In the past, critics of the online learning format viewed distance education with much skepticism. They believed this type of learning model lacked the quality instructional design that a traditional classroom environment provides. Today, research conducted consistently reveals that there is no distinct difference between distance learning and traditional classroom learning. In addition, the growing popularity of distance learning has influenced most organizations involved in education and training to include virtual education in their future programs.

Top Schools providing Distance Education

The growing popularity of distance learning has raised the level and quality of programs offered by online institutions of higher education. Students have the ability to choose from a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs to meet their specific interests and career objectives. Some of these leading institutions include:

• Walden University
• Kaplan University
• Capella University
• AIU Online

Advantages of Distance Education

The primary advantage of distance learning is the matter of flexibility, particularly to international students seeking to obtain a degree from an accredited US-based institution. It allows them a wider choice of institutions to suit their specific interests and one that meets the requirements of the appropriate accrediting agencies. It also provides a great opportunity for busy working professionals to gain the additional training they need to advance within their respective fields without having to leave their jobs to attend a traditional campus-based institution. Other advantages of distance education include:


Accessibility: increased access for individuals living far away from the institution and those with restricted mobility such as the handicapped or elderly


Unlimited Information Access: distance education allows for unlimited access to expert information via online research databases. In addition, most online institutions boast a digital library that allows their students to access digital books and research materials.


Increases Interaction with Technology: the online learning format allows students to conduct interactive teamwork between groups. They have the opportunity to network with each other from anywhere around the world via chat rooms, bulletin board discussions or emails.


Reduced Cost: distance learning allows for reduced tuition fees due to not utilizing the institution’s physical resources.

Students also have the ability to seek expert advice and conduct interactive discussions with instructors via internet chat rooms and emails. This fosters and promotes an intuitive and better learning environment between instructor and student. The added advantage of the online learning is students can email assignments to their instructors at anytime of the day, also the ability to revisit coursework until they have fully mastered the material.

The Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing prepares participants for entry level to middle management business administration positions in an organization’s marketing department. The program objectives of the BBA in Marketing Specialization is to provide students with a solid foundation in marketing concepts and business that will develop their understanding of all aspects related to the marketing process. In particular, the program focuses on providing students with a thorough understanding in:

• consumer behavior and market research to effect the marketing decision process
• how to implement business strategies to accommodate the changing global marketplace
• analyzing business problems
• market pricing
• influencing consumer-buyer behavior
• the use of technology in marketing and presentations
• assessing organizational needs and suggest ways of improving organizational standards
• how to advertise and promote
• managing retail operations
• international trade

The marketing specialization at this level also provides the resources needed to develop students’ abilities and gain valuable experience in sales management, marketing as well as develop proficiency in research, oral communication, speaking and business writing, spread sheets, problem solving, team building and leadership skills. The program helps them to develop ethical values that are crucial to gaining respect within the global business environment.


Students participate in workshops, case studies, hands-on projects as well as real world business simulations and web-based projects that help them to make power point presentations and other multi-media presentations.


Core courses covered include General Accounting 1, General Accounting 2, Finance, Economics, Business Law, Principles of Management, Financial Management and Principles of Marketing. The marketing specific courses with an emphasis on technology and communication provide valuable insight of how goods and services are channeled to producer and consumers and will cover topics such as Applied Marketing, Professional Marketing, Advertising and e-Commerce. Other sub-topics include Sales Management, Personnel Management, Customer Service, Statistical Methods and Salesmanship as well as Business Forecasting, Government Regulations in Business and Computer Information Systems.


In addition, the Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing offers advanced level training to its participants by allowing them to choose and focus on specialized areas in marketing such as International Marketing and Risk or Analysis and Assessment of Global Market Trends. These course offerings will expand their knowledge in marketing techniques and the rising global interdependence in the business community.
The BBA in Marketing takes four years to complete and leads to more advanced business degrees.

Careers with a Bachelor of Business in Marketing Degree

The BBA in Marketing Degree opens the door to a lucrative and exciting career path within this dynamic marketing field. By specializing in a particular marketing field such as advertising, promotions, public relations, finance, retail management or sales you will further enhance the scope of your career opportunities as well as increase your marketability and income earning potential. Job titles that exist within the marketing department of large corporations include marketing assistant, product manager, and marketing communication manager, marketing director, sales promotion manager or marketing research manager. Other career opportunities that exist within other industries such as the financial, advertising and retailing industry include business analyst, project analyst, financial analyst or promotion and advertising specialist, media manager and sales promotion manager.

