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Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Sales

Next semester starts 01/21/2025

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What is a BBA in Business Sales degree?

Our program is designed to prepare you for a successful career in sales by providing you with an understanding of sales techniques, customer relationship management, and strategic selling approaches. Our curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, experiential exercises, and real-world applications. The sales program helps you develop communication, negotiation, and persuasion skills needed to influence buying decisions and drive sales results. You’ll learn how to use sales strategies for the success of your organization.

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Why earn a BBA in Business Sales?

At St. Ambrose, we’ll introduce you to the world of business sales. When you graduate, you’ll enter the business world armed with the knowledge of global, organizational, and community markets, and solve client problems with elite communication skills, and a heart for compassionate and ethical decision-making.

Experiential learning

Engage in internships, AI simulations, and sales role-play during your studies.

Supportive environment

Expert faculty mentor students, fostering connections and skills crucial for success in sales.

Industry-aligned curriculum

We consult with the Sales Program Advisory Council for the latest trends and technologies.

State-of-the-art facilities

Engage in role-play and speed-sell modules in McMullen Hall's collaborative classrooms.

Employer relationships

Connections with local employers who judge our sales events and who bring their expertise into our classrooms.

What you’ll learn in your business sales program

In our business sales program, you’ll start with core business classes before diving into sales techniques and simulated selling. You’ll learn to construct an elevator pitch, structure a sales interview, and to actively listen to clients.

Mastery of negotiation techniques to fit specific business and professional circumstances.
Proficiency in interview skills that reveal client needs and lead to sales pitches.
Understanding of sales management and the role of systems in managing and enabling growth.
Mastery of business communication to effectively nurture and maintain business relationships.

Faculty drive excellence in the classroom

"I had a great relationship with all of the sales faculty. My finance faculty advisor never let me get complacent in the classroom. At no point was I allowed to just go through the motions."

-Matt Thole '19 BBA in Sales, Marketing, and Finance

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Explore BBA in Business Sales courses

This degree will require you to complete a total of 120 credits.
36 gen ed credits, 36 core business credits, 21 sales credits, 27 general elective credits, and 1 internship

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Sample courses

Class code	Class title	Credits
SLS 235	Sales Principles	3 credits
SLS 355	Communication to Lead and Influence	3 credits
SLS 365	Advanced Selling	3 credits
SLS 375	Negotiations in Relationship Building	3 credits
SLS 415	Sales Management	1-3 credits

How much does a BBA in Business Sales cost?

The cost of your degree will depend on several factors, like scholarships, housing, meal plans, and transfer credits. New students also pay a $100 matriculation fee. You will also need to budget for books, supplies, materials, transportation, personal costs, loan fees, and other expenses. Explore total cost of attendance.

Full-time student living on campus

Expense	By semester	By year
Full-time tuition (12-18 credits)*	$18,189	$36,378
Housing**	$4,019	$8,038
Food***	$2,670	$5,340
Technology fee	$140	$280
Total direct charges (billable)	$25,018	$50,036

*Based on 2024-2025 tuition and fees. Tuition and fees are subject to change each summer.
**This cost is estimated, actual housing cost will vary by student selections.
***Cost estimate based on 3 meals per day.

How much does housing cost?

When it comes to housing, St. Ambrose University offers diverse options to meet the needs of our students. From traditional dormitories to apartment-style living, there's something for everyone. The cost of your housing will vary based on where you decide to live and the meal plan you choose.

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St. Ambrose University’s Sales program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

Accreditation and recognition provide the assurance we meet standards for quality faculty, curriculum, learner services and fiscal stability.

See all of SAU’s accreditations

How does SAU support business sales students?

St. Ambrose University’s business sales faculty have extensive real-world experience. From negotiating multi-million and billion-dollar sales to three decades working in sales and training salespeople, our faculty have the skills and connections to set you up for success.

BBA in Sales faculty

Thomas Hosmanek, MBA

Other support resources

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Student Success Center

At St. Ambrose, we want you to thrive. Access free tutoring, study groups, and supplemental instruction through our Student Success Center.

