions. The course focuses on marketing ethics, contract law, sales of goods, the marketing control act, and intellectual property rights (design, trademark, copyright, and patents). The students will also gain an understanding of ethical principles and sustainable considerations of importance in the business society.

4.5 Quarter Units

Recommended Preparation: MNS 205; ECO 203

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

The course introduces students to the integration of marketing and economics. The key component of the course is to understand the fact that marketing is a branch of economic science, and how this is exacerbated in the digital age of attention to economics. The course focuses on the nature of demand and supply as it impacts the marketing leaders and associated plans, then reviews the impact of mergers and acquisitions, globalization, and the economics of advertising. The student will also gain an understanding of the role economic principles have in sustainable considerations of importance in business society.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

This course is a comprehensive review and application of aspects of sales management. These include building a positive motivating culture and learning the tools needed for people management. Sales management requires a unique supervisory approach mixing motivational growth in conjunction with a constant psychological assessment perspective. The student will learn the importance of sales force resources planning, forecasting, territory management, and compensation execution. In line with scenario-based learning, the student will review typical sales management problems and potential solutions.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

This course gives the student an overview and foundational understanding of the product management role and its importance in marketing decision-making. It focuses on the underlying strategy for the introduction of new products and services. Specific topic areas include product strategy, product development, and product lifecycle management.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

This course is designed to provide a contemporary view of consumer behavior. The course will delve into the psychology of marketing and the impact cognitive biases have on consumer decision-making. A focus on consumer motivations, brand loyalty, influence marketing, and adoption models in emerging markets. Specific areas covered are self, personality, lifestyle, and the consumer decision-making process.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

This course gives the student an overview and practical application of brand management. It focuses on exploring the developing, sustaining, and leveraging brands in the marketplace. The course introduces brand research, brand development, and brand management and the importance for the modern marketer. Specific topic areas include brand management history, brand awareness, brand equity, and contemporary brand-sustaining strategies in the digital age.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

This course gives the student an overview and practical application of traditional and online methods for advertising management. It focuses on defining traditional advertising management in contrast to digital omnichannel marketing management strategy. Specific topic areas include variances in advertising management in B2B, B2C, C2C, and emerging business to individual B2I models in the marketing digital transformation.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

In this course, the student will review the emerging role of data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in the modern marketing manager. The emerging fourth industrial revolution (4IR) is expanding greatly because of platform technologies. As such, the marketing manager needs to become more scientific from a data science perspective, when evaluating and implementing strategic planning and tactical execution imperatives, in the ever-changing global marketplace. This course will include a good overview of the interaction between technical, business, and human aspects of the trend toward personalized marketing. We will explore biometric-focused artificial intelligence. In addition, the cultural, diversity, ethical, and legal responsibilities of emerging marketing managers will be examined.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

This course provides a foundational understanding of one of the most important aspects of marketing and business in general, pricing. The student will learn the importance of understanding various foundational pricing methods and the associated impact on how these decisions impact the need for profit maximization. The student will learn key economic and behavioral concepts associated with costs and consumer behavior. Pricing strategies such as cost plus, price skimming, and niche pricing will be covered, in conjunction with emergent models such as reverse auction and value-based pricing.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

This course is designed to assist students pursuing a marketing career in the service industry, but is also a pivotal course for all marketers to understand, given the rise in the service sector. The course provides a comprehensive overview of the various methods deployed in the service sector for use in marketing decision-making. It focuses on defining the seven Ps of service marketing and the gap model of service quality and the role of technology in services marketing. Specific topic areas include the customer experience of service quality and service as a competitive advantage.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

A course that gives the student an overview and practical application of contemporary methods for gathering, analyzing, and preparing market research for use in marketing decision-making. It focuses on defining organizational information needs and designing appropriate research methods to obtain it. Specific topic areas include qualitative and quantitative research methods, secondary research, internal market intelligence systems, and data analysis.

