UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State is accepting applications for its new, online bachelor of science degree in marketing aimed at helping professionals take advantage of expected job growth in the field.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the number of marketing jobs will increase by 32 percent through 2022, fueled by the increased use of data and market research.

“Marketing is one of the 20 fastest-growing careers in today’s global workplace, and about one-third of jobs in the U.S. are marketing-related,” said Erdener Kaynak, professor and lead faculty member of the new online program. “Businesses and organizations such as hospitals, educational institutions, non-profits and government agencies understand the importance of effective marketing, and this creates immense job opportunities for marketing specialists.”

The 120-credit bachelor’s degree is available in a fully online format through Penn State World Campus, the University’s online campus. Faculty members from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and the business schools at Penn State Harrisburg and Penn State Behrend will teach the courses online. All the institutions have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which requires schools to pass rigorous standards for quality.

Applications are being accepted for admission in Penn State’s spring 2016 semester.

Courses include consumer behavior, global marketing, advertising and sales promotion, marketing research and strategic marketing. The program will teach students to understand customers’ needs, develop products and services and create marketing strategies to give companies a competitive advantage over their rivals.

Students in the program will have access to advising, tutoring and career counseling offered through the World Campus.

With the addition of the marketing degree, Penn State now has a complete portfolio of undergraduate business degrees offered online.

“We are proud to offer the bachelor of science in marketing as a collaboration between three AACSB-accredited institutions,” said Karen Pollack, assistant vice provost for online undergraduate and blended programs at Penn State World Campus. “This expands access to a marketing degree to those who want a Penn State education but do not live near a campus that offers it. It was designed with adult learners’ busy lives in mind so they can balance their jobs and families with their schoolwork.”

For more information about the online marketing bachelor’s degree, visit the Penn State World Campus website.