A sales career combines aspects of marketing, advertising and public relations in order to promote and vend products and services. Learn about degree levels, commonly offered courses and the career outlook.
What Types of Degree Programs Can I Choose From?
Although some programs are devoted exclusively to sales, education in this field is most often available through of a business major. Similar concentrations are fashion retailing, marketing, advertising or business communications. You can choose from associate's, bachelor's or master's degrees.
Associate's degrees last two years and cover such topics as public relations, speaking skills and introductory marketing principles. Bachelor's degrees last four years and expand on these topics while exploring advanced areas like e-commerce and distribution. Master's degrees may last 1-3 years depending on the program itself and the pace you choose; they most often result in a Master of Business Administration. At all levels, you prepare to work with companies and clients to help build their brand, market products or services and expand their customer base.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Levels</b></td><td>Associate, bachelor's and master's</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Course Topics</b></td><td>Merchandising, marketing research, human psychology, consumer behavior</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Program Format</b></td><td>On campus or online</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Career Options</b></td><td>Sales manager, advertising agent, sales engineer, marketing manager</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhatKindOfCoursesWillITake">What Kind of Courses Will I Take?</h3><p>Courses vary by school, degree title and program level; for example, business or marketing programs may only have a few classes dedicated entirely to sales while a fashion retailing program slant courses toward this particular industry. However, a few common topics are:
</p><ul><li>Economics
</li><li>Consumer behavior
</li><li>Business ethics
</li><li>Marketing research
</li><li>Human psychology
</li><li>Merchandising
</li></ul><h3 id="section---CanIFindTheseDegreeProgramsOnline">Can I Find These Degree Programs Online?</h3><p>Entire programs are most widely available online for the field of marketing, rather than sales. Some business programs include sales courses that can be taken online even if the program isn't wholly available through distance learning. At all degree levels, there are a variety of ways to learn sales-related training through education options that are Web-based.
</p><h2 id="section---WhatCanIDoWithMyDegree">What Can I Do With My Degree?</h2><p>With a degree in sales, you can enter positions such as sales manager, sales worker supervisor, advertising agent, sales engineer and marketing manager; advanced positions may require several years of entry-level experience. Although these professionals are needed in almost every industry, common places of employment include automobile manufacturers, supply retailers, computer services and advertising agencies.
</p><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary of a sales manager was $132,290 as of May 2020 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The same source reported that employment opportunities for sales managers are expected to rise 4% from 2019 to 2029.</p>
