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Bachelor of Science inMarketing

Program summary

Learn to apply consumer behavior science to market research and strategy with this AACSB–accredited online degree program that blends traditional marketing with new and innovative industry methods in exciting course work.

Application deadline

Apply by June 30 to start August 26

Credits and costs

120 Credits$626/$671 per credit

Nationally Recognized

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Our bachelor's degrees are highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

An Online Degree in Marketing from Penn State

Penn State's AACSB–accredited Bachelor of Science in Marketing blends the disciplines of traditional marketing with new trends to deliver a learning experience that is both comprehensive and innovative. This program, offered through World Campus in partnership with Penn State Harrisburg, can provide you with the in-depth knowledge to develop results-oriented strategic marketing plans for any organization. Whether you are just starting or you are ready to complete your degree, you can earn a highly respected credential from the leader in online education.

AACSB–Accredited Online 

Taught by doctoral faculty with real-world corporate marketing experience, Penn State’s marketing program features in-depth course work to help you understand how businesses operate and how their institutions and functions work together for business success.

This program is AACSB Accredited

The Penn State Bachelor of Science in Marketing is also one of only a handful of marketing programs available online accredited by AACSB, an honor reserved for the top 5% of all business programs worldwide. An internationally recognized symbol of excellence, this accreditation tells future employers that you have successfully completed a stringent, analytical, and comprehensive marketing degree program designed to make you an effective marketing professional.

You will also have the opportunity to become a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Gamma, the international premier business student honor society recognized as the "Best in Business."

Your Online Marketing Courses

The program will prepare you for a successful marketing career in the manufacturing and service industries as well as in the not-for-profit and public sectors. Your marketing studies will include course work in retailing, advertising and sales promotion, marketing management, research, e-commerce, and more. To appreciate how businesses operate, you will also complete business-focused courses in such disciplines as business strategy, supply chain, and finance. A final capstone project allows you to leverage your skills to research and develop a fully integrated strategic marketing plan.

Upon graduation, you should be able to:

  • understand the concepts and techniques of marketing as they apply to modern organizations
  • apply your knowledge in the different environments in which marketing programs, plans, and strategies are formulated and implemented
  • use the analytical tools necessary to assist brick-and-mortar and online marketing operations of companies
  • develop and carry out a marketing plan for an organization
  • effectively evaluate the impact and implications of relevant business functions and develop an integrative, interdisciplinary appreciation of business situations, problems, and solutions

Courses

The Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree is a 120-credit program.

The number of credits you may need to complete will vary according to the courses you may have previously completed and transfer into the degree program. Once you are admitted into the degree program, an assigned academic adviser will help you outline your requirements and an academic plan.

Courses cover a wide range of marketing topics, including:

• business-to-business marketing
• consumer behavior
• global marketing
• marketing techniques for electronic commerce
• advertising and sales promotion
• services marketing
• marketing research

Prescribed Courses (46 credits)

  • 4
    credits

    Introduction to the role of accounting numbers in the process of managing a business and in investor decision-making.

    • Prerequisite

      MATH 21 or 1.5 units of high school algebra

  • 3
    credits

    Business organizations and the sociocultural environment; current issues; corporate responsibility; international and multinational business environments.

    • Prerequisite

      ENGL 202D and MGMT 301

  • 3
    credits

    Interpretation of business concepts in the analysis of problems related to the successful management of a company, institution, or organization.

    • Prerequisite

      FIN 301 and MGMT 301 and MKTG 301W

  • 3
    credits

    Methods of economic analysis and their use; price determination; theory of the firm; distribution.

  • 3
    credits

    National income measurement; aggregate economic models; money and income; policy problems.

    • GS

      The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) requirement.

  • 3
    credits

    Writing reports and other common forms of business communication.

    • Prerequisite

      ENGL 15 or ENGL 30

    • Note

      A student may take only one course for credit from ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, and 202D.

