About the Program

Marketing is the business function that identifies unfilled consumer needs and wants, defines and measures their magnitude, determines which targeted market segments the business can best serve, and decides on appropriate products, services, and programs to deliver to them. Effective marketing and promotional strategies are important to the success of profit-oriented as well as nonprofit organizations.

Students will:

  • Create vibrant marketing campaigns, presentations, public relations strategies, events, websites, and social media content
  • Design and implement dynamic marketing strategies to deliver products, services, ideas, and benefits to customers
  • Master a wide range of powerful marketing strategies to help profit and nonprofit organizations succeed

The Marketing Management Associate in Applied Science Degree focuses on the decisions facing marketing practitioners who must balance the objectives and resources of an organization with the needs and opportunities in the marketplace. Graduates may pursue careers in either business-to-business marketing environments or the area of consumer markets in either the private or public sector. The Marketing Specialty Diploma is designed for goals in business-to-business sales, fashion merchandising, retailing, or marketing support in either the public or private sectors.

The Marketing Communications Technology degree program blends three Century College areas: the theories and strategies of the Marketing Program, the application skills of the Visual Communications Technology Program, and the hands-on and aesthetic teachings of the Art and Art Studio coursework. In addition, courses from the English, Communication, and Philosophy disciplines round out this curriculum and form a balanced theory/practice approach. With this type of preparation, you find fulfilling careers in a variety of visual communications as well as visual marketing fields.

We also offer five certificates:

  • The Marketing Certificate is designed to explore career options within the marketing arena. You will discover the fundamental principle for all marketing: positioning the right product in the right place at the right promotion, and at the right price.
  • The Social Media Marketing Certificate is targeted toward students interested in social media marketing and developing the skills necessary for creating and implementing successful social media marketing strategies. This certificate emphasizes understanding social media tools such as blogs and social media sites, understanding and using web applications, writing for social media marketing, and evaluating the performance of social media marketing strategies and tactics.
  • The Entrepreneurial Certificate is targeted at students who are interested in starting and running their own businesses. Emphasis may include identifying markets and potential, green/sustainable marketing, business plan development, e-marketing, and leading employees.
  • The Solar Sales and Marketing Certificate is intended to prepare students to enter the solar industry’s sales and marketing sector. Graduates will be prepared to work for companies that serve the residential and small commercial markets as well as third-party community solar firms. This program will prepare students to take the entry-level NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) exam.
  • The Online Video Content Creator Certificate will provide students with the technical skills of camera and light placement, audio level adjustment, multi-camera switching, and how to stream live video. It will also explore how to use social media to drive traffic to websites and eCommerce pages, as well as, how to access site analytics, track advertising campaigns, and how to deliver follow-up messages.

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Cost & Financial Aid

As a two-year public community and technical college, Century College receives funding from the State of Minnesota, keeping tuition rates significantly lower than private colleges and universities. With affordable tuition rates and financial aid and scholarship opportunities, our students avoid student loan debt.

Financial Aid

Century College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and our programs qualify for financial aid including grants, loans, and college work-study. Eligibility for financial aid is determined annually based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Century College’s Federal School Code is 010546.

Scholarship Opportunities

Each year, the Century College Foundation awards more than $300,000 in scholarships to Century College students involved in several areas of study. Students are encouraged to create an account and apply for scholarships online.

Tuition Cost per Credit Comparison: Century College $206.41, University of MN - TC $555.13, Private Colleges & Universities $1,416.

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Students taking notes in class.

Potential Job Titles

Instructor showing students information on a tablet.
  • Marketing Managers *
  • Sales Managers *
  • Market Research Analysts *
  • Public Relations Specialists *
  • Set and Exhibit Designers *
  • Merchandise Displayers
  • Graphic Designers *

* with bachelor’s and/or master’s degree


Salary Data

Marketing Managers*
Average Wage: $67.97/hour
Top Earners: $80.00/hour

Market Research Analysts*
Average Wage: $34.26/hour
Top Earners: $53.05/hour

Set and Exhibit Designers*
Average Wage: $20.20/hour
Top Earners: $32.70/hour

Graphic Designers *
Average Wage: $23.80/hour
Top Earners: $36.83/hour

Sales Managers*
Average Wage: $66.66/hour
Top Earners: $80.00/hour

Public Relations Specialists*
Average Wage: $29.16/hour
Top Earners: $43.55/hour

Merchandise Displayers
Average Wage: $16.49/hour
Top Earners: $25.33/hour

* with a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree.

Information gathered pertains to the seven-county metro area - careerwise.minnstate.edu


Related Programs

Visual Communications Careers (VCC)

Graphic Design & Production

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    Program Faculty

  • Experience: Lynn Smaagaard is a graduate and alumni of Century College. Lynn comes from a long line of Century College educators. Her mother, Mary, taught in the Business Department and her father, Paul, taught in Continuing Education. Lynn has worked with the Minnesota State Colleges for over twenty-five years. She has eighteen years’ teaching experience and seven years’ experience as a Customized Training Consultant. Her direct marketing experience includes sales, merchandising, advertising, sales promotion and project management.
    Teaching Approach: Two of Lynn’s favorite quote are, “The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The work of life is to develop it. The meaning of life is to give your gift away” and Mary Oliver’s, “Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Lynn’s teaching philosophy reflects these quotes. She approaches teaching holistically, with a focused approach to encouraging students to develop as a whole person, to discover and uncover their unique strengths, abilities and to develop a plan to pursue their own individual goals, aspirations and dreams. As well as a teacher, Lynn considers herself a coach, a cheerleader, and a life-long learner. She wholeheartedly believes an education is one of the best investments a person can make for themselves and their future. Lynn learned this from the great teachers she has had the pleasure to know and has been inspired to model this at Century. In the words of the late, great John Lennon, “Well we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun!” So, rock on and shine on.
    Education: 916 Area Vocational Technical Institute in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising
    Hobbies: Drawing Jewelry making Writing and illustrating children’s books Cooking Knitting Traveling Lynn’s goal is to try one new thing
    Lynn Smaagaard
    Faculty
    Bio
    Marketing Program
  • Kavi Turnbull
    Faculty
    Business Mgmnt