Professional Sales Majors
A bachelor's degree in professional sales can lead to work as part of a sales team or as a sales force manager. Read on to learn about common courses, skills taught, futhering education, and career options.
What Will I Study in a Professional Sales Bachelor's Degree Program?
You will learn many facets of professional selling, through courses in sales techniques, negotiation tactics and sales territory management. Within these courses, you will develop techniques in areas such as customer follow-up, which involves effectively nurturing sales leads. You will also be trained in current issues and trends in domestic and international sales.
In addition, you will learn management techniques as they pertain broadly to business and more specifically to running a sales team. More general business topics may be covered as well, including accounting, marketing, microeconomics and macroeconomics. Many programs include internships or other hands-on training in which you can gain practical experience in a professional sales environment.
| Common Courses | Sales techniques, negotiation tactics, sales territory management. |
| Key Skills | Management techniques, accounting |
| Continuing Education | MBA and Ph.D in business administration |
| Possible Career Industries | Advertising, insurance, real estate |
| Job Outlook (2019-2029) | 4% growth (for sales managers)* |
| Median Salary (2020) | $132,290 (for sales managers)* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
What Graduate Programs Are Related to This Degree?
The most common graduate degree you can pursue related to professional sales is a Master of Business Administration (MBA). An MBA may be right for you if you are interested in advancing into a more senior leadership position requiring well-developed business skills. These degrees often include concentrations in sales or related areas, such as marketing and advertising. You may pursue graduate education related to the industry in which you work, such as a master's degree in risk management if you are in insurance sales. You can also find Ph.D. programs available in business administration; these are primarily pursued by those interested in research and teaching at a college or university.
What Can I Do With This Degree?
If you major in professional sales, you will have many possible industries in which you can work. Among the most common are advertising, insurance, pharmaceuticals and real estate. This may include work for local businesses, national businesses or multinational businesses. You may work in consumer-focused sales or in business-to-business sales. With professional sales training, you may be qualified for both direct sales positions and leadership roles in which you may manage a company's sales force.