Marketing is one of the fastest-growing fields in business.  Businesses of various sizes employ marketing specialists to handle advertising and public relations. Advertising, public relations, sales, marketing research, retailing, and product development are all areas of marketing. Marketing management positions are especially attractive. Marketing managers work with business executives, sales directors, art directors, and financial managers to promote interest in a business and its products.

SAU’s Retailing track gives students a broad knowledge of marketing while allowing them to take courses that are especially relevant to retail managers.

Topics Covered

In the first two years, students take a broad range of classes both in the Rankin College of Business and across campus. Upper-level courses focus on developing expertise in the marketing field.

• Students in the Marketing Retailing track take Retailing, Supply Chain Management, and Integrated Marketing Communications as well as the Consumer Behavior, Marketing Research, and Marketing Management courses required of all marketing majors.
• Elective options include Free Enterprise Studies and Projects, Selling and Sales Management, Social Media for Business, Human Resource Management, and a variety of other upper-level IS, Management, and Marketing Courses.
• Students are encouraged to obtain internships related to their career plans.
• Students are assigned to advisors who are members of the RCB marketing faculty to help with class scheduling, professional mentoring, and career placement.

Marketing Careers

The Rankin College of Business has a strong record of job placement for graduates in all fields. Marketing majors from any of the tracks can choose from a number of careers, including marketing management, retailing, sales, and advertising. SAU marketing alumni currently work in upper-level positions at prestigious firms such as Discover, Wal-Mart and Advantage Marketing Group.

Alumni Profiles

• Mia Hyman (BBA 2017, MBA 2017) Hospitality, Marketing and Sales Operations, The Burgandy Hotel
• Madison Peppers (BBA 2017) Sales Representative, Arkansas Beverage Sales
• Megan Godsill (BBA 2013) Marketing Representative, Philadelphia Insurance Company
• Kelly Waller-Sawyer (BBA 2001) District Sales Representative, Ben E. Keith food service distributors
• Robert Duncan (BBA 2001) Retail Merchandise Planner At Walmart Corporate
• Joel Parrish (BBA 2001) Director of Product Development and Outdoor Living, Walmart Stores, Inc
• Rebecca Grafton Ray (BBA 1995) Business Owner: Khaki’s: A Men’s Store, Sara’s

Student Engagement

• Client-Based Classroom Projects: In Integrated Marketing Communication and Marketing Research courses, students work with actual businesses to develop advertising and communication campaigns, perform marketing research, and develop marketing plans. Many of these businesses are clients of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Center.
• Student organizations like Phi Beta Lambda, ENACTUS, Emerging Entrepreneurs, the Finance and Economics Society, and the Business Student Investment Advisory Council provide opportunities for fun, leadership, and networking
• Guest lectures and workshops conducted by business professionals and recognized speakers
• Student travel both within and outside the region and the US: Recent trips included tours of financial institutions in New York and Chicago, advertising agencies in Dallas and Chicago, and Arkansas businesses like Walmart, Tyson, and J.B. Hunt and international destinations such as Costa Rica.
• The Arkansas Small Business Development and Technology Center is located on the first floor of the business building. The center offers seminars and other resources that are free to students and houses the Entrepreneurship Center.

Faculty Expertise

The Rankin College of Business is AACSB certified. All upper-level professors are required to hold doctorates from AACSB-certified universities or to have significant professional experience in the areas in which they teach.

• SAU’s marketing instructors bring professional experience as well as academic training to the classroom.
• Instructors have work experience in retail, sales, advertising and promotion.

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