4.5 Quarter Units

Prerequisite: MKT 302A

This capstone course provides the student with a clear understanding of the digital marketing arena. As global Business is constantly confronted with the need to participate and manage in a real-time digital environment, there is a need to take advantage of digital technologies as a tool that could be argued as a necessity for competitive survival and advantage. Students will learn about the importance of online marketing in multiple settings such as the web, and mobile as the underpinnings of the social media-driven digital delivery ecosystem. The student will investigate the impact of the platform culture and how this global landscape creates new and exciting target markets in this rapidly evolving digital economy.

Career Outlook

Data Source: The career outcomes data presented is sourced from Lightcast, which provides insights based on real-time job postings, public datasets, and analytics. Lightcast derives its data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES). While accurate and reliable, this data reflects general labor market trends and may not represent individual outcomes or specific local conditions. For more details on Lightcast’s methodology, visit their Data Overview.

The Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree will prepare you for careers such as:

  • Top Jobs in this field
  • Median Salary (USA)
  • JOB Openings (USA)
  • General and Operations Managers
  • $100,934 avg. salary (USA)
  • 373,566 job openings (past yr.) past year
Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.
Median Salary:
$100,934 annual +110% above US average
Job Openings:
373,566 past year
Salary Range:
  • Low
    $46,104
  • Medium
    $100,934
  • High
    $231,855

Most desired skills

  1. Operations Management
  2. Marketing
  3. Merchandising
  4. Finance
  5. Project Management
  6. Inventory Management
  7. Profit And Loss (P&L) Management

Top companies hiring for this role

  • Unclassified
  • CVS Health
  • AutoZone
  • Buckle
  • Walmart
  • Enterprise Rent-A-Car
  • Menards
  • Advertising and Promotions Managers
  • $120,175 avg. salary (USA)
  • 2,678 job openings (past yr.) past year
Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.
Median Salary:
$120,175 annual +150% above US average
Job Openings:
2,678 past year
Salary Range:
  • Low
    $57,756
  • Medium
    $120,175
  • High
    $270,387

Most desired skills

  1. Marketing
  2. Project Management
  3. Digital Advertising
  4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  5. Advertisement
  6. Digital Marketing
  7. Advertising Campaigns

Top companies hiring for this role

  • Unclassified
  • Amazon
  • Monster Beverage
  • Bowlero Corporation
  • Walmart
  • County Of San Mateo
  • Tiktok
  • Marketing Managers
  • $150,929 avg. salary (USA)
  • 42,175 job openings (past yr.) past year
Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.
Median Salary:
$150,929 annual +214% above US average
Job Openings:
42,175 past year
Salary Range:
  • Low
    $75,257
  • Medium
    $150,929
  • High
    $274,922

Most desired skills

  1. Marketing
  2. Product Management
  3. Project Management
  4. New Product Development
  5. Marketing Strategies
  6. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  7. Go-to-Market Strategy

Top companies hiring for this role

  • Unclassified
  • Amazon
  • Ford
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Lumen Technologies
  • Marriott International
  • Meta
  • Sales Managers
  • $134,000 avg. salary (USA)
  • 55,729 job openings (past yr.) past year
Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
Median Salary:
$134,000 annual +178% above US average
Job Openings:
55,729 past year
Salary Range:
  • Low
    $62,965
  • Medium
    $134,000
  • High
    $265,837

Most desired skills

  1. Marketing
  2. Sales Management
  3. Selling Techniques
  4. Business Development
  5. Sales Prospecting
  6. Customer Relationship Management
  7. Sales Strategy

Top companies hiring for this role

  • Unclassified
  • Marriott International
  • AutoZone
  • Hilton
  • Carter's
  • Wolters Kluwer
  • US Foods Holding
  • Project Management Specialists
  • $98,263 avg. salary (USA)
  • 94,949 job openings (past yr.) past year
Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. May serve as a point of contact for the client or customer.
Median Salary:
$98,263 annual +104% above US average
Job Openings:
94,949 past year
Salary Range:
  • Low
    $56,897
  • Medium
    $98,263
  • High
    $164,988

Most desired skills

  1. Project Management
  2. Construction
  3. Subcontracting
  4. Construction Management
  5. Project Schedules
  6. Project Planning
  7. Change Orders

