A bachelor’s degree in marketing is a four-year undergraduate degree awarded to students who take the required program courses outlined by the college they attend and fulfill any other specific requirements for that college. The degree is usually completed within four years, but students can finish later or earlier depending on their course load each semester and whether they take any breaks away from school. The entrance requirements are a high school diploma or a GED (general education diploma) and a competitive score on the SAT (scholastic aptitude test). Careers in marketing management or marketing director require a bachelor’s degree. The University of Florida is the second largest university, in terms of student population, and offers a four-year degree in marketing. The University of Central Florida in Miami is the next largest university and also offers a degree in marketing, as does Broward College.
Colleges and community colleges in the state of Florida offer a two-year associate’s degree in marketing. Two-year marketing degrees are offered to students wishing to enroll in an accelerated program designed specifically for job advancement. In Florida, students enrolled in the two-year degree will spend part of the second year of their degree in a work placement within the marketing business sector. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida is the largest college in terms of student population. The college boasts one of the highest enrollments in the marketing and business associate’s degree in the state.
A technical certificate in marketing is a six-month to one-year program that teaches basic marketing to students with no knowledge or experience in marketing from an education or career standpoint. Technical certificates are designed to allow a student the basic required knowledge to qualify for an entry-level job position or used to add on to an existing marketing degree. Several state colleges and community colleges in Florida, such as Indian River State College, offer technical certificates in marketing.
Online marketing degrees are designed for out-of-state or working professionals who cannot commit to in class instruction on a full-time basis. A technical certificate in marketing or a two-year associate’s degree in marketing are more popular through online learning, but a bachelor’s degree can also be obtained this way. Some colleges and universities within Florida also offer courses online through their virtual school campus. The University of Phoenix, an online campus-based university, and Florida Tech University both have a strong presence in Florida.