Does Your Sales Curriculum Need a Refresh? Insights on How to Align Sales Curriculum with the Modern Sales Environment

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Does Your Sales Curriculum Need a Refresh? Insights on How to Align Sales Curriculum with the Modern Sales Environment
Language: English
Authors: Lisa L. Scribner (ORCID 0000-0002-0890-2549), Duleep Delpechitre (ORCID 0000-0002-5419-3317), Matthew M. Lastner (ORCID 0000-0002-2801-7715)
Source: Journal of Marketing Education. 2025 47(3):258-286.
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: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 29
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Sales Occupations, Business Education, Curriculum Development, Alignment (Education), Business Schools, Salesmanship, College Graduates, Business Skills, Teamwork, Experiential Learning
DOI: 10.1177/02734753241284872
ISSN: 0273-4753
1552-6550
Abstract: Sales education has experienced significant growth recently, both in the number of schools offering sales programs and in the amount of pedagogical attention dedicated to advancing the field. However, one area that has not been given adequate attention is the sales curriculum. To date, few scholarly articles have examined sales curricula from a broad perspective. More concerningly, the field of sales has changed significantly due to recent technological, generational, and pandemic-related shifts in the market. Accordingly, in the present article, we examine the current state of sales curricula by reviewing the existing curricula of the 70 member schools of the University Sales Center Alliance (USCA) in the United States. Furthermore, we conduct focus groups with former sales students now working in sales, as well as hiring personnel affiliated with USCA schools, to address how sales curricula should be evolved to reflect the modern sales role. In addition, we triangulate and validate these insights with data gathered from sales academics. Our findings suggest sales educators should rethink the composition of the standard sales curriculum.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1488865
Database: ERIC
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Description
Abstract:Sales education has experienced significant growth recently, both in the number of schools offering sales programs and in the amount of pedagogical attention dedicated to advancing the field. However, one area that has not been given adequate attention is the sales curriculum. To date, few scholarly articles have examined sales curricula from a broad perspective. More concerningly, the field of sales has changed significantly due to recent technological, generational, and pandemic-related shifts in the market. Accordingly, in the present article, we examine the current state of sales curricula by reviewing the existing curricula of the 70 member schools of the University Sales Center Alliance (USCA) in the United States. Furthermore, we conduct focus groups with former sales students now working in sales, as well as hiring personnel affiliated with USCA schools, to address how sales curricula should be evolved to reflect the modern sales role. In addition, we triangulate and validate these insights with data gathered from sales academics. Our findings suggest sales educators should rethink the composition of the standard sales curriculum.
ISSN:0273-4753
1552-6550
DOI:10.1177/02734753241284872