Overview

Our Marketing certificate program brings the worlds of business and creativity together to help you gain important skills in communication, marketing, business development, and project management.  

Our experienced instructors will guide you through practical projects, helping you understand how to use smart marketing strategies to attract new customers and build brand loyalty. 

Discover how businesses connect with their customers from start to finish. You'll explore both traditional and digital marketing tools and technology. 

In this program, you will: 

  • use technology to make businesses more efficient and use digital marketing tools to create marketing channels and promote products online 
  • apply marketing theories and processes in a real business setting 
  • create product, pricing, and promotion strategies that align with a company's goals and learn how to identify the most relevant market segments 
  • apply project management theories and tools, show effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills in various business situations, and achieve project goals by collaborating effectively in teams. 

At the end of the program, you'll put your skills to the test with a capstone project. This project will help you develop critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and organizational abilities. 

Once you graduate, you'll be prepared for exciting roles as marketing or communications assistants, marketing managers, social media specialists or event coordinators. 

Those in marketing tend to be directive, social and innovative. 

You need: 

  • a creative, outgoing, upbeat nature 
  • drive and flexibility to succeed in a competitive field 
  • effective stress management techniques 
  • strong project management and motivational skills 
  • the ability to understand data to create short- and long-term plans 
  • problem-solving and decision-making skills 
  • technical software skills 
  • the ability to be persuasive.

You should enjoy organizing information, directing others, negotiating, and finding creative solutions to problems. 

The Marketing certificate provides you with options for advanced education. 

Graduates of this program have completed up to nine courses required for the SAIT Business Administration diploma or Bachelor of Business Administration degree (varies by major). Additional admission requirements apply. 

In your capstone course, you will work collaboratively with students from other disciplines to create a solution to a challenge faced by a business or community organization. 

After successfully completing this program, you'll receive a SAIT Marketing certificate.

Download program info

Careers and opportunities

Each year, SAIT conducts a survey between February and April to determine the employment rate, salary and satisfaction of our newest SAIT alumni. 

people icon 83% graduate employment rate

Find out more about our graduate employment statistics >

Our graduates may work in the following occupations. Some careers require additional experience and education.

Associated National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes: 10022, 11202, 12103, 41402, 60010, 62010, 64100, 64409.

Test

Career planning support

Unsure which career path is for you? Here are some recommended career planning resources to help you decide your future.

You can also head to Alberta alis for lots of information about careers in Alberta, including quizzes and labour market information to help you narrow down a path.

Finally, you can take our online career finder quiz, which can help narrow your options based on your current skills and interests.

Courses

The Marketing certificate requires 30 credits (10 courses) to complete.

MNGT 257 Business Certificate Capstone should be taken only after completing all other required courses and two elective courses.

The program spans one to five years.

View recommended order of classes

Course Credits

Communication and Presentation Skills provides you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to compose business documents and give engaging, formal presentations. You will learn how to effectively communicate in a professional environment and consider different aspects of spoken, written and nonverbal communication (e.g., channel, content, organization, style, tone, format and mechanics) in order to share clear and concise messages with your audience. You will be required to work in both individual and collaborative settings.

Equivalents:
  • COMM 238
  • COMM 1070
  • COMM 260
3

Marketing Essentials is an introductory course offering you a solid foundation in marketing principles. Working individually and in teams, you will research and discover how marketing decisions are made and identify the components of sustainable marketing programs. Your research, content application and teamwork skills will be developed and reinforced as you progress through the course.

Equivalents:
  • MKTG 1060
3

In this course, you will develop a practical approach to using digital, social and mobile platforms that achieve business goals. Current applications and tools, community management practices and legal/privacy issues related to digital marketing tactics will be examined. Teams will develop a digital plan that specifies the use of email, websites, SEO, social media and mobile marketing, all with the goal of targeting and delivering effective communication to digital media-savvy audiences. An emphasis is placed on the return on digital marketing investment and on building relationships that lead to a culture of trust.

Equivalents:
  • MKTG 1265
3

Building and Managing Brands explores the intangibles, such as corporate culture, as well as the tangibles, such as product differentiation, which help attain and maintain brand equity in the market. Rapidly emerging business trends, such as corporate social responsibility, are also featured, which help shed light on what companies are doing to separate their brand from competitors. Students will produce a brand book and plan to manage a brand.

Pre-requisites:
  • One of:
    • MKTG 260
    • MKTG 1060
Equivalents:
  • MKTG 2306
3

This course places a strong emphasis on professional selling practices, ethical conduct, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in sales activities. It explores the creation of long-term organizational value through customer relationships while examining the evolution of the sales profession. Market analysis methods for identifying growth opportunities and key customer segments are covered extensively. Furthermore, significant attention is given to customer-centric selling techniques, including relationship building, needs analysis, and comprehensive CRM strategies. The course also addresses vital aspects of managing a sales team, encompassing organizational structuring, sales forecasting, recruitment, training methodologies, performance evaluation, legal and ethical considerations within the sales domain.

