Marketing – Bachelor’s Degree Program (BS)
Study Marketing at the University of Montana
Earn your degree in marketing at the University of Montana and prepare for high-demand careers in business. Emphasizing experiential learning, our AACSB accredited marketing bachelor’s degree program provides unique opportunities to engage with professionals in the field, and gain hands-on business experience that will help you hit the ground running when you graduate.
At UM, you’ll learn from award-winning teachers and business administration experts, including marketing professionals who run their own agencies. You’ll also gain hands-on skills in digital marketing tools and technologies — through internships, projects with local businesses, and more — and learn to conduct market research to understand customers and markets.
Our marketing program offers numerous opportunities for networking and professional development, and classes provide options between online and in-person learning.
of students participate in at least one internship
tied for best business school in the Big Sky Conference
of students are working or in grad school within three months of graduation
Other degree options for marketing at UM
Certificate in Digital Marketing
What can you do with a marketing degree?
Every organization — for-profit and nonprofit alike — cares about creating customer value. This is what marketing is all about, and it’s integral to almost every aspect of business. It’s also a field that offers reliable growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers will grow 6 percent over the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations.
Our marketing major prepares you to think strategically about the role of marketing across a wide variety of organizations and create value for businesses large and small. When you graduate, you can look forward with confidence: 80% of UM’s College of Business graduates are employed in their field or accepted to graduate school.
Why employers choose UM marketing graduates
Employers hire our marketing students because they are well-trained, hardworking, hit the ground running, and have deep expertise in digital and quantitative aspects of marketing. Because UM is one of only 23 schools in the five-state region (WA, OR, ID, MT, WY) and one of three schools in Montana to hold AACSB business accreditation, employers can also rely on our marketing degree graduates to meet the highest standards as professionals, and possess the most up-to-date skills and knowledge.
Marketing jobs
From small local marketing agencies to Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Google, and Nike; to professional sports franchises including the Los Angeles Lakers and the Tampa Bay Rays; graduates of our bachelor’s degree in marketing go on to a wide range of successful careers. Examples of marketing jobs include:
- Marketing manager
- Account executive
- Marketing coordinator
- Advertising manager
- Market analyst
- Media buyer
- Social media marketer
- Market research manager
- Public relations director
- Brand manager
Marketing salary
How much can you expect to earn with a major in marketing? We estimate that graduates of our marketing bachelor’s degree earn an average of $49,943, but you can potentially make much more depending on your experience and occupation. Here are average marketing salaries for several top jobs in the field, based on recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Public relations specialists: $61,150
- Market research analysts: $63,790
- Sales managers: $126,640
- Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers: $135,900
Video: University of Montana College of Business Student Spotlight
Meet Skyler Anderson: UM College of Business marketing and management major, American Marketing Association president, and summer 2017 Nike intern.
Alumni Success Story: Myles McKee-Osibodu
Myles McKee-Osibodu graduated from the University of Montana with a double major in marketing and communication studies. With the help of an internship with the UM Athletics’ Marketing department (which later turned into a paid position working in the Sports Information department), Myles landed a job with an organization he idolized growing up, the Los Angeles Lakers:
“I transferred to UM majoring in communication studies but it didn’t take long for me to notice the steady trend of students graduating from the College of Business and landing killer opportunities straight out of school. The combination of the natural intrigue I had in business and the seemingly endless potential for opportunity after graduation just made me feel like there wasn’t anywhere on campus that I belonged more than in the College of Business.”
— Myles McKee-Osibodu
Beyond the classroom: Experiential learning in the marketing major
Conduct hands-on market research for local companies. Participate in social media internships. Learn how to build marketing campaigns, and use emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to change the face of marketing. As a marketing major at UM, real-world experience will be the cornerstone of your education.
Marketing degree internships
Put your marketing education into practice while gaining skills that will help you stand out in the job market. We offer a variety of internship opportunities for a degree in business marketing, including work with local and national firms.
Matthew Spahr, a senior who is completing a double major in marketing and business management, spent eight weeks living and working at UM's Flathead Lake Biological Station as a marketing intern over the summer of 2023.
“It was the most enriching summer that I’ve had – not only for my career but for personal growth,” Spahr said. “I met so many great people and heard so many great stories. I learned from so many qualified people in other spaces that I never thought I’d rub shoulders with.”
Study abroad opportunities for marketing majors
Spend a semester or an entire year abroad in locations such as Italy, Australia, New Zealand, and Romania. The business marketing degree offers exciting opportunities to take your studies overseas. Learn more about study abroad opportunities at the University of Montana.
Career development in the marketing major
We want to do more than make sure you succeed in your academic life at college. We want to help you hit the ground running when it’s time to begin your career. That’s why networking and professional development are a huge part of our business degree programs. Here are a few examples:
- Close alumni relationships as well as organizations such as our student American Marketing Association chapter offer excellent opportunities for networking and professional development.
- Engagement with marketing professionals is regularly built into our classes, helping you to gain a better understanding of what marketing jobs are really like.
- Classes are relatively small, providing close-knit learning communities with personal faculty involvement.
Marketing degree scholarships
Get help paying for your degree in marketing. UM’s College of Business awards almost $500,000 each year to business students. Learn more about marketing and business scholarships at the University of Montana.
Marketing degree requirements
As a marketing major, you’ll develop an in-depth understanding of consumer behavior, product development and market research, the psychology behind purchasing decisions, and effective methods of getting products and services to customers.