Professional Sales Certificate
Degree
Certificate (Federal aid eligible if certificate is combined with Associate of Science degree, Associate of Applied Science degree, or Bachelor of Applied Science degree. Not eligible for federal aid as a stand-alone certificate.)
Overview
The Professional Sales certificate will provide students understanding of how to effectively apply sales techniques and theories within their organizations. Students will learn how to use their communication, interpersonal, and professional skills to implement selling strategies including initiating and building long-term customer relationships, principled negotiation skills, and delivering effective sales presentations.
Career Opportunities
Professional Sales is one of the most common career entry point for college graduates, and a popular first job for business students majoring in any number of fields. Upon completion of this certificate, students will be prepared to begin building their work experience in such fields as economics, international business, management, finance, operations management, and human resources.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the certificate, successful graduates will be able to:
- Identify interrelated steps of the professional selling process while exploring sales careers and the key characteristics and qualifications needed for sales success
- Prepare and deliver effective industry-specific presentations with prospects and customers, (canned presentations, sales proposals, and organized sales dialogues, etc.)
- Analyze and implement effective sales strategies and techniques, sales management, and principled negotiation and conflict resolutions skills
- Demonstrate interpersonal communication and relationship skills through open-ended questions, having crucial conversations, overcoming objections, and gaining mutual agreement to solutions
- Integrate the concepts of professional sales in the core areas of business
Course Requirements
Students are responsible to examine the course description of each course listed below for details of prerequisites, which much be satisfied before registering for the course.
Professional Sales Certificate Core Courses
| BUS 101 | Survey of Business | 3 credits |
| BUS 185 | Innovation for Competitive Advantage | 3 credits |
| BUS 230 | Principles of Professional Sales | 3 credits |
| BUS 250 | Persuasive Sales & Presentations | 3 credits |
| BUS 290 | Advanced B2B Sales | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Graduation Requirements
1. Minimum of 15 total semester credit hours as outlined
2. Grade of C- or higher in all program specific courses
3. Certificate grade point average of 2.0 or higher
Recommended Sequence of Courses
Individual student circumstances, such as the need for a smaller course load or the number of preparatory English or Math courses a student must take, may require additional semesters to complete the program. Please see your academic advisor for assistance.
First Semester
BUS 101, Survey of Business, 3 credits
BUS 230, Principles of Professional Sales, 3 credits
Total Semester Minimum Hours 6
Second Semester
BUS 185, Innovation of Competitive Advantage, 3 credits
BUS 250, Persuasive Sales & Presentations, 3 credits
BUS 290, B2B Sales Management, 3 credits
Total Semester Minimum Hours 9
Total Professional Sales Certificate Minimum Credit Hours 15