Equivalents:
  • MKTG 2366
3

Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) represents the "Promotions" P of the marketing mix. An IMC Proposal includes campaign messages and their translation into each of the elements of the marketing communications mix along with a proposed budget and evaluations for success. In our fast paced marketplace, messages need to be on target and on brand. Integration in business is imperative. Working in teams, each student will experience the planning process for IMC. This course offers the students case analysis, creative development structure, and facilitated problem solving, to develop a unified IMC proposal.

Pre-requisites:
  • One of:
    • MKTG 260
    • MKTG 1060
    • MKTG 265
    • MKTG 1265
Equivalents:
  • MKTG 2375
3

The Introduction to Business course will provide you with tools to understand multiple business functions including management, human resources, marketing, operations, and personal finance. You will also explore the Canadian Business and economic system, as well as the importance of business ethics and social responsibility in an increasingly global environment.  Working through a team project and business simulation, you will begin to develop a 21st-century skillset, including communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and effective teamwork. By the end of this course, you should have the foundations for understanding business and business ownership in Canada.

Equivalents:
  • MNGT 1200
3

In this capstone course, students from different disciplines work collaboratively to apply classroom knowledge and diverse viewpoints to a challenge faced by a business or community organization. Combining their disciplinary perspectives for broader context, students will investigate and analyze the problem before presenting a solution. By adding a service-learning component that strengthens community ties, the course allows teams to showcase applied learning and technical skills in a project that expands the individual student's workplace insights while also forging business connections.

Pre-requisites:

Manual Prerequisite

  • One of:
    • ACCT 215
    • ACCT 1010
  • One of:
    • BCMP 225
    • BCMP 1225
    • MNGT 321
    • MNGT 2321
    • MNGT 322
    • MNGT 2322
  • One of:
    • COMN 220
    • COMM 1070
    • COMM 238
    • COMM 300
    • COMM 3300
  • One of:
    • ENTR 350
    • ENTR 2350
  • One of:
    • MKTG 260
    • MKTG 1060
  • One of:
    • MNGT 200
    • MNGT 1200
  • One of:
    • MNGT 255
    • MNGT 1255

Or

  • ACCT 395
  • One of:
    • ACCT 215
    • ACCT 1010
  • One of:
    • ACCT 255
    • ACCT 2110
  • One of:
    • ACCT 315
    • ACCT 3210
  • One of:
    • ACCT 338
    • ACCT 2020
  • One of:
    • BCMP 225
    • BCMP 1225
  • One of:
    • MNGT 200
    • MNGT 1200

Or

  • One of:
    • ACCT 215
    • ACCT 1010
  • One of:
    • COMM 300
    • COMM 3300
  • One of:
    • HRMT 320
    • HRMT 2320
  • One of:
    • LDSH 360
    • LDSH 3050
    • LDSH 405
  • One of:
    • MNGT 250
    • MNGT 2250
  • One of:
    • MNGT 255
    • MNGT 1255
  • One of:
    • MNGT 321
    • MNGT 2321

Or

  • One of:
    • COMN 220
    • COMM 1070
    • COMM 238
  • One of:
    • MKTG 260
    • MKTG 1060
  • One of:
    • MKTG 306
    • MKTG 2306
  • One of:
    • MKTG 366
    • MKTG 2366
  • One of:
    • MKTG 265
    • MKTG 1265
  • One of:
    • MNGT 200
    • MNGT 1200
  • One of:
    • MNGT 321
    • MNGT 2321
3

Project Management introduces you to the standards and best practices of the Project Management Institute. We will cover both the technical and sociocultural components of project management at an introductory level, including project definition, work breakdown structures, cost and scheduling techniques, and an introduction to earned value concepts. Stakeholder communications, risk management, project leadership, and project closure round out the topic coverage.

Equivalents:
  • MNGT 2321
3

Choose one of the following electives.

Course Credits

In this course, you will learn and demonstrate skills in managing and customizing the Windows environment, as well as effectively using internet resources to increase overall technological literacy and enhance business productivity. You will develop skills in creating professional documents and managing data using spreadsheets. Through hands-on applications, you will learn to use productivity tools and application software in various business situations and be able to select the right tool for the business need.

Equivalents:
  • BCMP 1225
3

Introduces the use of data to meet the needs of an organization and apply data in decision making. Understand a balanced approach to integrating data decisions in business processes and strategic alignment.

Equivalents:
  • DATA 4100
3

Perhaps no component of marketing has undergone the degree of change as advertising. And yet, despite the abrupt and sweeping conversion from analog mediums (print, broadcast and out of home) to digital mediums (social media, websites, mobile and more) the main goal of advertising remains the same as it was nearly 400 years ago. To attract attention. Once a privilege enjoyed by the elite or enormously wealthy brands, the onset of digital communication has made effective advertising, for pennies on the dollar, accessible to everyone from an individual for a fortune 500 company. This course will introduce core concepts in advertising, such as objectives, strategies, on both, the creative and media buy sides of the industry. Advertising theory will be applied using case studies and a term project that will assemble a media buy plan as well as a creative brief. Additionally, learners in this course will be required to earn certification in two Meta online courses: Digital Marketing Associate & Creative Strategy Professional.