Average Salary with a Bachelor of Business in Marketing Degree

The median salary for graduates with a Bachelor of Business in Marketing Degree will depend on various factors including type of company and size, type of industry, area of expertise, benefits, experience and location. For individuals working as marketing managers and marketing coordinators can earn between $45,117 and $48,531 per year, while account managers and retail store managers earn an average $45,282 and $45,357 annually. Marketing Directors and Regional Sales Manager can expect to earn $64,803 and $70,300 per year.

What are the Pros and Cons of Earning an Online Bachelor of Business in Marketing Degree?

Pros

Accessibility: online educational programs allow students to pursue their studied from any convenient location from anywhere around the world.


Flexibility: students pursuing an online education have the flexibility to work and study at the same time.


Convenient: Students have 24hr access to learning material through the institution’s online library and coursework archive. Students have the choice of attending online classes at a time convenient to them whether day-night- or week-end classes.

Cons

Some of the disadvantages of pursuing an online education include:

• Hardware intensive
• Unpredictable technical difficulties
• Students who lack the self-discipline and motivation to study on their own may not enjoy the benefits that online education provides
• Despite the growing recognition of online education programs, some employers fail to recognize the value of degrees earned online
• Limited interaction between instructors and fellow peers

Baker College Online
Kaplan University
Pacific State University
American InterContinental University
South University
Bauer College Department of Marketing Entrepreneurship

The Job Description of a Marketing Analyst

A marketing analyst is an individual who gathers information about what people think to help companies understand what type of products people want and at what price. The specific duties of a marketing analyst will vary depending on the type and size of organization they work for, however, these specialist practitioners focus exclusively on designing and conducting surveys through various media channels including telephone, internet, and mail or they may develop advertising brochures and commercials, sales plans and product promotions such as give-a- ways or rebates. Marketing analysts may also work with statisticians, economists or collaborate with other marketing analysts in order to designs surveys.

Other duties of a marketing analyst include:

• analyzing and collecting data to evaluate existing and potential product or service market
• evaluate prices, sales and methods of marketing and distribution
• study data on past sales to predict future sales
• devise and implement effective strategic methods and procedures in order to obtain correct data
• design surveys to assess consumer preferences

Marketing Analysts are hired by a variety of clients such as government agencies or corporations to make recommendations and help them implement ideas on the promotion, distribution and pricing of products or services. However, most clients hire them to gather, compile and analyze data in order to identify and monitor its competition as well as research and monitor current market conditions or changes in the industry that may affect sales.


The information gathered also allows them to make fiscal or policy decisions, measuring the effectiveness of those decisions or to improve customer satisfaction.


Marketing Analysts must possess certain preferred qualities in order to distinguish themselves from their competition and create a niche market for themselves. These include possessing strong analytical skills and keen attention to details, exceptionally well organized, goal orientated, strong oral and written communications, analytical problem-solving skills, and the ability to articulate and display a high level of professionalism. They must also be patient and persistent due to having to work for long hours sometimes under difficult circumstances. Having strong people skills is a must as sometimes they must supervise interviews for individuals of varying cultural, religious and educational backgrounds.

Education Required for becoming a Marketing Analyst

A Bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement needed to pursue many entry-level marketing analyst positions such as administrative trainee or research assistant. However, a Masters degree is the basic requirement for companies seeking marketing analysts to occupy technical positions within their organization.


The training programs required for aspiring marketing analysts must include courses in business, marketing and consumer behavior coupled with other liberal arts and social science courses in English, Economics, Psychology and Sociology. Due to the importance of quantitative skills in the career of a marketing analyst, courses providing instructions in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Sampling Theory and Design are significantly helpful to your career as you progress in this dynamic and increasingly competitive field.


Most marketing analysts often go on to pursue advanced degrees in business administration, communications, marketing, statistics or a closely related field to enhance their personal and professional growth. They also continuously upgrade their skills through short courses and seminars to keep abreast of the latest methods of developing, conducting and analyzing surveys and other data.

Online Programs to Get You There

Individuals can gain formal education and practical specialized training needed for the position of a marketing analyst through various accredited institutions that offer an online marketing degree. The online institutions that offer the concentration in Marketing at the Bachelor or Master Degree levels provide additional focus on the latest principles and technologies utilized within today’s high tech global environment. Some of the online course topics covered include those in e-commerce, consumer behavior, marketing strategy, market research, professional selling and internet marketing to develop students’ abilities in general business management, critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, communication and writing skills. Some of the top Schools providing an Online Marketing Degree include:

• Westwood College Online
• Kaplan University
• Strayer University
• AUI Online
• North West Arkansas Community College (Marketing Analyst Program)

Average Salary for a Marketing Analyst

The salary for a marketing analyst will vary depending on the type and size of the company, location, level of qualification and experience. Studies reveal that more than 50% of marketing analysts earn between $35,493 and $45,205 per year.

