CIM Introductory Certificate in Marketing (Part Time)

The CIM Introductory Certificate in Marketing at Southampton Solent University is for all those who want to find out more about marketing – whether you're in a job that involves marketing or not. It answers the question: What is marketing? It also aims to develop knowledge and skills for people who are working to support others in basic marketing tasks.

By the end of this qualification you should:

• Define marketing in the context of an exchange process

• Determine the importance of marketing as a cross-functional activity contributing towards business success

• Explain the importance of understanding the organisation’s marketing environment and the impact it has upon an organisation’s ability to satisfy customer needs and wants

• Identify each element of the marketing mix in the context of customer needs and achieving customer satisfaction

• Apply the marketing mix to a range of different organisational sectors and contexts.

Our students are taught by specialist marketing academics who have practical experience in industry, commerce, services and non-profit sectors.

Course structure

The course is made up of two units: 'What is Marketing' and 'Understanding Customer Relationships'.

What is Marketing?

This unit provides a backdrop to the importance of marketing in terms of what marketing is and how it is defined. It focuses on the role of marketing, its cross-functional importance and its contribution to business success. It also looks at the role of marketing as a service provider within the organisation.

Understanding Customer Relationships

This unit focuses on developing an understanding of internal and external customers, and considers how a knowledge and understanding of customers can assist in designing appropriate marketing activities to engage and support customers to achieve long-term customer loyalty. This unit is assessed through a written assignment.

Course delivery

The course is delivered over a period of 15 weeks (which includes the online examination for 'What is Marketing') and starts in October. It is delivered on a Thursday evening from 6pm-9pm. The dates for the October 2012 start are:

• What is Marketing: 4 October to 15 November. Online exam on 22 November. The CIM assessment session is December 2012.

• Understanding Customer Relationships: 29 November to 13 December, 10 January to 31 January 2013. The CIM assessment session is March 2013.

The October 2013 start dates are yet to be confirmed. The CIM assessment sessions for the October 2013 start will be:

• What is Marketing - December 2013
• Understanding Customer Relationships - March 2014

Assessment

There is one assessment for each unit. The 'What is Marketing' unit is assessed through an online examination. The 'Understanding Customer Relationships' is assessed through a written assignment comprising of four brief work-based tasks.

In order to sit the appropriate assessment, all students must register as Studying Members with the CIM. CIM membership fees are currently tax deductible.

Who is this course for?

The course is aimed at people working in their first marketing roles, marketing support functions or in smaller companies where marketing tasks are only a part of their job function who have no or little academic background in marketing.

The Introductory Certificate in Marketing is suitable for those who are:

• Non-marketers with some marketing involvement
• Working on the periphery of marketing
• Undertaking junior marketing, secretarial or administrative roles
• Event management assistants
• Call centre employees
• People taking modern apprenticeships or their equivalent.

Fees

Fees for the academic year 2013/14

UK and EU students: £245 per unit

Fees also have to be made to the CIM for membership and assessment.

To view PDF files, you need to have Adobe Reader™ installed. Adobe Reader™ is available free from the Adobe website.|