  • 3
    credits

    Nature of finance function; risk and return concepts; working capital; dividend policies; mergers; security markets; acquisition and management of corporate capital; analysis of operations; forecasting capital requirements; raising capital; and planning profits. Available to baccalaureate students only.

    • Prerequisite

      (ENGL 15 or ENGL 30) and ACCTG 211 and (ECON 102 or ECON 104) and (SCM 200 or STAT 200)

  • 3
    credits

    Study of fundamental principles and processes available to the understanding of management.

    • Prerequisite

      (ENGL 15 or ENGL 30) and (ECON 102 or ECON 104) and (MATH 021 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination)

  • 3
    credits

    Provides an overview of the role of information systems in business process design; the current technologies used for obtaining, storing, securing, and communicating information in support of operations and decision-making within a business organization; as well as the concepts and principles for developing and using popular spreadsheet and database tools.

  • 3
    credits

    Specification, design and implementation of information systems directed at aiding decision-making in organizations.

    • Prerequisite

      MIS 204

  • 3
    credits

    Covers terminology and important concepts related to marketing in the business environment. Domestic and international environments that impact marketing are included, with particular emphasis on the marketing environment, segmentation, positioning, and targeting.

    • Prerequisite

      ENGL 015 or ENGL 030; ECON 102 or ECON 104; MATH 021 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination.

  • 3
    credits

    Application of behavioral science concepts to the understanding of buyer behavior as a basis for marketing management decision-making.

    • C or better

      A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

  • 3
    credits

    Research approaches, methods, and applications studied as a formal approach to problem-solving for marketing decisions.

    • Prerequisite

      BA 303 or MKTG 301W; SCM 200 or STAT 200

    • C or better

      A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

  • 3
    credits

    Market-oriented problems of the firm; identification and selection of market opportunities; formulation of competitive strategies; marketing policies and programs.

    • Prerequisite

      MKTG 330 and MKTG 342

    • C or better

      A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

  • 3
    credits

    Supply chain management concepts, principles, and methodologies.

    • Prerequisite

      ACCTG 211 or ECON 102 or SCM 200 or STAT 200; limited to students in baccalaureate status.

Additional Courses (12 credits)

  • 4
    credits

    Explores the ethical, political, social, legal and regulatory, technological, and demographic diversity environment of business.

    • Note

      A student may not receive credit toward graduation for both BLAW 243 and BA 243.

    • 4
      credits

      Introduces and develops the mathematical skills required for analyzing change, and the underlying mathematical behaviors that model real-life economics and financial applications. Develops student knowledge of calculus techniques, and how to use a calculus framework to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

      • Prerequisite

        MATH 22 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination

      • Note

        Students may take only one course for credit from MATH 110, 140, 140A, and 140B.

      • GQ

        The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Quantification (GQ) requirement.

    • or:
      4
      credits

      Introduces and develops the mathematical skills required for analyzing change and creating mathematical models that replicate real-life phenomena. Develops student knowledge of calculus techniques and how to use the calculus environment to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

      • Prerequisite

        (MATH 22 and MATH 26) or MATH 40 or MATH 41 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination

      • Note

        Students may only take one course for credit from MATH 110, 140, 140A, 140B, and 140H.

      • GQ

        The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Quantification (GQ) requirement.

  • 4
    credits

    Descriptive Statistics, frequency distributions, probability and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation.

    • Prerequisite

      Placement into MATH 021 or higher.

    • GQ

      This course can be used to satisfy the Quantification (GQ) requirement.

Additional Marketing Major Courses (select 9 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    Management of marketing institutions in distribution channels from producers to consumers. Emphasis on retail institutions: location, personnel, merchandising, control, promotion.

    • Prerequisite

      BA 303 or MKTG 301W

    • C or better

      A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

  • 3
    credits

    Perspectives and models of the key decisions involved in managing advertising and sales promotion campaigns.