Marketing is the art of getting products form the distributor to the consumer. This includes utilizing whatever resources available to persuade the consumer to select its products. These methods include discounts and sales, public relations, pricing strategies, packaging and sampling.

To be an effective marketing professional, individuals must determine consumer product demands or conduct extensive research to target potential consumers. They must undertake effective planning strategies to determine the level of demand by consumers. The exact marketing strategy utilized will depend on the type of product, target market and the budget available. It takes a special type of individual with the right characteristics to excel in the field of marketing. Some of these qualities include:

• Empathy: this requires marketing practitioners to possess the ability to identify themselves with consumers and have a good feel of the opinion on the ground which in turn makes the consumer feel respected
• Know What to Look For: requires marketing practitioners to use their research skills and insight to analyze the consumer and its needs
• Focus: self-driven and possess the ability to accomplish set goals
• Responsible: the ability to take charge of situations and solve difficult circumstances
• Optimistic: to be professional in the pursuit to convince potential customers to purchase their products
• Charismatic: to be able to convince consumers through coercive or persuasive methods

Why pursue a Marketing Degree

Marketing is a very dynamic industry. It encompasses all the processes involved from conception of the product to the final sale and service. To be able to conduct the proper analysis, advertising research and distribution, individuals will gain a significant advantage by pursuing a degree in marketing.

Types of Marketing Degree and Scope

Most institutions offer marketing degrees at all levels of accreditation. These include the Associate, Bachelors, Masters and PhD levels. Each level of educational growth adopts a specific design with an advanced and in-depth study of the marketing industry. The basic online courses of marketing focus on topics such as Planning and Research Processes and Their Design, Sampling, Data Collection Methods and their Analysis, Communication and Promotion Techniques, Marketing Research and Prospecting Techniques, Business Plan Development and Budgeting and Cost Analysis.

Top Accredited Online Universities and Colleges offering a Marketing Degree

Top online universities and colleges offering a marketing degree include:

Argosy University
Strayer University Online
Westwood College Online
Colorado Technical Institute Online
Keiser University
Kaplan University

The marketing degrees offered by these top online universities focus on equipping students with the relevant marketing knowledge and practical techniques critical to helping them excel in this ever-evolving and volatile marketing industry. Some of these marketing degree programs offered by these top online universities include:

BBA in Marketing

The Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing qualifies students to work in various marketing careers at the supervisory level in both public and private sector industry.

MBA in Marketing

The Master of Business Administration with a concentration on Marketing will see students focusing on specific areas of marketing and methods of gaining a competitive advantage.

PhD in Marketing

The PhD in Marketing specialization focuses on research in marketing, methods of enhancing the profession and breaking new ground.

With regard to easiest online degrees, you have plenty of choices. It includes Master of Arts degree in humanities, Bachelor of Science degree in communication and Associate of Applied Science degree in aviation technology. Easiest online degrees are ones where you can get admission without appearing in any entrance examination. Another significant thing about easiest online degrees is that you can clear the examination whenever you want with experienced faculty helping you out in every step.

Before taking admission in any online degree program, make sure that you check the accreditation of program first. There are some universities which are not accredited but give you an option of easiest online degrees. These degrees are of no use as the syllabus of these programs is below standard and therefore employers do not think very highly of such programs. The application procedure of easiest online degrees is quite straightforward.

Master of Arts Degree in Humanities

To earn Master of Arts degree in humanities, you do not need to take too many courses. With Master of Arts degree in humanities, you will get career opportunities in wide variety of settings. It includes social work, law and medicine. By successfully earning this degree, your critical thinking and communication skills are going to improve. You can earn Master of Arts degree in humanities from Kaplan University and Liberty University.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication

Good communication skills are important in present day’s workplace. By successfully earning Bachelor of Science degree in communication, you will be able to communicate in a much better way. The most important thing about this bachelor degree is that all the emphasis being put on communication methodologies. Apart from theoretical knowledge, you are also going to get practical training during this program. Straight after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in communication, you can go for additional courses in management, information technology, law and health care. By following this route, you can give your career a tremendous boost.

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Aviation Technology

By successfully earning Associate of Applied Science degree in aviation technology, you will be able to clear the Federal Aviation Administration examination in both written and oral form. With Associate of Applied Science degree in aviation technology, you can get the airframe mechanics license. Working as aircraft technician, it is your responsibility to conduct preventive maintenance and repair engine parts. Earning this degree is quite easy especially with all the emphasis being put on practical training.