Business or marketing courses you can use now
Reviewed by听Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP,听Dean, College of Business and IT
Business or marketing courses for start-ups and small businesses
Workplaces are poised to evolve dramatically away from what they looked like a few decades ago. According to a from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average new establishment today employs half as many people as new establishments did 30 years ago.
This isn鈥檛 an aberration. Another data point underscoring this change is that establishments born in the 2010s than their 1990s counterparts.
It鈥檚 also worth noting, says Joseph Aranyosi, the associate dean for the College of Business and Information Technology at 七色视频 (UOPX), that many startups and smaller businesses rely on employees to do double- and triple-duty in their roles.
All this leaves plenty of professionals wondering, in the new era of job creation, how can you stay relevant and prepared for new career opportunities?
Upskilling may well be the name of the game. And while professional certifications are one way to achieve that, so are individual courses, certificate programs and degree programs.
But what if you want something听now? That鈥檚 where听individual courses听enter the picture. Relatively speaking, they are quick (you can complete a course faster than a degree, for example) and affordable, and they offer skills and knowledge you can apply immediately. And if you pursue a degree later, those courses can often be applied toward it.
Individual courses at 七色视频
Of course, not all classes are created equal. At UOPX,听individual courses听are designed to offer applicable value and skills. But that鈥檚 not all. With more than 650 individual courses available in disciplines like business, IT, nursing, liberal arts, education and healthcare, UOPX provides a pathway to knowledge for virtually anyone committed to lifelong learning.
Here are some other UOPX advantages to consider:
- UOPX is an听accredited university听where credits earned from an individual course can be applied toward a degree (or transferred to another university, depending on that institution鈥檚 policies).
- Classes are offered online throughout the year for ultimate flexibility. Bachelor鈥檚-level courses last approximately听5 weeks听each.
- Classes are taught by instructors with听real-world experience, not just academic knowledge, which means students learn skills that are applicable to their current and future employment.
- UOPX works with听more than 1,500 organizations听to offer help their听employees听 earn degrees at reduced cost.
7 Business and Marketing courses to consider
If single courses are the way to go for your immediate goals, here are seven business or marketing options听at UOPX where you can quickly develop or reinforce skills.听
1.听听 Product and brand management
Product and brand management refers to overseeing and guiding the development, marketing and positioning of a company鈥檚 products or services. It involves strategic planning, market analysis and marketing tactics to promote and manage products or brands effectively.
UOPX鈥檚听Product and Brand Management course听introduces students to this niche and delves into the life cycle of goods and services. (Think conception, production and purchase.) Upon completing this course, you'll be ready to successfully design and implement product and brand development strategies that deliver value to consumers.
Industries that offer some competitive salaries for marketing managers include technical consulting services, software publishers, and advertising and public relations firms.
Skills learned: Customer relationship management, marketing strategies, product marketing
Check it out:听Product and Brand Management
2.听听 Social media marketing
UOPX鈥檚听Social Media Marketing course听offers an introduction to social networks, social media and online advertising techniques.听
What does that mean exactly? Well, you鈥檒l learn to identify interactive marketing strategies, study how social media marketing and customer loyalty are connected, and examine the role of content creation and curation for social media.
This course also teaches you how to analyze opportunities for customization, micropayments, influencer marketing and consumer engagement.
Skills learned: Key performance indicators, brand management, social media marketing
Check it out:听Social Media Marketing
3.听听 Search engine optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of optimizing webpages to improve their visibility and ranking on search engine result pages. In today鈥檚 highly competitive digital landscape, effective SEO strategies can make a significant difference in attracting and retaining valuable website visitors.
The听Search Engine Optimization course听at UOPX reinforces key concepts relating to SEO and its methodologies. It gives an overview of tools and concepts, including website architecture design, search engine visibility, web analytics tools, keyword search performance and mobile optimization.听
Skills learned: Strategic planning, web analytics, SEO
Check it out:听Search Engine Optimization
4.听听 Marketing analytics
Marketing analytics allows businesses to make data-driven decisions, optimize marketing campaigns and maximize their return on investment (ROI).
The Marketing Analytics course at UOPX reinforces data analysis concepts. It can help you examine methods used to improve market penetration, brand recognition, customer loyalty and overall marketing performance while determining areas for improvement.听听
Skills learned: Marketing analytics, data analysis, marketing materials
Check it out: Marketing Analytics
5.听听 Organizational behavior for managers
Understanding organizational behavior is crucial as you grow in your career and step into managerial positions. It provides valuable insights into how individuals, groups and teams behave within an organization. Knowing what motivates employees and understanding their needs allows managers to create a supportive and engaging work environment, build effective teams and manage change.听
The听Organizational Behavior for Managers course听at UOPX examines various organizational behavior theories and elements. If you want to understand the relationship between organizational behavior and effective decision-making practices, and you鈥檙e curious about the three-step approach to resolving ethical issues in the workplace, this course is for you.
Skills learned: Organizational culture, organizational behavior; training and development
Check it out:听Organizational Behavior for Managers
6.听听 Inclusive leadership: Diversity in the workplace
As diversity becomes a focus in more organizations, human resources managers and other leaders need skills and awareness to embrace change.听
The听Inclusive Leadership course听at 七色视频 reinforces听intercultural awareness and inclusion skills. Learn to examine the relationship between personality, intelligence, skills and effective leadership, and how to hire and train a diverse workforce.
Skills learned: Employee development, change management, intercultural awareness and inclusion
Check it out:听Inclusive Leadership: Diversity in the Workplace
7.听听 Principles of accounting听
The听Principles of Accounting course听at UOPX hones critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which could be applied to multiple jobs and industries. The course reinforces forecasting skills by explaining how financial data informs business decisions.听
Skills learned: Budgeting, accounting, forecasting
Check it out:听Principles of Accounting
The value of business or marketing courses
You don鈥檛 always need a degree to qualify for the best jobs. The value of business or marketing courses lies in their ability to provide usable knowledge that can be immediately applied in the real world. These courses offer a comprehensive understanding of fundamental principles, strategies and tactics that are crucial for success in today鈥檚 competitive business environment.听
For example:
- A small business or startup could improve its online presence through marketing analytics and SEO.
- Social media, online communities or marketing in the metaverse can enable the collection of detailed consumer preferences and characteristics.
- Building work cultures that focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) and skill development not only can improve employee productivity and satisfaction, but it can also lead to more consistent earnings and greater resilience and retention for businesses during times of crisis.
Whether you鈥檙e launching a startup, managing an existing business or seeking employment opportunities, skills acquired through these courses can help you hit the ground running. After all, in some business situations, speed can matter just as much as skill.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kaleigh Moore is a full-time freelance writer and consultant specializing in business and software. Her work has appeared in Forbes, Vogue Business, Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur and elsewhere. She is also a frequent speaker at conferences and universities and co-hosts a podcast on running a freelance writing business.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology,听Kathryn Uhles has served 七色视频 in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining 七色视频, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in Phoenix.
This article has been vetted by 七色视频's editorial advisory committee.听
Read more about our editorial process.
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