Best Marketing Degrees • 20 Best Online Associates in Marketing Degree Programs
The Marketing program at Dakota County Technical College is ranked #3 nationally on 20 Best Online Associates in Marketing Degree Programs by Best Marketing Degrees (BMD).
The Marketing program offers a 60-credit Marketing Associate of Science (A.S.) degree, a 60-credit Digital Marketing Specialist Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree, and a 16-credit Sales Specialist certificate. Both degrees and the certificate are delivered completely online.
One of the leading marketing education online blogs, BMD was created to explore the intersection of marketing and marketing education. BMD analyzes and ranks college marketing programs based on three metrics: affordability, flexibility and core content.
The Best Schools ranks DCTC Marketing #14 nationally
In addition to the BMD ranking, The Best Schools ranks the DCTC Marketing program #14 on The Best Online Associate in Marketing Programs. Degree program selection is based on quality and range of courses available as well as school awards, rankings and reputation.
The Best Schools is an organizational member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), which serves students as they make choices about pursuing postsecondary education, and the American Council on Education (ACE), which mobilizes the higher education community to help shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality educational practices.
Sierra Ruud: Student perspective…
“DCTC’s Marketing instructors are organized, helping students through each step of their classwork. They make sure we understand each course and want us to succeed—always.
“As a student who wasn’t typically good at school, I am now part of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and I think the way the marketing classes are taught helps me stay on top of coursework.”
Siearra Ruud
Marketing Student
Dakota County Technical College
More about the DCTC Marketing program…
Marketing professionals leverage their attention to detail and communication skills to create marketing messages that address their customer needs through various communication methods. Marketers develop strategies to benefit both internal audiences and external customers. Their ability to work in fast-paced environment, deadline-oriented environments is due to marketers being independent thinkers.
The Marketing program at DCTC teaches you all general marketing concepts as well as crucial marketing skills, including:
- Managing projects
- Determining strategies to reach markets
- Coordinating the distribution of products
- Planning advertising and promotional campaigns
- Creating digital strategies to establish a strong web presence
- Analyzing data
- Researching to assist in market planning
Deborah Locke: Graduate perspective…
As a seasoned communicator, Deborah Locke enrolled in the DCTC Marketing program to update her professional skills.
“For most of 2015, I applied for jobs in communications, but learned the hard way that a 1992 M.A. degree in communications didn’t mean a lot to employers.
“That changed upon graduating from DCTC. Almost overnight three potential employers asked for interviews, which led to my current position with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. I can’t say enough about the positive influence of DCTC—and I am living proof of its efficacy.”
Deborah Locke
2016 DCTC Graduate
Public Information Officer
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Marketing career work environment
Often the key to success of companies, institutions and businesses both large and small, marketing professionals work to develop strategies to meet overall organizational goals. Marketers can have creative or project management positions within a department.
Professional marketers tend to work under deadlines set by managers, vendors and/or the requirements of time-sensitive projects. The role of a marketer can encompass creative, analytical, digital and administrative responsibilities that vary depending on the type and size of their employer. Improved technology continues to increase telecommuting from home offices.
Carie Statz: Faculty perspective…
“We have a dedicated advisory committee for the DCTC Marketing program comprised of more than 30 marketing professionals, who meet at least twice a year to keep the program current and of high quality.
“With their different perspectives, our advisors make sure the Marketing program has courses to develop a well-rounded marketer.”
Carie Statz
Marketing Faculty
Dakota County Technical College
Carie Statz: Faculty Bio
Carie Statz serves as the lead instructor in the Marketing & Sales department. Carie began her career at DCTC in 1998, first as the college’s marketing director and later as Marketing & Sales faculty. She teaches courses in two degree programs, Marketing A.S. and Digital Marketing Specialist A.A.S., and the Sale Specialist certificate.
Carie completed her Doctorate of Business Administration (D.B.A.) at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Mass Communications with a Minor in Spanish and an Emphasis on Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
At the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico, Carie pursued general studies in Spanish and anthropology. She also attended the Grantsmanship Training Program at Marquette University.
Carie continues her education through software upgrades and Web applications. She also attends seminars, courses and conferences covering new trends in marketing and graphic design.
Carie currently owns three small businesses where she sells both products and services to B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer) clientele.
Her nonprofit marketing experience includes supervisory positions at DCTC, UWM, and the Community Action Program of Janesville, Wisconsin. Her for-profit experience includes work for Walt Disney World, Oscar Mayer Foods and TCF Bank of Wisconsin.
In 2003 and 2007, Carie was nominated as “DCTC Outstanding Instructor of the Year.” As the DCTC marketing director, she won several awards for marketing materials, including radio and television commercials as well as viewbooks and catalogs.
Carie’s teaching philosophy: “Bring the real world into the classroom as much as possible so students are prepared for work upon graduation.”
Best part of her job as a DCTC instructor: “Hearing from internship supervisors about how they would rather hire a prepared student from DCTC than another student from a four-year college.”
Carie Statz is a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and does volunteer work for Treasurers of the Heart and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
Nikita Mix: Student perspective…
“The information and hands-on experience are excellent and relevant to the marketing industry. The professors and staff are extremely helpful and available. Thanks to their efforts I was able to find a rewarding internship to jump-start my career.
“I couldn’t be any happier with my choice of pursuing my marketing degree with DCTC, and I highly recommend this program.”
Nikita Mix
Marketing Student
Dakota County Technical College
Marketing career paths
Earning your Marketing A.S. and/or Digital Marketing Specialist A.A.S. at DCTC can be the gateway to a number of rewarding careers in the marketing field, including:
- Marketing
- Sales manager
- Account executive
- Marketing director
- Public relations specialist
- Commercial marketing specialist
- Market development manager
- Marketing coordinator
- Media outreach coordinator
- Communications manager
- Information and communications specialist
- Public affairs officer
Sales Managers
Coordinate the process of getting a product or service to a customer.
WAGE
This career pays well above the statewide median of $21.49/hour
Minnesota
Median: $59.21/hour
High: $81.95/hourSeven-county Twin Cities metro
Median: $63.06/hour
High: $85.97/hourOUTLOOK
In Minnesota, there are 10,700 workers employed in this large career. This career is currently in high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate in Minnesota is 6.1 percent.
There will be a need for about 11,942 new Sales Managers to meet market demand between 2016–2026. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.
— Minnesota State CAREERwise Education
Public Relations Specialists
Create a public image for their organization or product.
WAGE
This career pays above the statewide median of $21.49/hour
Minnesota
Median: $29.10/hour
High: $36.56/hourSeven-county Twin Cities metro
Median: $30.25/hour
High: $37.59/hourOUTLOOK
This career is currently in high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate in Minnesota is 8.8 percent.
There will be a need for about 5,176 new Public Relations Specialists to meet market demand between 2016–2026. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.
— Minnesota State CAREERwise Education
Marketing Managers
Identify how much demand there is for a product and find customers.
WAGE
This is a very high-wage career that pays well above the statewide median of $21.49/hour
Minnesota
Median: $65.97/hour
High: $84.02/hourSeven-county Twin Cities metro
Median: $67.89/hour
High: $42.18/hourOUTLOOK
This career is currently in high demand and seeing high growth compared to other careers. Growth rate in Minnesota is 8.3 percent.
There will be a need for about 7,663 new Marketing Managers to meet market demand between 2016–2026. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.
— Minnesota State CAREERwise Education
Learn more about the Marketing program at DCTC by contacting:
Carie Statz
Marketing & Sales Faculty
651-423-8622
Erin Lund
Academic & Financial Aid Advisor
651-423-8278