Top companies hiring for this role

  • Unclassified
  • CDM Smith
  • Lumen Technologies
  • Deloitte
  • CBRE
  • Jacobs Solutions
  • Black & Veatch
  • Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
  • $73,732 avg. salary (USA)
  • 113,206 job openings (past yr.) past year
Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.
Median Salary:
$73,732 annual +53% above US average
Job Openings:
113,206 past year
Salary Range:
  • Low
    $38,717
  • Medium
    $73,732
  • High
    $144,521

Most desired skills

  1. Marketing
  2. Social Media
  3. Business Development
  4. Project Management
  5. Digital Marketing
  6. Customer Relationship Management
  7. Marketing Strategies

Top companies hiring for this role

  • Unclassified
  • Amazon
  • Ford
  • Cracker Barrel
  • Skechers
  • PayPal
  • Veralto

Program Learning Outcomes

Learn the key skills to help you excel in your field of study.

  • Understand key principles of behavior analysis, including terminology and foundational concepts
  • Apply behavior analytic techniques to design and implement effective interventions for behavior change
  • Develop behavior change programs that incorporate individualized strategies, data collection methods, and measurement systems.
  • Assess the ethical considerations involved in behavior analysis practices, including client rights and professional conduct.
  • Integrate knowledge and skill in the identification of the function of the behavior and the development of an intervention.
  • Collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary teams, including educators, psychologists, and healthcare professionals, to achieve behavior change goals.
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Admissions

Transfer Students Welcome

More about transferring to NU.

Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.

To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.

Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.

To speak with our admissions team, call (855) 355-6288 or request information and an advisor will contact you shortly. If you’re ready to apply, simply start your application today.

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Scholarships and Financial Aid

National University is dedicated to making higher education affordable, as well as accessible. Through NU scholarship offerings, eligible students are able to reduce the financial burden of college, start classes sooner, and finish their programs faster while focusing on achieving their goals.

Accreditations

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The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.

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Why National University?

We’re proud to be a Veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible, achievable higher education to adult learners.

Today, we educate students from across the U.S. and around the globe, with over 240,000 alumni worldwide.

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“National University has impacted my career. You can immediately apply what you learn in class to your business.”

Francisco R.,

Class of 2016

What makes a degree
with National University unique?

Free Tutoring Sessions

Access personalized tutoring sessions at no cost — empowering your learning.

Online

Flexibility meets quality education with our online learning option.

24/7 Support

Get assistance anytime, anywhere with our round-the-clock support services.

Military Friendly

Committed to serving those who serve — diverse resources and support for veterans and family. Military and Veteran Admissions.

Mentoring Network

Individual student and alumni career guidance, professional development opportunities, and customized career support.

Transfer Students Welcome

NU makes it easy to get your degree, even if you started it with another university. Learn more about transferring to NU.

Accelerate Your Career With NU

At National University, you’re part of a family. As a student, you’ll have the support of staff, faculty members, students, and alumni who will be there with you every step of the way, cheering you on as you pursue your goals.

Our network of 240,000 alumni is a large global community that provides our graduates with the professional connections to get a leg up in your new career.

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FAQs

NU’s BS in Marketing offers you a market-relevant path to understanding today’s ever-evolving marketplace and how to effectively generate interest in a company’s brand, products, and services. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, highly skilled marketing managers will be sought after for their advice on crafting pricing strategies and finding new ways to reach customers. About 35,300 openings for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers are projected by 2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations.*

* Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm#tab-6

NU’s online BS in Marketing program focuses on helping you develop a deep understanding of how to design, manage, and evaluate marketing campaigns for a company’s brands, products and services. As your body of knowledge develops, you’ll build sharply honed, market-relevant skills in communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and leadership. By the time you graduate, you’ll have what it takes to pursue a broad range of in-demand positions, including:

  • Advertising, Promotion, or Marketing Manager
  • Advertising Sales Agent
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Public Relations Manager
  • Sales Manager

As a marketing manager with industry-relevant training and skills, you’ll be in demand for positions with a median annual wage of $135,030, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $208,000.**

* Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm#tab-5

Program Disclosure

Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.

Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.

NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.

All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.

National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.

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