Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Marketing

College of Distinction award
Did you know that one in five presidents or CEOs of America’s top 500 companies were marketing majors in college?
Whether you want to climb the corporate ladder, promote a cause, or enter politics, a BS in Marketing degree from Gwynedd Mercy University will prepare you to succeed.

You'll learn about consumer behavior, psychological influences in buying decisions, and ways to attract, maintain, and grow your consumer base through traditional and digital marketing tools and strategies.

You also will explore market research and analytics, advertising, international marketing, and other areas that open the door to opportunities in the diverse and growing marketing field.

Program Details

At GMercyU, we redefine strategic marketing education by emphasizing a holistic understanding of its interconnectedness with other vital business functions such as finance, management, and leadership. Our Bachelor of Science (BS) in Marketing recognizes the continual digital transformation and the importance of traditional marketing realms. We explore website, social, and mobile strategies along with traditional channels that prepare you for a comprehensive marketing skill set.

  • Our small class sizes allow for personalized attention and greater opportunity to engage with your professors and peers.

  • A curriculum taught by professors with extensive industry experience enriches the learning experience and allows students to benefit from insights from some of the world’s most iconic brands. (There are no teaching assistants at GMercyU!)

  • A mandatory internship ensures you gain experience before graduating, enhancing your employability.

  • Our value-based education, rooted in the Sisters of Mercy, prioritizes values such as compassion, social justice, and service to others that are integrated throughout our marketing curriculum to emphasize fair business practices, sustainability, and social responsibility.

  • The Griffin Edge will help you connect the dots between your GMercyU experiences and your future aspirations, so you can ace future job interviews and launch a successful career.

  • Griffin Student Leadership Institute, designed to develop effective leaders who are also empathetic and ethical.
We encourage students to think critically, communicate effectively, and consider the broader implications of marketing decisions.

Empowering our students with actionable, skill-building experience:
  • Opportunity to earn industry endorsements such as Salesforce Badges, Foundational Google Ads, and Google Marketing Platform certifications, along with industry social media, inbound, and AI certifications to enhance and differentiate your knowledge

  • Assignments that provide hands-on experience using industry-standard tools, empowering you to amplify your learning and career readiness

  • Honing essential skills employers value, such as critical thinking, communication, and adaptability in a rapidly changing landscape

  • Participate in a marketing capstone project for presentation at a university-wide research conference

4+1 MBA Degree Option
Apply for this option during your junior year
Gwynedd Mercy University makes it easy for our business graduates to earn an advanced degree. With GMercyU's 4+1 MBA program option, students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can earn both a bachelor of science (BS) degree in marketing and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) in just five years.

Skip the grad school entrance exams by taking graduate credits during your senior year – as part of your undergraduate tuition – and then seamlessly completing your MBA the following year. 


Digital Communications Concentration
Boost your own marketability with more resume-building skills. This concentration’s courses span digital analytics, mobile content creation, and strategies for digital and social media. You’ll learn how to develop multimedia content for the web and social media, and you’ll have the opportunity to become certified in Google Analytics.

With this concentration, you’ll not only be prepared for a career in marketing, but also for jobs that include enhancing a company’s internal and external communications. You’ll be equipped to help manage and grow a company’s presence on social media and other digital outlets.

While these skills are invaluable for nearly any business, those with a background in marketing with digital communications typically work in website development, advertising, public relations, or marketing, as well as video production and computer animation.

In addition to general education courses, business marketing degree students complete the following:

Business Core - 33 credits

BUS 101 Business Theory
ECN 102 Microeconomics
ECN 103 Macroeconomics
ACC 105 Principles of Accounting I
BUS 205 Principles of Management
BUS 209 Business Statistics I
BUS 212 International Business
BUS 213 Human Resources and Professional Communication
BUS 214 Business Law and Ethics
BUS 310 Principles of Finance
BUS 4000 Seminar: Business Policies and Strategies


Marketing Core - 24 credits

MKT 207 Principles of Marketing
MKT 305 CRM Technology and Strategy
MKT 333 Integrated Marketing Communications
MKT 334 Consumer and Buyer Behavior
MKT 410 Marketing and Digital Media
MKT 438 Social Media Marketing
MKT 441 Marketing Internship
MKT 4000 Marketing Research and Analytics Capstone
Marketing Electives - 
(choose 2) 6 credits
MKT 322 Professional Selling
SPMT 351 Strategic Sport Marketing
BUS 340 Business Statistics II
MKT 437 Special Topics in Marketing (with advisor approval)
COMD 206 Public Relations

Digital Communications - 6credits

COMD 200 Digital Analytics & Visual
COMD 300 Online Content and Search Engine Optimization


Credit Requirements

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Undergraduate Minors
Increase the value of your marketing degree by adding an undergraduate minor that best suits your personal and professional goals.