    • Prerequisite
      MKTG 330 or MKTG 342
    • C or better

      A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

  • 3
    credits

    Role of international marketing in the global environment; political, economic, geographic, historical, cultural conditions; developing and implementing international marketing strategies.

    • Prerequisite

      BA 303 or MKTG 301W

    • C or better

      A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

  • 3
    credits

    Application of modern management principles to field sales force planning, organization, and administration; selection, training, and compensation plans.

    • Prerequisite

      MKTG 301W and MGMT 301

    • C or better

      A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

  • 3
    credits

    Conceptual understanding of services and the analytical tools that are used in solving strategic services marketing problems.

    • Prerequisite

      MKTG 301W

    • C or better

      A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

Supporting Courses and Related Areas (select 12 credits)

Select 12 credits of 200- to 400-level business courses from:

  • ACCTG
  • BA
  • ECON
  • FIN
  • MGMT
  • MIS
  • MKTG
  • SCM

in consultation with an academic adviser and in support of the student's interests. 

General Education Requirements

Some General Education requirements may be satisfied by courses required for the major. Students should work with an adviser to select courses.

  • Foundations: 15 credits  
    All courses require a grade of C or better. Inter-Domain courses may not be used for foundations requirements. 
    • Writing/Speaking: 9 credits 
    • Quantification: 6 credits 
      3-6 credits are selected from mathematics, applied mathematics, and statistics; 3 credits may be selected from computer science or symbolic logic. 
  • Knowledge Domains: 15 credits  
    Inter-Domain courses may not be used for knowledge domain requirements.
    • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits 
    • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits 
    • Arts (GA): 3 credits 
    • Humanities (GH): 3 credits 
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits  
  • Integrative Studies: 6 credits
    • Inter-Domain course work: 6 credits  
  • Exploration: 9 credits 
    • Natural Sciences (GN) (may be Inter-Domain): 3 credits
    • GA, GH, GN, GS, and Inter-Domain courses: 6 credits  
      May include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the requirements of the student’s degree program or at the 12th credit level, whichever is higher.

These General Education Requirements are for students who started in summer 2023 or later. Students who started earlier can review the prior version of the general education requirements. 

Among the degree requirements, students should incorporate at least:

  • 3 credits in U.S. cultures
  • 3 credits in international (IL) cultures
  • 3 credits in writing-across-the-curriculum courses

This course list includes only courses offered by World Campus. An official degree audit or the recommended academic plan for this program may include additional course options and detailed requirements. All students are expected to complete at least 36 Penn State credits to earn this degree. Please consult an academic adviser for details.

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

Costs and Financial Aid

Undergraduate Tuition

Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.

Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2023–24 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 semesters.

How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$626 per credit$671 per credit
12–19$7,602 per semester$8,206 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters.

How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$632 per credit$678 per credit
12–19$7,678 per semester$8,288 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

Financial Aid and Military Benefits

Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

How to Apply

Deadlines and Important Dates

Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, must be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete.

  • Fall Deadline:  Apply by June 30 to start August 26
  • Spring Deadline:  Apply by October 31 to start January 13
  • Summer Deadline:  Apply by March 15, 2025, to start May 19, 2025

New students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA by March 1. Please visit the Office of Student Aid website for more information about applying for financial aid and recommended deadlines.

Admissions Help

Thank you for your interest in applying to this program. Contact an admissions counselor to discuss your educational goals, financial aid options, and application deadlines.

Admission Requirements

To apply for this program, you must be a high school graduate or have completed your GED.

Entrance-to-Major Requirements

Entry to the marketing major requires the completion of eight entry-to-major courses: ACCTG 211 (4 credits); ECON 102 GS (3 credits); ENGL 015 GWS (3 credits) or ENGL 030 GWS (3 credits); FIN 301 (3 credits); MATH 110 GQ (4 credits) or MATH 140 GQ (4 credits); MGMT 301 (3 credits); MKTG 301 (3 credits); SCM 200 GQ (4 credits) or STAT 200 GQ (4 credits); and a 2.00 or higher cumulative grade-point average.

