Free Online Lectures and Courses for Marketing

Marketing is a key component of any successful customer-facing organization. A skilled marketing team is tasked with finding innovative ways to communicate the benefits of a product or service to the public. As a marketing specialist, you draw upon your skills in communication, writing and critical thinking to craft and execute a marketing strategy that will yield great success for your organization – and yourself.

While today students can benefit from the innovation of online marketing courses, this field dates back to the 20th century as a theory for businesses and organizations to begin attracting more and more customers to the products and services they offer. The business world truly recognized the power of marketing after World War II, when many organizations began consolidating various areas of the field (e.g., public relations, advertising, sales, etc.) into a single marketing department.

These days, it is almost impossible to master every aspect of the field without a great deal of experience and education. Marketing specialists are expected to quickly grasp the challenges faced by businesses and organizations today and devise practical solutions to fulfill their marketing needs. This requires you to have the skills and wherewithal to craft a marketing strategy that attracts and fosters relationships with an organization's target audience.

Sample Courses

Below are some sample marketing courses all students can expect to take while at university. It should be noted that many of these courses may also be taken as a part of a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) curriculum with an emphasis in marketing.

  • The Principles of Marketing
  • Marketing Analysis and Research
  • Advertising and Promotion
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Global Marketing Management
  • Digital Marketing
  • Brand Management
  • Business to Business Marketing
  • Customer Relationship Management

Possible Specializations

Since the field of marketing is rather broad, there are several opportunities for students to specialize. In many cases, specialization is required to stand out from other qualified professionals in today's job market. Some possible specializations include digital marketing, international marketing and marketing management.

A specialization in digital marketing prepares you to take advantage of technology and social media for optimally marketing products and services via digital mediums. International marketing focuses on marketing theories and practices that apply internationally and cross-culturally. A marketing management specialization prepares you for a career in managing teams or entire departments.

Degree Types

As mentioned above, earning a degree in marketing can be accomplished independently or as part of a larger academic curriculum, such as an MBA program. While the latter route will educate you on the fundamentals of business administration, earning a degree in marketing itself is just as valuable, if not more so, to employers who are looking to hire the best and brightest in the field.

Some possible degree types in the marketing field include an Associate of Arts in Marketing, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, a master's in marketing, a Master's of Business Administration in Marketing, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Marketing. Earning a Ph.D. in marketing is also a great option for those looking to specialize on a much deeper level or teach at a college or university.

Ideal Candidates for Marketing

First and foremost, students in the marketing field must have an uncanny ability to confidently research and communicate the value of a product or service offered by a business or organization. Keep in mind, when it comes to attracting the attention of potential customers, a marketing specialist must be able to compile data and translate this into an effective marketing strategy, all without missing a beat when it comes to the organization's goals and sales processes.

In order to communicate well with their target audiences, marketers should be well connected and in touch with the latest trends of their particular niche or society as a whole.

This informative resource hosted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides a more in-depth view of marketing roles and the qualities candidates should possess. These include strong analytical skills, creativity, decision-making, interpersonal skills and management experience.

Career Pathways

Today, marketing remains one of the most vibrant and stable fields. According to the BLS, the expected job growth for Marketing Managers and other marketing specialists is a robust 14% over this decade. Job growth for Marketing Research Analysts, on the other hand, is expected to grow by an astounding 41%. Median salaries for marketing roles are also very competitive, with a range between $60,000 and $108,000 per year.

As long as businesses continue to thrive, the need for highly qualified marketing specialists to promote their brands will always be there. This is especially true for those who choose to specialize in marketing research and analysis. If you have the creativity, analytical skills and confidence to convince the public of the benefits of a product or service, a career in marketing may be an excellent option.

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Marketing Grants & Scholarships

  • Scholarships

    • ANA Multicultural Excellence Awards

      Deadline: August 9

      Award Amount: $2,000

      For college seniors enrolled full-time at an accredited US institution, and in an American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) Intern Program.

