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As the world's top athletes competed in the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship in St. George on May 4, Utah Tech University marketing students helped with the event while simultaneously gaining real-world experience in their field of study. By collecting data directly from the athletes to use in an economic impact study of the event, students are going beyond learning theoretical knowledge from a text book and practicing what they may one day do as part of their careers.
As Utah Tech University continues to expand its online offerings and apply its signature "active learning. active life" approach to education to these programs, students can benefit from the flexibility of online learning while receiving personalized attention.
Specifically, students in Utah Tech's online bachelor's degree program in marketing who live in the St. George area or who are willing to travel to Southern Utah are also helping with community-based initiatives. Those include the Ironman and the St. George Marathon in October. Student involvement provides a way to see firsthand what fields they want to specialize in.
"We really care a lot about our students," Kristy Grayson, an assistant professor in Utah Tech's Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing program, said. "We know them individually and try to figure out what their career path or dream is and focus on how we're going to get them there."
Utah Tech's online marketing program features one of the most affordable tuition rates in Utah and has already attracted the attention of both recent high school graduates and nontraditional students, such as parents, part-time students and working professionals, alike.
"Being a student-athlete is difficult when you are competing for your school but have to play catch-up in your classes," Mandy Farnum, a Utah Tech swimmer majoring in marketing, said. "The online program has taken lots of stress off of my shoulders to become a successful student. We are still able to interact with professors and work with businesses that allow us to apply what we are learning in the real world."
In fact, online students in Utah Tech's marketing program learn the same curriculum from the professors who teach the university's in-person program. With three faculty members teaching the program, the professors know their students well and constantly adapt materials to meet the ever-changing needs of the marketing field. As experienced professionals themselves, faculty work to partner with regional and national businesses, finding internships for students to apply their learning in real-world settings.
Beyond internships, the online coursework itself also involves interactive content, allowing students to work with real businesses on actual business problems, either remotely or in person. Students don't just study theories and concepts, but gain skills and industry-recognized certifications in specialized fields like data analytics, email marketing and search engine optimization.
Students finish their degree with not only foundational knowledge, but "been there, done that" experience, as Grayson puts it. These hands-on experiences prepare students to graduate career-ready, a key component of Utah Tech's comprehensive polytechnic education.
With the need for marketers on the rise, Utah Tech's program is positioned to prepare graduates to fill workforce demands. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that marketing, promotion and advertising jobs will increase 6%from 2022 to 2032, or 32,000 job openings per year over the decade, which is faster than average for other jobs. Most students are ready to enter the workforce in four years, as Utah Tech's program requires 120 credits.
Learn more about Utah Tech University's Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing at online.utahtech.edu/programs/bs-marketing.