For students transferring directly into the major:

  • Completion of 27.1 credits or higher
  • Cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher and completion of 8 entry-to-major courses: ACCTG 211, ECON 102, ENGL 015 or ENGL 030, FIN 301, MATH 110 or MATH 140, MGMT 301, MKTG 301, SCM 200 or STAT 200 or their equivalents.
  • Note: A current Penn State student needs a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher to enter the major.

What You Need

Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need the following items to complete your application:

High school transcripts or GED transcript — First-year applicants are required to submit Self-Reported Academic Records (SRAR). Official high school transcripts will only be required at the time a student accepts an offer of admission to Penn State.

Official college or university transcripts, if you attended another institution, and/or official military transcripts (if applicable) — All college or university transcripts are required regardless of the length of time that has passed, the grades earned, or the accreditation of the institutions attended. Acceptance of transfer credit toward your degree is subject to final approval by the academic department. For detailed information, see the Transfer Students page.

Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Please send your transcripts by mail or electronically through Parchment, eScrip-Safe, or the National Student Clearinghouse directly to Penn State from the college/university where course work was attempted.

Submit official documents by mail to:

Undergraduate Admissions Office
The Pennsylvania State University
201 Shields Building
University Park, PA 16802

English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Language Proficiency section on the Undergraduate Admissions International Requirements page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.

Start Your Application

Former Penn State students may not need to complete the admissions application. Please visit our Returning Students page for instructions. 

If this is your first time applying to Penn State, you'll need to complete the following steps:

  1. Review the application instructions before beginning.
  2. Complete the online application and submit all official documents.
  3. Pay the application fee.

Checking Your Status

You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form and choosing "MyPennState — Check Application Status." Your decision letter (confirming your acceptance or denial) will be mailed four to six weeks after receipt of all application materials. An admissions counselor will contact you if additional information is required.

Technical Requirements

Review the technical requirements for this degree program.

Ready to Learn More?

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Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State bachelor's degree?

Apply by June 30 to start August 26. How to Apply 

Start or Advance Your Career

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You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.


Job Titles Related to This Degree

The following roles are often held by people with this type of degree:

  • Business Development Manager
  • Digital Marketing Strategist
  • Market Analyst
  • Marketing and Promotions Manager
  • Marketing Manager
  • SEO Strategist (Search Engine Optimization Strategist)

Employment Outlook for Occupational Fields Related to This Degree

Estimates of employment growth and total employment are provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are subject to change. While these occupations are often pursued by graduates with this degree, individual outcomes may vary depending on a variety of factors. Penn State World Campus cannot guarantee employment in a given occupation.

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

13.4%
employment growth (10 years)
798,620
total employment

Marketing Managers

6.6%
employment growth (10 years)
328,570
total employment

Advertising and Promotions Managers

1.9%
employment growth (10 years)
22,010
total employment

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

Student having a virtual meeting on a laptop with a career counselor

From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career. These resources are beneficial whether you're searching for a job or advancing in an established career.

  • Opportunities to connect with employers
  • Career counselor/coach support
  • Occupation and salary information
  • Internships
  • Graduate school resources 

Contact Us

To learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Marketing, offered in partnership with the Penn State Harrisburg School of Business Administration, or to check the status of your application, please contact:

World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
[email protected]

Faculty

Mary Beth Pinto

  • Degree
    Ph.D., Marketing, University of Pittsburgh
  • Degree
    MBA, University of Pittsburgh
  • Degree
    B.B.A.S., University of Notre Dame

Dr. Mary Beth Pinto is a professor of marketing and discipline lead for the marketing major in the Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend. Dr. Pinto is the author of more than 60 scholarly publications, numerous conference presentations, and book chapters in the areas of social marketing, services marketing, health care marketing, consumer behavior, online pedagogy, and project management. Among her honors is the Rosemary Schraer Mentoring Award from Penn State. 

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Apply by June 30 to start August 26. How to Apply 

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