Considering a Marketing Degree? Student Perceptions of General versus Specialized Majors
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| Title: | Considering a Marketing Degree? Student Perceptions of General versus Specialized Majors |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Atkin, JoAnn L. (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Marketing Education. Apr 2022 44(1):85-99. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 15 |
| Publication Date: | 2022 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Marketing, Majors (Students), Undergraduate Students, Student Attitudes, Self Efficacy, Comparative Analysis, Specialization, Decision Making, Social Cognition, College Faculty, Teacher Student Relationship, Career Choice |
| DOI: | 10.1177/02734753211028888 |
| ISSN: | 0273-4753 |
| Abstract: | Many business colleges offer specialized marketing majors in addition to the general marketing major. Given the extra resources needed to maintain multiple majors, in a time when higher education budgets are being strained, a need exists to understand how students make choices among these majors and what students perceive to be the advantages of general marketing majors versus specialized marketing majors. Using social cognitive theory, we examine how students make selections among choices in marketing-related majors, focusing on influence and compatibility factors. We surveyed 608 marketing majors representing one general and five specialized marketing majors. The findings indicate that, compared with general marketing majors, students' choice of a specialized major is significantly more likely to be influenced by faculty and other students in the major. Also, the results show that students rate specialized majors better than a general marketing major in terms of self-efficacy, culture, and professional fit. On the other hand, students rate the general marketing major better than specialized majors in flexibility. These results have implications for supporting the priorities of students in both general and specialized majors. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2022 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1333672 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Many business colleges offer specialized marketing majors in addition to the general marketing major. Given the extra resources needed to maintain multiple majors, in a time when higher education budgets are being strained, a need exists to understand how students make choices among these majors and what students perceive to be the advantages of general marketing majors versus specialized marketing majors. Using social cognitive theory, we examine how students make selections among choices in marketing-related majors, focusing on influence and compatibility factors. We surveyed 608 marketing majors representing one general and five specialized marketing majors. The findings indicate that, compared with general marketing majors, students' choice of a specialized major is significantly more likely to be influenced by faculty and other students in the major. Also, the results show that students rate specialized majors better than a general marketing major in terms of self-efficacy, culture, and professional fit. On the other hand, students rate the general marketing major better than specialized majors in flexibility. These results have implications for supporting the priorities of students in both general and specialized majors. |
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| ISSN: | 0273-4753 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/02734753211028888 |
