What you will learn in SMU’s MBA marketing specialization

The cut-throat competitive marketplace today demands a strong brand presence – a presence that speaks volumes and delivers efficiently to the target customers. But even more important than its performance is the way it can promote itself to its targeted audience. And this is where the role of marketing becomes much more significant than ever. It isn’t enough anymore to just sell a product or service; it’s far more important to sell yourself as a brand among the tens of thousands you’re competing with and stand out from the competition. 

Enhance your marketing skills, the only ones you’ll need to survive and thrive in today’s business, with an online MBA in Marketing from Sikkim Manipal University. This blog presents a detailed SMU online MBA Marketing overview for your better understanding. The university offers an online MBA in dual specialization on the Online Manipal platform, where students get to choose another specialization of their preference along with Marketing as the first mandatory area of specialized study. The marketing specialization is designed to help students learn the much-desirable analytical and creative skills for business and marketing growth. 

SMU online MBA Marketing overview

The dual-specialization online MBA program is Sikkim Manipal University’s latest launch, enabling students the perfect opportunity to specialize in two complementary study domains simultaneously. Unlike other conventional MBA courses that allow students the choice of only one single specialization during the two-year program, the dual-specialization online MBA by Sikkim Manipal covers two disciplines in the same time frame. 

Let us look at some of the key Sikkim Manipal Marketing MBA details here. Online MBA in Marketing is a mandatory specialization in the program (as mentioned earlier) offered on Online Manipal. The course curriculum is designed in a way that comprehensively covers all the essential topics in marketing for students aspiring for a career in the field. Some of the key study areas covered in the specialization include:

• Digital Marketing
• Consumer behavior
• Market research
• Branding 

Students learn how to devise effective marketing plans and campaigns to foster business growth and engage consumers in the long run. 

Benefits of having marketing as an MBA specialization

Online Marketing MBA SMU offers Marketing as a compulsory specialization with the choice of other specializations as well in the fields of Finance, HR, Systems, and Operations & Supply Chain Management. However, opting for Marketing as a study area to specialize comes with a host of benefits, some of which are highlighted below:

1.  Helps build domain expertise: The course is designed to equip students with the desired knowledge and skills specific to the marketing domain. By enhancing their expertise in the field of marketing, particularly analytics and core marketing principles and strategies, the course makes students industry-ready to work in real-world business environments. 

2. Scope for career advancement: Pursuing an online Marketing MBA SMU course is the first step to a success ladder that can help position yourself in top leadership and managerial roles in the domain. You can opt for consulting, entrepreneurship, or analytical roles – the scope of choice is wide with advanced knowledge in marketing under your belt.

3. Better pay prospects: Advanced-level knowledge, skills, and expertise further lay the foundation for higher earning potential for graduates. They can demand excellent pay packages at companies coupled with top roles in leadership positions and gain a competitive edge over other non-MBA counterparts.

4. Industry-ready curriculum: Sikkim Manipal Marketing MBA details a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for ever-changing market needs. The job industry is ever-changing and it therefore helps to pursue a program that is in tune with the times and equips you with just the right skills and knowledge. SMU Marketing MBA course content is designed to help you position yourself as a strategic leader in the domain.

5. Top in-demand skills: One of the key benefits of taking up the Marketing specialization in SMU MBA courses is that the program helps students learn the most highly-demanded job skills in the market. These include marketing research, consumer behavior, brand management, and global marketing – all of which are aptly covered in the SMU Marketing MBA course content. 

What you will learn in marketing

Let us now look at what the course curriculum of the online MBA in Marketing from Sikkim Manipal University entails. The course spans 2 years, divided into 4 semesters, and spread out over online classes of 15-20 hours per week. The complete Sikkim Manipal Marketing MBA details for each subject taught during the program are outlined below:

Semester 1

1. Business Economics: Learning the application of key economic strategies for the overall profitability of a business enterprise.

2. Principles of Management and Organizational Behavior: Learning the core fundamental concepts of management and their application in organizations to better manage organizational behavior.

3. Computer Application in Management: Learning how to use computer systems and software for efficient performance of various marketing activities.    

4. Marketing Management: Learning successful marketing principles, strategies, and methods to effectively run all marketing activities and campaigns for an organization.

5. Legal Aspects of Business: Students learn more about the laws, rules, and regulations affecting marketing activities. These include the Consumer Protection Act, contract law, competition law, intellectual property rights, and regulations for advertising.

6. Accounting for Managers: Learning a wide range of accounting topics that can help managers make informed decisions. Some of the key topics covered in the SMU Marketing MBA course content for Accounting include forecasting, financial analysis, budgeting, and product costing. 

7. Business Communication: Learning the ways of effective communication in business environments.

Semester 2

1. Productions and Operations Management: Basic understanding of how goods and services are manufactured and delivered – a critical element of learning for marketing students where they know how to make informed decisions on pricing, product design, and inventory management.

