A new sales certificate program at Ohio University will offer students a specialized education in media sales.
The certificate, which is waiting for approval from the Curriculum Council, will allow students to specialize in media sales by covering a variety of media and providing a combination of critical thinking, advertising and business knowledge and sales strategies and techniques.
Associate Director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Jan Slater, who proposed the certificate to Curriculum Council, said there is a big need for the media sales certificate. There aren't many places who teach you how to sell advertising
and there is a lot of demand for people who know how to do it she said. It is a very good career choice for people who excel at it. So we're really just giving our students whether they are journalism students or College of Communication students or business students
another option in terms of career choice.
The media sales certificate has the same business requirements of the existing sales certificate, but the student can choose from journalism or telecommunications electives.
The core marketing classes will stay the same
and then the adaptation will come into the elective and interdisciplinary area
Slater said, so we're able to combine the sales and focus them on advertising at the same time.
Marcy Bernstein, a sophomore advertising management major, said she is interested in the media sales certificate because she is considering career choices revolving around media. She said she thinks she would have an advantage for getting internships if she were involved with the program.
In advertising
you are either on the business or creative side
and this certificate is perfect for the business side
Bernstein said.
Tim Navaro, a junior organizational communication major, is pursuing the media sales curriculum. He said it will help his career because it deals with important parts of the advertising world, and he will get to hear speakers, which he said is the best part of the program.
I definitely think the things outside of the class are the most important parts of the program
Navaro said.
The media sales certificate would join two other certificate programs in the Sales Centre in the College of Business. The sales certificate, which was the first certificate program offered by the Sales Centre, was approved in 1999. Also, a retail sales certificate was approved last month.
Kenneth Hartung, director of the Sales Centre, said programs are being added to help the Sales Centre grow. He said other certificates might be added in the future.
Hartung said the retail certificate was created to meet the market need for selling in a retail environment. He said understanding such an environment would be a good for buyers and sellers.
At the end of this quarter, 70 students will have completed the existing sales certificate. Any OU student interested in the retail focus program can apply after it has been established in the next few months.
