Program Overview

Marketing Major (MKT)

Marketing consists of three significant interlocking activities:

• understanding consumers along with their wants and unfilled needs;
• developing improved products and services that meet the identified needs of consumers; and
• communicating the benefits of the improved products and services through advertising, public relations, promotion and effective salesmanship.

Courses offered within this unit prepare students to provide marketing leadership and assume a variety of career paths, including field sales, brand management, marketing communications, store management, marketing research, social media, and digital marketing.

Students in the Marketing major have the option to complete the International Business concentration, in conjunction with a bachelor's degree in a foreign language as part of the International Business (IB) dual-degree program. Students must be separately admitted to the International Business concentration.

PGA Golf Management Concentration (PGM)

The PGA Golf Management Program is the second oldest PGA Golf Management Program program accredited by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA). The Program prepares graduates for careers as Class A PGA Professionals at golf courses and other industry businesses. A PGA Professional must have a broad assortment of marketing, management and other business-related skills to be effective in the golf profession. The PGA Golf Management Program is a demanding four and one half year curriculum.

The 4 ½ year program leads to a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in marketing. In addition to the requirements for a degree in marketing, students must complete the PGA Golf Management requirements as well as complete the PGA/PGM education curriculum (provided by the PGA) that includes subject matter in facility management and teaching & coaching the game of golf. Students must also complete a minimum of 16 months of co-op under the guidance of the MSU Cooperative Education Program. These work experiences are under the tutelage of Class A PGA Professionals throughout the country. Students are required to be continuously enrolled at MSU as full-time students or in the MSU Cooperative Education Program according to their co-op schedule. Those who complete the program thus earn a prestigious degree, and upon eligible employment, membership in the PGA of America.