Here’s a closer look at just a few of classes you can take as a marketing major.

MKT-305 CRM Technology & Strategy (3 credits)
Customer Managed Relationship (CMR) marketing puts the customer and their preferences at the forefront of how corporations conduct business. Operational, analytic, and collaborative systems allow departments to communicate effectively with consumers and build relationships. Throughout this course, students will utilize Salesforce, an industry-leading CRM software platform, to source, manage, and employ relevant information to engage a target audience.

MKT-333 Integrated Marketing Comm (3 credits)
With technological advances and the onslaught of information, how do brands begin to differentiate themselves and build an identifiable presence? Through integrated marketing communications, marketers can successfully target their audience, provide relevant messages, and drive increased engagement with consistent branding. In this course, students will examine the offline and online promotional mix of advertising, digital media, public relations, and sales promotions from an integrative view of targeting, planning, executing, and analyzing. Students will culminate their learning by developing an integrated advertising plan for their chosen enterprise and the opportunity to complete HubSpot Digital Advertising Certification.

MKT-410 Marketing & Digital Media (3 credits)
Digital technology has changed how consumers search for information, buy products and services, and interact with companies daily. These technologies also provide firms with abundant data, allowing them to connect with their consumers in myriad ways through multiple platforms. Through a case analysis approach, this course will cover outbound marketing, inbound marketing, mobile technology, privacy, and metrics to assess the effectiveness of digital campaigns. Students will obtain professional certification and create a digital marketing plan.

For all marketing program course descriptions, please refer to the undergraduate catalog.

In addition to courses that dive deeply into all major facets of marketing, GMercyU’s Marketing program also helps you learn the connection between marketing and other areas of successful business by offering you a foundation in the following:

  • Finance
  • Economics
  • Operations Management
  • Business Law and Ethics
  • Organizational Theory and Behavior

Melissa Dennis
Melissa Dennis, DBA
Position:
Assistant Professor, Marketing
Did You Know?
Dr. Dennis spent 15 years working for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products in customer relationship and customer engagement, supporting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Vacation Club, and the Disney Cruise line businesses.
Read bio

Margaret Rakus
Margaret Rakus, EdD
Position:
Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Marketing and Digital Communications programs
Did You Know? Dr. Rakus has held industry positions in marketing and public relations. She holds certifications in Tableau, Hootsuite, Google Analytics, Google AdWords, and more.
Read bio
 

Maddie Herman, MsEd
Maddie Herman, MsEd
Position: 
Instructor and Program Coordinator, Sport Management
Did You Know? 
Herman has worked for the Philadelphia 76er's and Wells Fargo Center, and ran GMercyU's Intramurals and Recreation program.
Read bio

 

Alan Harper, MBA, PhD
Alan Harper, MBA, PhD

Position: Assistant Dean of the School of Business and Education; Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Finance and Management programs
Did You Know? Dr. Harper has 20 years of management experience and has published more than 15 peer-reviewed articles.
Read bio

Luigi Corrado, Jr., CPA, MT
Position: 
Professor of Practice and Program Coordinator, Accounting
Did You Know? 
Professor Corrado spent nearly 20 years in the accounting industry as a financial statement auditor, corporate controller, and senior consultant with a variety of firms.  
Read bio

Real-World Opportunities

The Griffin Edge is comprised of five touchpoints -- Excellence, Engagement, Experience, Empathy, and Encouragement -- that become the cornerstones of your Distinctive Mercy Experience as a full-time undergraduate student.

The Griffin Edge includes an e-portfolio for documenting your GMercyU educational and extracurricular experiences (no matter your major), reflecting on those experiences, and receiving feedback from faculty. It's designed to help you take ownership of your educational journey and chart the right career path for you. It will also help you learn how to talk about your college experiences in meaningful ways — and that can make all the difference in a job interview. 

