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Professional Sales and Marketing

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It's one of the most common jobs for students graduating with a sales degree — 60 percent of all business majors and 88 percent of all marketing majors begin their professional careers in a sales-related role. And that fast-paced, exciting journey begins here at Commonwealth University!

Degrees & Offerings
  • B.S.B.A.
Location
  • Bloomsburg
Department
College
Program Contact
Chair, Department of Technology, Business, and Marketing
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First of Its Kind in Pennsylvania

Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg was first named among the top North American schools in 2015 by the Sales Education Foundation’s (SEF) listing of the best universities offering professional sales education. We are one of only nine Pennsylvania institutions included in the listing. SEF recognizes institutions for elevating the sales profession through university education, helping you to secure the professional sales position you want and deserve.

Students also have the opportunity to test their skills at various national sales competitions and internally at the annual on-campus competition. In addition, one of the program requirements is to engage in real-world selling. Our sales graduates have had great success in the sales profession securing positions with many corporations.

Program Overview

Professional Sales Center Competition Members
  • National Recognition: Ranked as one of the Top Sales Programs in North America by the Sales Education Foundation. Commonwealth University is the only university in Pennsylvania and one of just 40 programs nationwide with full membership in the University Sales Center Alliance — a highly regarded consortium.
  • Professional Sales Lab: State-of-the-art, on-campus Professional Sales Lab which includes a role-play office with audio visual recording capabilities and sophisticated control center, along with an observation facility.
  • Applied Curriculum: Coursework driven by course-embedded projects, industry-leading software, simulations, and cases.
  • Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD): Sponsors executive panels, seminars, and a business conference to help students develop professional skills and network with alumni.

Course Delivery Format

  Bloomsburg

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Lock Haven

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

  Mansfield

  Face-to-Face
  Online
  Hybrid

Courses and Curriculum

To prepare for a BSBA in Professional Sales and Marketing, students take a combination of specialized business classes and round them out with general education courses.

Degree Requirements

  Degree Progress: Enrolled students can review program requirements and track progress toward degree completion using the university’s degree audit and advising tool, Degree Works.

Students completing the program should possess the critical thinking, problem solving, and technical skills to be able to:

  1. Identify and explain the various steps of the personal selling process.
  2. Demonstrate effective sales presentations and the professional selling skills needed to deliver them.
  3. Explain the process of researching and identifying customer needs, understanding the customer buying behavior and process, consulting with customers, and offering solutions to their needs and problems.
  4. Explain the key functions of the sales management process including the recruitment, selection, training, motivation, evaluation, and compensation of the sales force.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of marketing.
  6. Apply quantitative marketing techniques.
  7. Identify the elements of international marketing.
  8. Ability to solve and communicate solutions to applied marketing problems.

Our accelerated MBA pathway allows students from any major to use MBA classes towards upper-level undergraduate coursework. Eligibility requirements and program details are available on the MBA program page.

ZIPD Business Conference

Accelerated MBA Program

Start your MBA your senior year through the Accelerated MBA program, which allows students from any major to use MBA classes towards upper-level undergraduate coursework. Students can choose from one of seven concentrations: Accounting, Analytics, Healthcare Management, Leadership and Human Resources, Marketing, Strategic Global Decisions, and a Build-Your-Own option.

 

A Bachelor’s degree lets you hit the ground running. An MBA helps you climb.

Learn More
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High Impact Practices

Professional Engagement

Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg is a full member of the University Sales Center Alliance (USCA). We are one of 40 full members in the country and the only university in Pennsylvania recognized with full membership. To qualify as a member, a sales program must meet specific criteria including a specified curriculum, a sales lab, a director, an active sales advisory board, and participation in sales competitions.

The USCA is a consortium of sales centers connecting faculty members with many different backgrounds and areas of expertise. Together, these credible and innovative educators advocate for the continuing advancement of the sales profession through teaching, research, and outreach.

ONWARD AND UPWARD

SEF Top Sales Program icon
SEF Top Sales Program
The Sales Education Foundation has recognized Commonwealth University as a Top Sales Program

Careers

Career options may include:

Potential Job Opportunities

  • Sales Representative
  • Account Executive
  • Inside Sales Representative
  • Regional Sales Director
  • Strategic Growth Partner
  • Digital Marketing Coordinator
  • Account Manager
  • Sales Analyst
  • Marketing Specialist
  • Sales Manager
  • Vice President of Sales

Continue to Explore

Professional Sales Student Experience Photo Album
A headshot of a man.

“Graduating with a Sales degree from Bloomsburg was quite frankly the best decision of my professional career. The program prepared me for real life professional sales scenarios and put me far ahead of the competition in my job search. Once I began my first job, I separated from the pack and I credit that to the education provided from the Sales professors at Bloomsburg.”

Jacob Carelle
Professional Sales
A headshot of a man.
From classroom to closing deals, this professional sales and marketing major turned every pitch, presentation, and handshake into a launchpad — landing a full-time sales job before graduation.

Price of Doing Business

From classroom to closing deals, this professional sales and marketing major turned every pitch, presentation, and handshake into a launchpad — landing a full-time sales job before graduation.

Read Article

Professional Sales and Marketing Contacts

Monica

Monica Favia

  • Chair, Department of Technology, Business, and Marketing
  • Bloomsburg
Ronda Mariani

Ronda Mariani

  • MBA Program Director and Professor of Marketing
  • Bloomsburg
Michael

Michael Huben

  • Associate Professor of Marketing and Professional Sales/Professional U Fellow
  • Bloomsburg
CommonwealthU University Employee

Jung Kim

  • Professor of Marketing and Professional Sales
  • Bloomsburg
CommonwealthU University Employee

Thomas Tanner

  • Associate Professor of Marketing and Professional Sales, Assistant Chair of the Department of Technology, Business, and Marketing
  • Bloomsburg

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