Undergraduate

Marketing Communication

Stand out in a competitive communications field

Marketing Communication

Interested in a career in marketing, advertising, public relations, or digital media? At Simpson, our Marketing Communication program combines business and multimedia communication to prepare you for today’s evolving marketing landscape. Taught by faculty with real industry experience, you’ll learn to develop campaigns using real analytics and data.

Learning goes beyond the classroom. You’ll gain hands-on experience through internships with organizations such as Des Moines nonprofits, minor league sports teams, creative agencies, and other community partners. You’ll develop real marketing plans and campaigns while building skills in branding, digital media, strategic communication, content creation, analytics, and audience engagement.

Whether you want to enter the workforce or pursue graduate school, the Marketing Communication program prepares you for careers in brand management, advertising, public relations, digital marketing, and promotions. You’ll graduate with practical experience and the confidence to help organizations manage strategic messaging across print, digital, and social media.

 

View major course requirements

View minor course requirements

Why Simpson College for Marketing Communication

What Will You Learn?

The Marketing Communication program merges business and communication to prepare you for an ever-changing digital world. You’ll build a strong foundation in media skills and concepts, business, and marketing while gaining practical, hands-on experience that prepares you for your career. You’ll learn to help organizations achieve strategic and tactical goals by creating and managing brands and messages across print, digital, and social media.

Career Ready

Our graduates are prepared to launch successful careers and make an immediate impact in the workforce. Here are a few examples of where Simpson alumni are building their careers:

  • Basepoint Building Automations
  • Kiewit Corporation
  • LifeWorks
  • Local 5 News
  • Mediacom Communications
  • Missouri Valley JATC
  • Stephens Auditorium
  • Two Rivers Marketing
  • Wells Fargo
  • YYWireless

Internship impact

My internship with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines provided a truly meaningful experience for both my professional and personal growth. I created my first marketing plan and worked with different departments to produce inspirational stories that were shared on the bank’s social media and website. It helped me gain confidence in my communication skills while learning how to work effectively across teams.

Claire Hughes '26

- Marketing Communications Major

Why Simpson College for Marketing Communication?

$78k

Median annual national pay

- U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics 2025

6%

Anticipated job growth between 2025-2035

- Bureau of Labor and Statistics 2025

$68k

Bachelor's marketing communication salary in Iowa

- Zip Recruiter 2026

Power of a double major

Pairing my majors together provides the perfect storm of skillsets that will not only land me a starting position in business and marketing but will also allow me to level-up as I progress up the ladder in organizations.

Brie Ginnaty '27

- Management and Marketing Communications Major

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Explore Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

Interested in the unique opportunities the department has to offer? See more opportunities and experiences that will shape your future at Simpson.

Join a team of creative storytellers to produce two print magazines each academic year. Collaborate with students from a variety of majors to bring Simpson’s stories to life through compelling design, photography, writing, and visual storytelling while building professional portfolio pieces and real-world publishing experience.

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Join the team behind the nation’s oldest continually published student newspaper and help tell the stories that shape the Simpson community. Whether you’re interested in graphic design, photography, writing, social media, or multimedia storytelling, you’ll gain hands-on experience creating content for an award-winning publication. As a member of The Simpsonian, you’ll build your portfolio, collaborate with a talented team, and develop real-world skills while contributing to a publication recognized by the Associated Collegiate Press, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Iowa College Media Association, and the Iowa Newspaper Foundation.

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Need assistance? Contact us!

Meet Our Faculty

Mark Siebert

Mark Siebert

  • Associate Professor of Multimedia Communication
  • Director of Simpson Student Media
John Walker

John Walker

  • Associate Professor of Management & Entrepreneurship
  • Division Head of Business Administration, Communications and Data Science
  • Director of the Storm Initiative, CEO club advisor | Department Chair Business Administration and Economics