For example, a student might say in a job interview: "I conducted research at the undergraduate level." 

A Griffin Edge student might say: "The opportunity to conduct my own research alongside expert faculty taught me the importance of being exact in my data collection and analysis. I was even able to present my findings at our annual research conference! I know this is the career for me."

Learn more about the Griffin Edge here.

To make your transition from the classroom to the workplace as smooth as possible, GMercyU requires marketing majors to complete a relevant internship during their junior or senior year. Not only will you gain valuable networking connections and relevant work experience for your resume, your internship might land you a full-time position after you graduate.

GMercyU marketing students have recently completed internships at these organizations and more:

  • American Pool Service
  • Art of Living Print Media
  • Back on My Feet
  • Educere
  • MMIT (Managed Markets Insight & Technology)
  • Radius Health
  • Source One
  • The Disney Company

Part of our marketing degree's appeal is its versatility. You'll be qualified for an entry-level position in an array of careers. And with employment growth rate faster than the national average (per the Bureau of Labor Statistics), you’ll enter a field with opportunity. Here’s a look at a few specific career paths.

Top Jobs for Marketing Majors

Marketing Manager
Description: These professionals play a critical role in business, inspiring interest in services or products, identifying potential new customers, developing pricing strategies, monitoring market trends, and more.
Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree
Average Salary: The median annual wage in the U.S. is $138,730.*
*Source

Marketing Research Analyst
Description: Studying the market, marking research analysts collect and analyze data to help companies understand what consumers want and what they’re willing to pay for those products or services.
Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree
Average Salary: The median annual wage in the U.S. is $68,230.
*Source

Sales Manager
Description: A sales manager oversees a company’s sales team, from hiring and managing staff to designating sales goals, and they are responsible for their team’s success. These positions often require travel.
Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree
Average Salary: The median annual wage in the U.S. is $130,600.
*Source

More Possible Careers for Marketing Majors

  • Advertising and promotions manager
  • Brand manager
  • Chief marketing officers (CMO)
  • Communications assistant
  • Creative director
  • Digital marketing specialist
  • Email marketer
  • International marketing specialist
  • Marketing analyst
  • Marketing assistant
  • Marketing coordinator
  • Marketing director
  • Marketing planner
  • Marketing specialist
  • Meeting, convention, and event planner
  • Mobile marketing specialist
  • Product manager
  • Public relations manager
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) manager
  • Sales representative
  • Social media marketing specialist
  • Vice president of marketing

*Some of these careers may require additional education or certifications. This is only a partial list and not meant to limit you.

At GMercyU, we’ve designed our marketing degree with the goals of giving marketing majors the best student experience possible for future career success.

Emma Spangler '23
Emma Spangler '23

As a marketing major, Emma loves the support she receives from GMercyU's business faculty, and that her classes teach real-world skills. The skills she learned in her Digital Analytics course helped her land an internship with a marketing company called Partner Centric.

"After my internship was over, I was offered the position to stay with them as an internal support specialist in the affiliate marketing field. The work I do is essentially what my class in digital analytics was all about," said Emma, who is currently working for Partner Centric while she finishes her degree. 

Learn more about Emma's experience.

Read more Griffin Success Stories.

Did You Know? Marketing majors earn certifications like Google Analytics, Google Ad Display, and Social Media Marketing— and have a 100% pass rate!

Next Steps

Have you already earned college-level credits at other institutions or accounting colleges? GMercyU makes it easy for you to transfer your credits. Learn how on our Transfer Credits page.

In addition, GMercyU offers dual admissions agreements with Bucks County Community College and Montgomery County Community College — as well as the following articulation agreements.

Bucks County Community College
AA business administration to BS in marketing

Delaware County Community College
AS business administration to BS in marketing

Harcum College
AS business administration to BS in marketing

Manor College
AS business administration to BS in marketing

Have questions about GMercyU's admissions requirements? Our Admissions Staff is ready to walk you through the process of applying or transferring to GMercyU’s Marketing program.

Email: admissions@gmercyu.edu
Phone: 215-641-5510

Apply now

At GMercyU, we strive to make a quality education accessible to all through financial aid, scholarships, and grants. As a military-friendly university, we welcome service members and participate in all VA educational benefits programs. 

Get the education you need for an exciting career in marketing. 

Apply now



The BS in marketing program at GMercyU is accredited through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).