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Gain Practical Knowledge

Marketing Department

Learn to develop creative marketing strategies and build a strong customer base in the marketing department at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business.

Learn the Art and Science of Marketing

Our marketing department offers graduate study options and an undergraduate concentration in Marketing. Our courses are designed to offer an optimal balance of theoretical teaching with hands-on learning to reinforce key concepts. Case studies, simulations and group projects give you valuable real-world experience that employers have come to expect of our graduates.

Our faculty has decades of experience in the classroom, in academic research and in the professional world, and they’re passionate about preparing students to thrive in their marketing careers. Some of our marketing courses are taught by Prof + Prof, a unique team-teaching approach that pairs a PhD professor with an experienced business leader.

The St. Thomas marketing department has strong connections to the local business and nonprofit communities, which opens up networking and internship opportunities for our students. By staying in sync with the professional community, we ensure that our course content aligns with what’s happening in the industry.

Learn more about our marketing programs, resources and faculty. Have questions? Please contact us.

Undergraduate Students: (651) 962-5544
Graduate Students: (651) 962-4200

Contact

Aaron Sackett

Department Chair
Aaron Sackett headshot
Phone Number
(651) 962-5146

Explore the Marketing Department

  • Our Faculty
  • Academic Programs and Research Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Career Services
  • Our Faculty

    Our world-class faculty represents a blend of research active and clinical/client-focused professors. Sports, health care, voting, student learning, innovation and branding in hip-hop music are just a few of the fascinating topics our research active professors are known for.

    Our research-based professors leverage their research expertise and findings into the classroom setting, while our clinical faculty draw from their experience working with clients in the current marketplace. This creates a comprehensive, complementary learning environment.

    Academic Programs and Research Opportunities

    Whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, St. Thomas has programs and courses to develop your marketing knowledge and skills. From general marketing management to our specialized digital marketing studies, St. Thomas has a program to meet your career goals.

    Marketing students have a unique opportunity to do hands-on research in our Behavioral Research Center as part of the Principles of Marketing (MKTG 300) course. MKTG 300 students must complete 3 hours of research – roughly equivalent to 3 different studies – to fulfill a research requirement.

    Explore Marketing Studies

    Undergraduate concentrations:

    Graduate programs:

    Digital Experience Certificate

    Internships

    An internship is a great way to refine the knowledge you’ve gained in class and put your new skills to work. Local organizations approach St. Thomas seeking marketing interns, because they know the quality of our education and of our students. Over 90% of marketing students hold an internship while at St. Thomas. We can help you identify the internship opportunities that best align with your professional goals.

    Career Services

    The experts in the Career Development Center can help you find internships, develop job hunting skills, and put you in touch with business leads—both alumni and University of St. Thomas connections in the broader Twin Cities business scene. We can help you:

    • Clarify your strengths and how they relate to majors and career fields
    • Map out a career plan
    • Create your résumé and prepare for interviews including mock interviews
    • Look job opportunities
    Career Services

    Our Faculty

    Our world-class faculty represents a blend of research active and clinical/client-focused professors. Sports, health care, voting, student learning, innovation and branding in hip-hop music are just a few of the fascinating topics our research active professors are known for.

    Our research-based professors leverage their research expertise and findings into the classroom setting, while our clinical faculty draw from their experience working with clients in the current marketplace. This creates a comprehensive, complementary learning environment.

    Academic Programs and Research Opportunities

    Whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, St. Thomas has programs and courses to develop your marketing knowledge and skills. From general marketing management to our specialized digital marketing studies, St. Thomas has a program to meet your career goals.

    Marketing students have a unique opportunity to do hands-on research in our Behavioral Research Center as part of the Principles of Marketing (MKTG 300) course. MKTG 300 students must complete 3 hours of research – roughly equivalent to 3 different studies – to fulfill a research requirement.

    Explore Marketing Studies

    Undergraduate concentrations:

    Graduate programs:

    Digital Experience Certificate

    Internships

    An internship is a great way to refine the knowledge you’ve gained in class and put your new skills to work. Local organizations approach St. Thomas seeking marketing interns, because they know the quality of our education and of our students. Over 90% of marketing students hold an internship while at St. Thomas. We can help you identify the internship opportunities that best align with your professional goals.

    Career Services

    The experts in the Career Development Center can help you find internships, develop job hunting skills, and put you in touch with business leads—both alumni and University of St. Thomas connections in the broader Twin Cities business scene. We can help you:

    • Clarify your strengths and how they relate to majors and career fields
    • Map out a career plan
    • Create your résumé and prepare for interviews including mock interviews
    • Look job opportunities
    Career Services

    Featured Faculty

    Mike Porter headshot

    Mike Porter, EdD

    Clinical Faculty, Marketing

    Mike Porter, EdD, teaches graduate courses including Reputation Management, Health Care Writing, Communication Research and Management Priorities for Communicators. He has also taught New Venture Strategy and Strategic Writing to MBA students.

    Read Mike Porter's Bio

    Avinash Malshe headshot.

    Avinash Malshe, PhD

    Professor, Marketing

    Avinash Malshe’s research examines marketing strategy processes in business-to-business markets. His work is published in marketing, management and business journals, including: Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Service Research and the Journal of Management. Malshe is a recipient of the prestigious University Scholar Grant at St. Thomas and the Susan E. Heckler Research Excellence Award.

    Read Avinash Malshe’s Bio

    Gino Giovannelli headshot.

    Gino Giovannelli

    Clinical Faculty, Marketing

    Gino Giovannelli created Miles Interactive in 2006 to help clients identify how to best leverage the Internet to delight customers and maximize business success. Miles Interactive clients include Super Bowl 52 Host Committee, University of Minnesota Alumni Association, Caribou Coffee, SUPERVALU, Famous Dave's, Life Time Fitness and Sun Country Airlines. Prior to launching Miles Interactive, Giovannelli served as Vice President of Carlson Interactive, an interactive agency within Carlson Companies.

    Read Gino Giovannelli's Bio

    Marketing Faculty

    Emeriti Faculty

    • David Brennan
    • Yusen Liu
    • Dick Sauter

    Experiential Learning

    Featured Course: Marketing Management

    In this hands-on course, Small Business Institute (SBI) clients present student teams with business problems. The student teams must then craft and present solutions to the clients, with the support and guidance of the course instructor.

    The Behavioral Research Center

    The BRC provides space for St. Thomas faculty and students to conduct marketing research. And the BRC gives students an opportunity to learn how behavioral research can yield new insights about marketing and consumer psychology. The laboratory and its resources accommodate a variety of project types.
    More About the BRC

    American Marketing Association

    The St. Thomas chapter of the AMA is a student-run organization that provides its members the opportunity to network with marketing professionals and fellow students, either on campus or at corporations and agencies in the Twin Cities. Our off-site visits provide networking opportunities and the chance for students to experience various work environments.
    A student abroad holding the Tommies flag.

    Study Abroad

    Traveling is a great way to learn.

    Round out your marketing studies with one of our many study abroad programs. Visit foreign businesses and learn how they carry out marketing strategies, experience another culture firsthand, and gain a new perspective on what you’re learning back home.

    "The International Marketing J-Term trip to South America remains a highlight of my 4 years at St. Thomas."
    - Kari Solheim ('18)