Marketing Undergraduate Programs
Majoring in Marketing at the Eller College
The Department of Marketing at the Eller College of Management provides a dynamic curriculum for students to develop the foundational skills necessary to be successful in a variety of exciting and versatile careers. With the expertise of innovative and award-winning faculty, our students leave the program as thought-leaders in their chosen industry.
The marketing student experience involves experiential learning built directly into the curriculum to provide valuable exposure to challenges related to the business world today. Students are offered a number of courses and electives that may help them shape their particular career interest and function.
Advising and Registration
Students must be admitted to the Eller College of Management professional phase in order to declare marketing as their major as well as take marketing courses. A pre-professional advisor will help you plan your coursework to meet the admission requirements of the Eller College and a marketing major advisor will advise you on core and elective requirements to complete your B.S.B.A. degree. All advising and registration issues are handled by Eller's Undergraduate Programs office.
Your Marketing Career Starts Here
More CEOs come from sales and marketing backgrounds than any other field. Marketing graduates often qualify for positions in product management, sales and sales management, retailing, advertising and promotion, marketing research, industrial marketing, distribution channels, and international marketing. We strongly encourage students to participate in internships during the summer following their junior year. Internships are extremely valuable and allow students to gain industry knowledge and experience. There are many career resources within the Eller College and the University that students can utilize to find an internship, position, or simply explore their options further.
Marketing Career Opportunities
Marketing Curriculum
The dynamic courses offered in the Marketing undergraduate program help students develop skills in marketing communications, product management, digital marketing and marketing policies and operations. Our versatile program prepares students for a multitude of careers in marketing.
Student Organizations
Students can also extend their knowledge learned by joining one of our many active and engaged student organizations. These organizations offer students professional and educational experiences such as Marketing Case and Advertising Competitions, the ability to work with local businesses to run advertising campaigns, and even working with University Athletic teams on promotions.
The Honors Thesis is a personalized experience that allows you to work one-on-one with a Marketing faculty member to produce a long-term, in-depth project in an area that you’re passionate about. The thesis may take any form appropriate to your discipline and approved by your advisor.
Because of the time commitment, students should designate a faculty advisor in the second semester of their junior year,. This is the person who will supervise the thesis and award the final grade.
The thesis is a two-semester commitment that demands a minimum of six units of work.
If you are unsure how to get started, email marketing@eller.arizona.edu to get in touch with our Honors Faculty Advisor who can help you!
Honors Contracts allow students to make individualized arrangements with instructors in order to earn Honors credit in non-honors courses. Contracts are intended to provide students with a more engaging experience that allows them to work closely with the instructor and explore course material in a personally meaningful way. The development of an Honors Contract should be a collaborative effort between the student and instructor, but all contract proposals must be submitted to the Honors College for review and approval.
Honors Contract due dates are dependent on the length of the class. All information, including your professor’s approval, is due by the appropriate submission deadline.
Please refer to the Honors College for additional Honors Contract Information & Deadlines.
Student Organizations
Students can also extend their knowledge learned by joining one of our many active and engaged student organizations. These organizations offer students professional and educational experiences such as Marketing Case and Advertising Competitions, the ability to work with local businesses to run advertising campaigns, and even working with University Athletic teams on promotions.
The American Marketing Association (AMA) is the largest organization serving marketing professionals in the world. The AMA sponsors collegiate chapters for those who are interested in entering the marketing profession upon graduation. The UA collegiate chapter typically meets one evening per week. The club has career workshops, guest speakers from different marketing professions, recruiters, philanthropic activities, and fund-raising activities. Select members also participate in the case competition and attend the national conference held each year in the spring in New Orleans, LA.
- For additional information contact the student chapter faculty advisor, Edward Ackerley at ackerley@email.arizona.edu
The American Marketing Association and the American Advertising Federation (AAF) both have collegiate case studies. AdTEAM is the group of students who compete in these national advertising competitions. The AMA is the recognized leader in marketing and the AAF is the world's largest organization for those in the advertising profession. AdTEAM engages interested students in activities throughout the school year including filed trips to explore advertising agencies, tours of local advertising agencies and media companies, advertising competitions (AMA Collegiate Challenge and the AAF NSAC), social activities and intimate gathering with advertising professionals. A dozen volunteer student members of the club are selected to compete each year in the AMA Collegiate Challenge and the AAF National Student Advertising Competition.
- For additional information contact the faculty advisor, Dr. Ed Ackerley, at ackerley@email.arizona.edu.
AdCats is the University of Arizona's first-ever, student-run advertising agency. We are committed to being the optimal link connecting the University of Arizona and the surrounding community. Our dynamic team of diverse individuals is dedicated to applying the skill, creativity and energy required to satisfy the needs of our clients. Our unique perspective will provide the communication solutions necessary to solve company needs. As students, the hands-on work experience collected through real-world opportunities serves as our principal reward.
Services offered include but are not limited to:
- Marketing / Advertising: Campaign creation, print media creative, brand strategy and market research
- Public Relations: Event planning, copywriting and community relations
- Interactive / Social Media: Interactive creative, social media campaigns and social media management
- To learn more, contact AdCats at AdCatsOnline@gmail.com.
The Sports Marketing Association (S.M.A.), founded in 1995, provides U of A students the opportunity to gain hands on experience in the sports marketing industry. Members work closely with Arizona Athletics to promote 20 NCAA Division I sports by developing marketing plans, executing game day promotions, and by volunteering during game day and community events. S.M.A. offers its members opportunities to learn from industry professionals through guest speakers and its annual career symposium. Our club meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm in the Arizona Stadium Club.
- For additional information visit: https://www.facebook.com/uofasma/ or contact us at sportsmarketingassociation@gmail.com
EPSC is all about business-to-business (B2B) consultative sales where students learn to how to find out what clients want and then determine if and how we can help them. High pressure B2C sales techniques don't work in B2B consultative sales. These consultative sales skills are used to win any job you have targeted and to become more persuasive, whether you are in sales or a different professional position. The EPSC is a club for students who want to learn how to market their skills to prospective employers and to sell their ideas to peers, prospects and superiors. ESPC is also a great way to build your resume. This club meets every Tuesday at 6:30pm to 8:30pm in McClelland Hall, room 113.
- For additional information visit: http://www.epsalesclub.com/
The RSIM is a premier undergraduate program in the Eller College Marketing Department that creates advanced opportunities for highly motivated and energized students wanting to gain invaluable leadership opportunities and skills. The Rising Stars in Marketing Program aims to provide exclusive learning and exposure to career opportunities for 30 high‐achieving marketing majors who desire to augment their learning beyond the regular curriculum. This elite, student‐focused program allows the Robert A. Eckert RSIM Scholars to build a strong cohort of like-minded scholars who will continue their involvement with the program beyond graduation to help improve the offerings of Eller Marketing for all future students.