Joining the concentration is simple—just reach out to your academic advisor to discuss adding it to your degree plan.
Professional selling is one of the most exciting and rewarding career paths in business today. It is about building relationships, solving problems, and helping companies grow. As a professional salesperson, you become a trusted advisor, using strategy, communication, and insight to deliver value to your clients.
No matter what industry you are passionate about—whether it is sports, fashion, tech, healthcare, or finance—sales is what drives business forward, and there is a growing demand for talented, well-trained professionals. It is one of the most in-demand skill sets, offering strong earning potential, rapid career advancement, and endless opportunities to make a difference.
Professional Sales Classes
MKT 3358: Professional Selling
This class teaches the basics of the selling profession and introduces students to action learning through sales role-play presentations, corporate sales presentations, and writing a sales letter.
MKT 3360: Sales and Sales Management
This class covers sales force recruiting, training and management, sales budgeting and forecasting, and territory management. Case studies are included.
MKT 4396: Directed Study in Sales
This class includes three components that take students to the next level in understanding the intricacies of selling, including the use of technology for increased productivity, prospecting, and developing specific account strategies.
MKT 4392: Sales Internship
The final learning experience is an internship in the sales profession, reinforcing classroom concepts and providing real-world experience.
For marketing majors, a sales concentration replaces marketing electives; for non-marketing majors, the courses count as free electives. Either way, sales courses do not extend your degree plan.
Professional Sales Concentration
The sales concentration offered through the Department of Marketing is a powerful opportunity for marketing students looking to build a successful career in any industry. With a curriculum designed to blend classroom learning with real-world application, students gain hands-on experience through internships that often lead to full-time job offers.
Students who participate in the sales concentration take challenging courses that focus on both theory and action learning, which enhances their understanding of the sales process. The sales concentration consists of completing the above four courses.
Sign up for sales concentration
Key Benefits
Access to Top Industry Leaders
In addition to the coursework, as a professional sales student, you will have the opportunity to build personal relationships with top industry leaders, gain exclusive access to networking events. Whether you aspire to work for a Fortune 500 company or launch your own business, the Professional Sales Concentration provides the foundation for long-term success.
Access to Sales Internships with Leading Organizations
The sales internship is a required component of the Professional Sales Concentration, ensuring that every student gains real-world experience before graduation. This hands-on opportunity not only strengthens your skills but also significantly increases your chances of securing a full-time job—many of our students receive offers directly from their internship employers. As a sales concentration student, you’ll have a distinct advantage in landing internships thanks to the dedicated support of our sales faculty, who connect students with top companies and guide them through the application process.
Access to Scholarships
Students in the Professional Sales Concentration have exclusive access to scholarships designed specifically for sales students, providing financial support to help them excel in their studies and careers. By joining the sales program, students not only gain invaluable experience but also increase their chances of receiving additional financial assistance to support their academic and professional growth.
Access to Exclusive Opportunities
Students in the Professional Sales Concentration gain access to a wide range of exclusive, high-impact experiences designed to enhance career readiness and professional development. From Interview Express, where students engage in one-on-one interviews with top-tier corporate partners, to the Student Success Series, which features career preparation workshops and leadership development sessions, every opportunity is crafted to build confidence, skills, and industry connections.
Students also benefit from mentorship provided by corporate partners and alumni, classroom visits from executives at leading organizations, and a variety of on- and off-campus networking events that provide real-world insight and relationship-building opportunities. These experiences go far beyond the traditional classroom—offering a dynamic, career-launching environment where students are empowered to succeed in today’s competitive sales landscape.
Access to state-of-the-art 3M Sales Labs
The 3M Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, has underwritten three new sales laboratories for the Center for Professional Sales. The laboratories allow for corporate role-playing in business-to-business sales—a key component. component of success for sales center graduates. The 3M gift allows students to review their progress in a detailed manner and continue to improve their skills.
Access to Sales Competitions
Sales competitions provide students with an invaluable opportunity to apply classroom theory in real-world selling scenarios. These competitions are a critical component of our program, offering a dynamic, hands-on learning experience that aligns with our educational mission and enhances the overall development of our students. Our strong track record of success speaks for itself: visit the Awards page to learn more.
Access to a Sales Alumni Network
The Center for Professional Sales Alumni Network (CPSAN) is a dynamic community designed to keep alumni connected, engaged, and supported throughout their careers in sales. As an extension of the Center for Professional Sales, CPSAN fosters lifelong relationships between graduates, current students, faculty, and industry professionals.
Access to the elite Sales Ambassador Program
The Sales Ambassadors are an elite group of high-achieving sales students who represent the very best of the Center for Professional Sales. Selected for their professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence, these students play a vital role in promoting the Center, engaging with corporate partners, mentoring fellow students, and supporting key events and initiatives throughout the academic year. To learn more about how to become a Sales Ambassador, please contact Mr. Juan Holguin.
2024-2025 Sales Ambassadors
| Fernanda Vazquez Guerrero |
| Jonathan Preston |
| Baylee Perez |
| Haley White |
| Natalie Santander |
| Julie Hodges |
| Meagan Carson |
| Sam Jones |
| Jack Callaway |
| Blake Koch |
| Kathryn Ellison Mendoza |
| Zachary Swoboda |
| Kiana Graham |
| Tori Schairbaum |
| Charley Thomas |
| Karsyn Fontenot |
| Destiny Diaz |
Student Testimonials
Cecilia Saur / Sales Intern at ABC Supply
"One of the most rewarding parts of the internship was learning from experienced mentors who helped me develop my leadership and product knowledge."