2. Quantitative Methods in Management: This online MBA Marketing SMU course covers the employment of statistical and mathematical methods for analyzing and solving business problems.

3. Management Information Systems: Learning how to use data systems and technology for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting market data.

4. Human Resource Management: Knowledge of human resources helps marketing students gain a complete understanding of consumer behavior patterns and market trends.

5. Global Economic Environment and Policy: Students learn how global economic factors such as trade policies, rates of exchange, and international economic trends affect marketing strategies.

6. Financial Management: A key inclusion in SMU MBA Marketing course content, the subject enables marketing graduates to learn how to stick to monthly budgets in business and how marketing requirements align with overall company goals.

7. Research Methodology and Statistical Techniques: Students are taught the exact methods of conducting research and analyzing data trends to derive valued insights.

Semester 3

1. Business Strategy: Students learn the art of decision-making for improving an organization’s overall performance.

2. Project Management: Teaches students how to keep marketing campaigns timely and on track, ensuring that the project is completed right in time.

Specialization I (Compulsory): Marketing

• Retail and Distribution Management and Supply Chain Management: The end-to-end process of getting the product or service to the final consumer, ensuring timely delivery, effective distribution channels, and adequate levels of inventory.

• Consumer Behavior and Advertisement and Brand Management: Understanding the psychology of customers in making decisions about purchasing and learning about the methods needed to establish and maintain a strong brand image for the organization.

Specialization II: Choice of Finance, HR, Systems, and Operations & Supply Chain Management

Semester 4

• Banking and Insurance Management: Focuses on the specific marketing tactics and strategies that banks and insurance companies use to reach out to their intended customer base.

Specialization I (Compulsory): Marketing 

• Service Marketing & Global Marketing: Students learn the key to promoting intangible services across global borders, taking into account cultural differences and accordingly adapting different marketing campaigns to different international markets.

• Market Research: A key topic that enables organizations to better understand their target audience and accordingly design their marketing campaigns.

Specialization II: Choice of Finance, HR, Systems, and Operations & Supply Chain Management

• Project Work

SMU MBA eligibility criteria

We discussed the Sikkim Manipal Marketing MBA details in the section above. Let us now look at who can apply for the program and what it takes from aspiring students:

Eligibility criteria for domestic applicants

• Completion of 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 or 10+3+3 at the undergraduate level in any stream from a recognized university/educational institution. Alternatively, an equivalent qualification recognized by the AIU is also acceptable.
• Overall 50% aggregate is required at the UG level. Candidates from reserved categories are allowed a minimum aggregate of 45%. 

Eligibility criteria for international applicants

• Completion of 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 or 10+3+3 at the undergraduate level in any stream from a recognized university/educational institution. Alternatively, an equivalent qualification recognized by the AIU is also acceptable. Students completing 10+2 or graduate studies outside India are required to produce a certificate of equivalence from the AIU.
• Overall 50% aggregate is required at the UG level. Candidates from reserved categories are allowed a minimum aggregate of 45%. 
• Non-Indian citizens or candidates residing outside India holding PIO or NRE status are required to pay an international fee for the course.
• They also need to submit documents such as proof of address, a PR Card, an updated CV, a valid visa, and a copy of the original passport during the application stage.  

Careers after MBA dual specialization

As the above sections may have made it clear, SMU Marketing MBA course content is designed to make students industry- and job-ready. Graduates of online MBA with dual specialization from Sikkim Manipal are eligible to apply for the following job roles upon course completion:

Job role	Average annual salary (approx)
Portfolio Manager	INR 18,80,000 per annum
Financial Manager	INR 17,00,000 per annum
Marketing Manager	INR 13,27,952 per annum
Database Administrator	INR 8,13,914 per annum
Supply Chain Analyst	INR 7,17,000 per annum

Benefits of pursuing MBA with dual specialization

Sikkim Manipal University’s online MBA with dual specialization offers a host of benefits to students, who get the exclusive opportunity to build expertise in the field of marketing and enhance their domain knowledge in another complementary discipline as well.

Some of the key benefits of the program for students include:

• Enhanced career potential
• Higher pay packages
• 100% online learning ensuring flexibility, convenience, and self-paced study
• Managerial and leadership skills
• Strong alumni professional network
• Opportunity to specialize in two disciplines in the same course duration 

Conclusion

This blog aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of SMU online MBA in Marketing. The university offers a dual-specialization MBA program with one mandatory specialization in Marketing and a choice of subjects for the second specialization. The Marketing specialization equips students with the desired industry skills that enable them to find higher-pay jobs in the market.

Sign up for Sikkim Manipal’s online MBA with dual specialization and chart out a successful career path for your future.