The College of Charleston announces a new undergraduate major in the School of Business. Beginning in fall 2013, students will be able to major in marketing. The full major is an expansion of the current concentration in marketing and is designed to give graduates a stronger degree designation.

“The marketing major is a positive addition to our portfolio of business offerings that meet the demands of our students and the business community,” says Alan T. Shao, dean of the School of Business. “Demand for the new major is high, especially with 50 or 60 students already in the concentration. We anticipate even more students will enroll in the major.”

Graduates with a marketing major will be able to evaluate a firm’s operating environment, identify and help to sustain competitive advantages through marketing strategies, and ultimately generate superior value for customers and other stakeholders. Students will be able to design and optimize the marketing mix for a company or organization.

“As a College of Charleston business administration student, I took every marketing course offered and that foundation has served me well,” said Steve Warner, vice president of global marketing/regional competitiveness for the Charleston Regional Development Alliance. “As our region continues to grow and the creative industries continue to thrive, businesses need a workforce that is relevant and knowledgeable about the strategies of the workplace. This new marketing major is relevant and valuable to a wide variety of industry sectors, and reinforces that Charleston is a globally competitive location for business and talent.”

Students who choose to major in marketing will be required to take courses in marketing concepts, marketing research, consumer behavior, international marketing and marketing management. In addition, the elective courses include advertising, advertising campaigns, the business of television, professional selling, purchasing and supply chain management, sports marketing and social media marketing.

The faculty bring a range of marketing knowledge and experience to the classroom, including teaching, research and industry expertise.

“Many of our professors run their own businesses or product lines, have implemented major marketing campaigns and earned international recognition for their work,” Shao says.  “Students always appreciate their perspectives in the classroom.”

About the College
The College of Charleston is a public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart
of historic Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation’s top
universities for quality education, student life and affordability. With more than 11,000 students,
the College of Charleston offers the distinctive combination of a beautiful and historic campus,
modern facilities and cutting-edge programs.

About the School of Business
College of Charleston’s School of Business offers six undergraduate majors and several interdisciplinary concentrations, an honors program in business, an M.S. in Accountancy and an MBA.  Approximately 1800 undergraduate and graduate students attend from as far away as China, Germany and Brazil. The faculty has research expertise in areas such as global logistics, hospitality and tourism, political economics, financial investment, bankruptcy, business intelligence, real estate, and sustainable business practices. Visit http://sb.cofc.edu/to learn more about our students’ achievements, undergraduate and graduate programs, faculty and Centers of Excellence.