    • Lagrant Foundation

      Deadline: February 28

      Award Amount: $10,000

      Open to graduate students with at least a year left of school and majoring in a field related to marketing, advertising or public relations.

    • Mark Beaumont Scholarship Fund

      Deadline: June 28

      Award Amount: $2,500

      Supports students who are pursuing careers specializing in the business of interactive entertainment, including marketing.

    • MillerCoors National Scholarship

      Deadline: June

      Award Amount: $3,000

      A scholarship for junior and senior business, accounting, communications, economics, marketing, or public relations majors of Hispanic descent.

    • NDS/DMI Milk Marketing

      Deadline: April 15

      Award Amount: $1,000 - $1,500

      The National Dairy Shrine Milk Marketing Scholarship is to encourage qualified undergraduate students to pursue careers in dairy product marketing.

    • NEDMA Foundation

      Deadline: January 20

      Award Amount: $3,000

      Open to New England college students majoring in marketing, advertising or communications, who are interested in direct marketing careers.

    • UBS/PaineWebber Scholarship

      Deadline: March

      Award Amount: $8,000

      A scholarship for minority students attending UNCF Member Colleges and Universities majoring in a business discipline such as economics.

    • Worldstudio AIGA

      Deadline: March 29

      Award Amount: $5,000

      Including advertising, eligible students are currently enrolled in, or have proof of acceptance for, an arts & design degree program.

Marketing Internships

  • Campbell Mithun Lucky 13

    Deadline: March

    Interns learn while doing in this ten-week, paid program. They “do real work for real clients” while working in one of several roles related to marketing.

  • Crispin, Porter, & Bogusky

    Deadline: varies

    Year-round internship opportunities with this advertising agency in Boulder, CO.

  • Erwin Penland Launchpad

    Deadline: February

    20 interns do market research, trend analysis, creative strategy and execution for clients like Verizon, Denny's, Michelin, General Motors, Sears, ScanSource and Advance America.

  • Hill Holliday

    Deadline: February 1, July 15, November 1

    Year-round internship program opportunities at this marketing agency with offices in Boston, New York, South Carolina, and Miami.

  • INROADS Internships

    Deadline: year-round

    Places students in internships with some of the nation's largest companies to prepare them for corporate and community leadership.

  • Marketing Edge Summer Internship

    Deadline: varies

    After a week-long training program in marketing, students will be placed with “companies who are changing the landscape of marketing”.

Marketing Student & Professional Organizations

  • Student Organizations

    • College Chapter of the American Advertising Federation

      With members ranging from corporate to collegiate, the AAF promotes education, diversity, and protection of advertising.

    • Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association

      Collegiate members benefit from career resources, professional development, planning chapter events, and taking part in the annual marketing competitions.

    • Marketing EDGE

      Marketing EDGE provides students with resources to aid them in completing or furthering their education and finding employment and funding opportunities.

    • Mu Kappa Tau

      Recognizing the importance of academic excellence, MKT brings together marketing students and professionals to garner the discussion of mutual interests.

    • Student National Agri-Marketing Association

      NAMA provides students looking towards careers in agribusiness the chance to connect with professionals who can help them network and develop skills.

  • Professional Organizations

    • American Advertising Federation

      With members ranging from corporate to collegiate, the AAF promotes education, diversity, and protection of advertising.

    • American Marketing Association

      The AMA strives to keep members abreast of changes to the global marketplace, be the leader in innovations and help members be life-long learners.

    • Business Marketing Association

      Aiming for excellence, the BMA strives to be an organization that provides members with the best information, professional opportunities, and resources.

    • International Advertising Association

      Working for those in all disciplines within marketing communications, the IAA is “a pro-active partner and advocate for freedom of commercial speech.”

    • Internet Marketing Association

      With members spanning the various marketing fields, the IMA takes pride in "providing them with the resources necessary for success."

    • National Agri-Marketing Association

      NAMA provides those interested or currently working in the agri-marketing industry with resources to keep them current in agribusiness information.