The B.S.B.A. in Marketing
Marketing majors learn how to create messages that move products and study the how and why of business success through traditional and digital marketing. Coursework covers distribution, pricing and the preparation of goods and services, and the communication tools needed to reach target markets around the world.
Every student builds the professional skills behind lasting customer relationships: expertise, listening, empathy, trust and value. HPU guarantees an internship to every student who completes the Office of Career and Professional Development’s five-phase professional development program.
The degree totals 128 credits, with 74 in the major, 36 to 44 in the university core and 10 to 18 in electives. Marketing pairs often with a minor in sales, data analytics, social media or event management.
What Marketing Students Study
Marketing coursework includes:
- BUA 2000 Business Career Bootcamp: career readiness for business majors, from résumés and LinkedIn to interviews
- MKT 2110 Principles of Marketing and Personal Selling: marketing fundamentals paired with professional selling
- MKT 3180 Marketing Communications: planning the promotional mix across advertising, digital and personal channels
- MKT 3200 Consumer Behavior: how consumers make purchase decisions
- MKT 3600 Sales in Dynamic Environments: persuasion, sales presentations and managing a sales force
- MKT 4100 Social Media Marketing: planning and measuring social media campaigns
- MKT 4400 Marketing Management: strategic market planning across products and services
Through these courses, students build the research, communication and analytical skills that marketing roles in brand management, digital marketing, sales and market research call for.
The BEACON Neuromarketing Lab
HPU’s Biometric Evaluation, Analytics, Cognitive Observation and Neuromarketing (BEACON) Lab gives undergraduates biosensors that measure brain activity, eye movement, facial expressions and other physiological responses to advertising and marketing materials.
Students use it for primary consumer research, including studies for the Phillips Collection, and the lab added mobile eye tracking in 2026.
Spain, Case Competitions and Internships
On the Marketing in Spain Maymester, students use classroom space at the University of Salamanca and spend weekends traveling to different regions of the country.
Through the American Marketing Association chapter, students take on national case competitions. Recent marketing students have interned in account management at The Brandon Agency, in marketing at Reynolds American and in sales at PayPal.
“HPU helped me improve my communication and leadership skills while also learning how to handle projects effectively.”
Avery Miles, marketing graduate in the Whirlpool Corporation sales development program
How the Marketing Major Builds Real Campaign Skills
Marketing students test ads the way agencies do. In the BEACON neuromarketing lab, biosensors record brain activity, eye movement and facial expressions as people react to campaigns. Students have run BEACON research projects and completed work for the Phillips Collection. The Marketing in Spain Maymester at the University of Salamanca adds an international perspective, and the AMA chapter competes in national case competitions.
The Princeton Review gives High Point University a 95 out of 99 rating for professor accessibility, based on its student surveys.
That hands-on work leads to strong first jobs. Calvin Byrd joined Stryker as a marketing associate. Gail Hartman works in private aviation marketing at Air Charter Service. Audrey Caron began a sales career in the LASR program at Lenovo. Course descriptions are in the HPU undergraduate bulletin. Related programs include sales and entrepreneurship, and graduates can continue into the HPU MBA. The BLS outlook for marketing managers covers national pay and job data.
Faculty include Chair Cynthia Hanson and BEACON director Miguel Sahagun, who guides student research in the lab. The chapter also earned Functional Awards at the 2025 AMA conference in New Orleans.
Hear From Marketing Graduates
Graduates share how HPU prepared them for careers at Stryker, Air Charter Service and Lenovo.
Calvin Byrd
Marketing major · Marketing Associate, Stryker
“The well-rounded business curriculum in the Earl N. Phillips School of Business, from statistics to marketing, sales and finance really prepared me to think critically, communicate clearly and operate in a fast-paced environment.”
Gail Hartman
Marketing major · Empyrean Jet Card Analyst, Air Charter Service
“High Point University played a huge role in preparing me for the environment I work in today.”
Audrey Caron
Marketing major · LASR Program Associate, Lenovo
“All of my professors had experience in the field they were teaching and were able to add a unique perspective to my required courses.”
Marketing in the News
Jason Phillips
HPU’s BEACON Lab Expands Biometric Research
“We were genuinely impressed by the caliber of work High Point University students brought forward,” Phillips said.
Explore Marketing at High Point University
See how HPU marketing ranks and where its graduates go next.
Accreditation & Awards Careers & Student Organizations
Questions about the program? Email Dr. Cynthia Hanson at [email protected].