Pre-requisites:
  • One of:
    • MKTG 260
    • MKTG 1060
Equivalents:
  • MKTG 4040
3

Marketing Action will take the concepts learned in Marketing Essentials and build on them so students will have application experience in creating a new product. The key areas of focus will be on value proposition and business models. Marketing Action will ground their marketing knowledge so they will create sustainable decisions. This is an immersive class where students are required to continue their team projects outside the classroom and present their findings to their instructor and industry professionals.

Pre-requisites:
  • One of:
    • MKTG 260
    • MKTG 1060
Equivalents:
  • MKTG 2336
3

Progression

You must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better each semester and pass the prerequisite courses to progress through the program.

To qualify for graduation, you must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Review our grading and progression procedure > 

hall

Explore your options!

Some courses in this program are available through Open Studies. You can complete courses via Open Studies to get a head start on your education, reduce your course load once accepted into a credentialed program, or determine which career path best suits you before you fully commit. 

You may also take courses for general interest or personal and professional development.

Admission requirements

Applicants educated in Canada

Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency

There are no further requirements to enter this program.

All applicants who were educated outside of Canada must demonstrate English language proficiency and provide proof they meet the program admission requirements outlined above with an international document assessment. Find accepted educational documents and assessment options

SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.

hall

Academic Upgrading

Missing an admission requirement for this program? Upgrade your prior education to help you receive admission into one of SAIT's career programs.

hall

English language proficiency

All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.

Transfer agreements

At SAIT, we have created transfer agreements with partner institutions to allow you to earn course credits toward your SAIT program based on your previously completed credentials.

Transfer Alberta search tool

Use the Transfer Alberta search tool to see all transfer agreements between Alberta post-secondary institutions (including those with the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University and Bow Valley College.)

Search transfer agreements in Alberta

There are no formal transfer agreements currently in place for this program.

Transfer options for graduates

When you have completed this program, you may continue your education at a partner post-secondary institution. These transfer agreements include partnerships within and/or outside of Canada.

Available intakes

Spring 2025

Start dates:

Domestic students: Waitlisted
  • Application deadline: April 30, 2025

Fall 2025

Start dates:

Domestic students: Open
  • Application deadline: June 30, 2025
International students: Open
  • Application deadline: May 30, 2025

Winter 2026

Start dates:

Domestic students: Open
  • Application deadline: Oct. 24, 2025

Spring 2026

Start dates:

Domestic students: Open
  • Application deadline: April 30, 2026

Costs

2025/26 tuition and fees

The following estimated costs are effective as of July 1, 2025.

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees is based on completing 15 credits a semester for two semesters. Following a modified schedule will impact the fees you pay per semester and may alter final costs.

Domestic students

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for domestic students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 2 $6,030 $1,668.60 $7,698.60
Total cost:
$7,698.60

The program total is based on the estimated amount you will pay if you enter this program during the 2025/26 academic year. The program total amount listed on your letter of admission may appear higher. This amount is your maximum tuition guarantee for the program. SAIT will not exceed this maximum, regardless of changes in tuition and fees between academic years.

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for international students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 1 $18,480 $1,668.60 $20,148.60
Total cost:
$20,148.60

Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per full-time year.

This is a bring-your-own-device program with a standard computer hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.

Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date. Can't find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program advisor directly to determine if they're still refining course details or if you're in luck; no textbook purchase is required this term.

sait

Financial aid

Paying for your education may feel overwhelming, but we have resources and programs that can help, including information about payment options, student loans, grants and scholarships.

Application process

Ready to apply?

Follow our step-by-step guide to submitting a successful application.

Learn how to apply

Communication during admission

Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. 

We recommend you add the business.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.

sait

Begin your application

Apply now using the online application portal. 

Ensure you have a valid Visa or Mastercard to pay the non-refundable application fee of $120 for domestic applicants or $175 for international applicants. 

Information sessions

Prepare for a strong start in your chosen program or get the details you need to decide your future path.

Our expert staff and faculty are ready to answer your questions and provide information about the following:

  • What sets SAIT apart
  • An introduction to the program and area of study
  • Admission requirements
  • Future career paths
  • Information on the earning potential and graduate employment rates.

Careers in Business Information Session

Event date
June 3, 2025
Event time
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Learn more

Contact us

School of Business Advising

Phone
403.284.8485
Email
business.advising@sait.ca

Stories and news

SAIT Catalyst sculpture with sun in the background

SAIT School of Business rings in the new year with a top ranking according to CEOWORLD

SAIT is kicking off 2023 with an impressive position on CEOWORLD Magazine’s list of Best Business Schools in the World.

Read this story
Via SAIT media release

CEOWORLD names SAIT to two global lists of the top hospitality management and top business schools for 2022

Via SAIT media release

Read this story
a view of the moutains and stream in between

Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.

SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.

We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.

Close