Marketing (BSBA) - Sales

About

Professional selling remains the second largest occupational category in the American workforce. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the U.S. will add nearly 2 million new sales jobs by 2020. In response to such trends, Appalachian State University offers a marketing major with a sales concentration, as well as minors in professional selling/sales for business and non-business majors.

Housed in the Walker College of Business Department of Marketing, this major prepares graduates to begin careers with a solid foundation in business and specialized knowledge in sales and marketing. Students learn to drive industry initiatives that develop customer satisfaction, generate company revenues and build connections with suppliers, distributors and the community.

After Graduation

Employment: Recent employers include Aerotek, Neill TSP/Avayda, E&J Gallo, Ferguson, Hershey, Hilti, memoryBlue, Red Ventures, Sanofi Pasteur, TekSystems, Tom James, Total Quality Logistics, Travelers Insurance, Prism Medical and United Rentals, CBS Sports Radio, E&J Gallo, Ralph Lauren, State Farm, Disney, GEICO, Red Ventures and Target.

People

Alumnus Profile: Mike Moret ’15
“The professional selling class was a game changer for my sales career – I’ve become the top sales performer in my company program. It all comes so naturally after taking the course.” – Mike Moret, sales associate at United Rentals
Alumna Profile: Gabby Khoury ’17
“I would recommend Appalachian to anyone, especially if they are pursuing a marketing degree. … Every professor I had at Appalachian impacted me positively in some way, but the professors in the marketing department truly prepared me for my upcoming career with Cisco.”
– Gabby Khoury ’17, associate sales representative

Courses

In addition to a 53-hour business core, key marketing courses include:

Professional Selling
Sales Management
Advanced Sales Technique
Integrated Marketing Communications
Managing Distribution Channels
Business-to-Business Buying Behavior
Marketing Research

Minors

Many marketing students choose management or supply chain management in the Walker College of Business or public relations in the Department of Communication as a second field of study along with marketing coursework.

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

American Marketing Association– The largest marketing association in North America, this professional association is for individuals and organizations involved in the practice of teaching and study of marketing worldwide. The Appalachian chapter of AMA is the only professional marketing club on campus and is open to all majors.
Pi Sigma Epsilon – The only national, coeducational, professional fraternity organization in sales, marketing and management. Its mission is to develop the skills of its members through experiential learning and professional opportunities.

Global Learning

Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.

All business students fulfill an international requirement, and an increasing number choose to study abroad through a wide variety of exchange programs. The college maintains partnerships with universities across the globe and continues to expand groundbreaking opportunities in emerging markets.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for declaring a major within the Walker College of Business are detailed here.

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Degrees

Why Appalachian?

Students benefit from projects guided by professional mentors, participation in sales role plays, competitions, internships and employer relationships.
Appalachian’s marketing students frequently compete in regional and national events, such as the National and International Collegiate Sales Competitions.
Appalachian is pursuing associate membership in the University Sales Center Alliance and a Professional Sales Center; developing a N.C.-based sales competition to give more students experience with and feedback on sales calls; and creating a Professional Value Creation Certificate to be earned by meeting specific academic and non-academic benchmarks.
Expert faculty members provide functional business knowledge and practical application of marketing principles.
The BB&T Student Leadership Center offers consultation to all business majors on choosing a career, preparing for interviews and exploring internships and employment.

Method of Delivery

On campus only

Contacts

Walker College of Business

Department of Marketing

James E. Stoddard
Chair
stoddardje@appstate.edu
828-262-6191

Department of Marketing
The Department of Marketing focuses on academic excellence, providing functional business knowledge, and the practical application of marketing principles.

Walker College of Business
Accredited and well ranked
- Accredited by AACSB International – the premier global accrediting body for schools of business – since 1976. It is among only one-third of U.S. business schools and 15 percent of business programs worldwide that hold this accreditation.
- Consistently named one of “The Best Business Schools” by The Princeton Review.
Global Emphasis
- An international requirement of all business majors, which can include study abroad in traditional and emerging markets.
- Opportunities to participate in a variety of short-term international programs in locations throughout the world which are open to all business majors and designed to develop international business skills and intercultural knowledge – including the Holland Fellows Program for Business Study in Asia, which provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for selected students to collaborate with students from Fudan University in Shanghai, China.
- The annual Global Opportunities Conference each spring, which highlights innovative and entrepreneurial ways of addressing global challenges.
Highlighting Sustainability
- Leaders in creating a world where environmental, societal and economic qualities exist in balance to meet the resource needs of today and of future generations.
Outstanding Academics
- Small classes and easy access to faculty, who are focused on teaching and learning and engaged in research.
- An emphasis on practical experience and interaction with professionals through the Boyles Lecture Series, McLeod Entrepeneur Summit, Global Opportunities Conference and other annual events.
- Accelerated Admission for select MBA programs
Student Support Services
- Student Support Services that include academic advising, scholarships, the BB&T Student Leadership Center, which provides opportunities for business students to build job and life skills through professional and leadership development training, and the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, which aims to help students and recent alumni launch successful businesses and enhance Western North Carolina’s economy.