University of Southern Mississippi

What you'll study

This programme combines core marketing principles with specialised study in sales, merchandising and the operational processes that support marketing activities. You will take a mix of business foundation courses and targeted modules that emphasise practical skills, data-informed decision-making and customer-facing competencies.

• Core business foundations: introductory accounting, principles of management, business law and professional communication to ground marketing practice in broader commercial context.
• Marketing fundamentals: marketing principles, consumer behaviour, marketing research and digital marketing techniques that cover both strategy and execution.
• Specialised sales and selling: personal selling and sales management, negotiation, key account management, and consultative selling methods for B2B and B2C environments.
• Merchandising and retail operations: retail buying and assortment planning, visual merchandising, inventory control, supply chain basics and store operations management.
• Marketing operations and analytics: marketing operations, retail analytics, pricing and promotion strategy, and use of CRM and merchandising tools to support decisions.
• Practical and experiential learning: applied projects, simulations, case studies, internships and opportunities to work with local retailers or suppliers; some students complete a capstone project or practicum with industry partners.
• Electives and professional development: courses in e-commerce, social media strategy, entrepreneurship, and business ethics, plus workshops on presentation, negotiation and career readiness.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a high-school diploma or equivalent. Typical admissions consider academic transcripts and overall preparedness for undergraduate study; conditional offers may be made for applicants who do not yet meet all requirements.

• Domestic applicants: secondary-school completion with appropriate grades. Colleges may consider class rank, GPA and supporting materials such as personal statements or references.
• International applicants: equivalent qualifications from an accredited secondary system and evidence of English proficiency (for example recognised IELTS or TOEFL scores, or alternative institutional evidence of English ability).
• Additional considerations: prior experience in retail, customer service or sales, a résumé demonstrating related extracurricular activity, or completion of introductory business modules can strengthen an application. Specific placement requirements or credit transfers are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for frontline and managerial roles across retail, wholesale, distribution and services. The programme emphasises transferable skills valued by employers, including negotiation, merchandising planning, data-informed decision-making and customer relationship management.

• Retail buyer or merchandise planner
• Sales representative, account executive or territory manager
• Category manager or product operations specialist
• Store or retail operations manager
• E-commerce merchandiser, digital sales specialist or CRM coordinator
• Trade marketing or sales support roles in manufacturer or supplier organisations
• Further study in marketing, business administration or specialised postgraduate sales and analytics programmes

Why study at University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Southern Mississippi offers a business education that combines regional industry links with experiential learning opportunities. Students benefit from a collegiate environment where applied projects, internships and local employer engagement are emphasised to build workplace-ready skills.

• AACSB-accredited business education: the College of Business provides a curriculum aligned to professional standards and employer expectations.
• Hands-on learning: strong emphasis on practicum, internship placements and community partnerships that allow students to apply merchandising and sales techniques in real settings.
• Career support and student organisations: access to career services, networking events, and student groups focused on marketing and sales that help with professional development and employer connections.
• Flexible pathways: elective choices and opportunities to combine study with minors or certificates in areas such as e-commerce, data analytics or entrepreneurship to tailor career direction.