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Accessibility Resource Center

Whether you need classroom accommodations, alternative exam arrangements, or disability support strategies, our Accessibility Resource Center is here to help.

Learn about our resources

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Career services

Our Academic and Career Planning Center is ready to help you polish your resume and land the job or internship that will launch your career.

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Are there scholarships available for BBA in Business Sales?

At St. Ambrose University, we believe that education should be accessible to all. That's why we offer a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for our students. We are committed to providing our students with the resources they need to succeed academically and financially.

Ambrose Advantage Scholarship

Through the Ambrose Advantage Scholarship program, a tuition-free St. Ambrose University education is available to any Pell Grant-eligible Iowans. Learn more about the Ambrose Advantage.

Merit-Based and Institutional Scholarships

St. Ambrose offers excellent scholarships and grants based on your strong academic performance, your talent in fine arts or athletics, or your community involvement. Explore SAU scholarships.

Transfer credits

At SAU, you may be able to transfer previous college credit toward your bachelor’s degree, saving you significant time and money. Learn how to transfer credits.

Outside Scholarships

At SAU, we accept scholarships from outside sources. There are tons of options out there, but we suggest looking for specific communication scholarships you might qualify for. We can’t promise you’ll earn it, but you should always try.

Your Future. Made Attainable.

"The Ambrose Advantage allowed me to come to college without much worry about debt in my future."

-Caleb Gillmore, Monticello, Iowa

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What’s on campus for business sales students?

Put your skills to the test with our Sales Club. We compete in several competitions internally and one-on-one with other universities. A faculty advisor helps you hone your craft and prepares you for competition at every level including nationally.

Success through campus involvement

"I knew in order to keep growing and get as much as I could out of my education I needed to enroll in hard classes and involve myself in extracurricular activities. The more I got involved, the harder I worked to make deadlines and pushed myself to innovate."

-Matt Thole '19, BBA in Sales, Marketing, and Finance

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What are the admission requirements for a BBA in Business Sales?

Start your accounting career at St. Ambrose. Here are the admissions requirements for our BBA in Business Sales.

You must have graduated from an accredited high school or earned a GED
You must have a minimum cumulative, unweighted GPA of 2.5
You must provide an official high school transcript

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International student requirements

If you live outside of the U.S. there are different admissions requirements. Here’s what you’ll need:

Official transcripts from secondary education
A minimum 2.5 CGPA out of a 4.0 scale, or equivalent
Proof of English language proficiency (minimum scores: TOEFL - 79, IELTS - 6.0)
Copy of your passport and other documentation

What can I do with a business sales degree?

Your education and degree can help you reach your professional goals. St. Ambrose University can never promise a career or particular outcome upon graduating. We encourage you to explore potential jobs and employment settings. Here is a list of potential job titles, traits, and settings a graduate in our sales program could achieve.

Potential job titles

Sales representative
Business development representative
Healthcare/medical sales representative
Financial services sales representative
Sales manager
Customer relationship manager

Potential employment settings

Sales organization
Medical device company
Business-to-business sales
Manufacturing company
Advertising and media company
Service industry

Traits of a business salesperson

Persuasive
Empathetic
Communication
Tenacious
Adaptable
Relationship-building

Industry facts

The median annual wage for sales managers was $130,600 in May 2022.
Employment of sales managers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032.

For more information on accounting employment and wages, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook.

News and events at SAU

Hive Hangout: Becoming Ambrosian

Connect with current students and get your questions answered during this live, virtual event.

St. Ambrose provides business sales major tools and personalized support to advance her career

It would have been easy for her to skip college. But Sophia Sestak understood the advantages a degree would provide her.

Innovative app-lication

Addy Nelson '23 was born with an entrepreneur's spirit. For her capstone project, she designed an app to centralize campus information for students.

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Become who you are meant to be

With more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs, there’s something for everyone at St. Ambrose University! Explore our programs to find your place at SAU.