Sales, Business and Healthcare
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sales: Business or Healthcare
You're great at selling. Why not thrive? With a business or healthcare sales degree from SAU you are poised to receive more job offers, start at a higher-than-average salary, and more quickly achieve sales goals.
Plus, SAU is the only university in the bi-state region – and in the state of Iowa – offering a degree in business or healthcare sales. This program is a Full Member of the University Sales Center Alliance and one of only 59 in the U.S. and Europe.
Our graduates work for the Miami Marlins (MLB), Deere and Company, Cardinal Health, Cottingham and Butler, Cars.com, HNI Corp., BDI Corp., and many others.
Ambrose Advantages
- Learn From Established and Successful Sales Leaders
- Full Member of University Sales Center Alliance
- Build Skills In Our New Sales Center
- An Education Focused on Ethics
Gain a rare education in sales and an edge in the workforce. From our Sales Center – where you practice selling and improve your marketability – to our established network of internships, the knowledge and experience gained will give you the confidence to sell and a meaningful reward of contributing to company success.
See Our Sales Major Fact Sheet (pdf)
A St. Ambrose Degree in Sales
Your SAU degree in sales offers networking opportunities, community and business support, and an academic focus on the value and importance of the sales.
More Information on the Sales Program
We allow you to choose an area of focus - business sales or healthcare sales - then cater your courses to your goals.
Business Sales - Foundation courses include accounting, economics, finance, business ethics, marketing, and management. Your specialized courses include sales principals, customer and relationship development, communicating to lead and influence, and advanced sales techniques. Electives include negotiation, professional practices, and sales management and processes. You will also complete an internship.
Healthcare Sales - Foundation courses include accounting, economics, finance, ethics, marketing, and management. Your specialized courses include medical terminology, healthcare terminology, biomedical ethics, healthcare sales, customer and relationship development, and communicating to lead and influence. Electives include negotiation, professional practices, and sales management and processes. You will also complete an internship.
The SAU Sales Center in renovated McMullen Hall is equipped with technology to hone your skills in interviewing, presentations, selling, and developing client relationships. It's also the hub for intercollegiate sales competitions, guest speakers, internships, and individualized career mentoring.
You've heard people say it before: "College will be the greatest time of your life!" With Study Abroad, you can add even more to your college years.
You can study in another country in a semester-long or short-term study abroad program (with a few offered during spring and winterim breaks). No matter the duration, these trips deepen your professional education while earning credit toward graduation.
There are also opportunities through an exchange program, an overseas internship, or volunteering. The limits for Study Abroad are only ones you set for yourself! SAU students have studied in Italy, Costa Rica, Australia, Korea, United Kingdom, Spain, Ecuador, Japan, Germany, Peru, Cyprus, Croatia, Belize, Canada, Chile, and more.
SAU students returning from their Study Abroad locations talk about their time away as life-changing – personally, emotionally, culturally, and academically.
Click here to search our Study Abroad programs, and for general information click here.
- SAU is the only university in Iowa and the bi-state region that offers a Sales degree.
- SAU is one of only 59 schools in the U.S. and Europe who are Full Members of the University Sales Center Alliance.
- We host local, regional, and global company leaders as guest speakers who challenge SAU students to hone their skills through internships.
- Nearly 100% of Sales graduates have secured jobs with local, regional, and global companies including Deere & Company, HNI Corp., Cottingham and Butler, State Farm, and more.
Read this story to learn how our program and students are becoming a resource for the region.
Put into practice what you learn by competing in Sales competitions!
Throughout the academic year, you'll have opportunities to simulate aspects of selling, such as cold calling, speed selling, sales management, and more.
One such event is the International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC) where universities compete for points to win the Collegiate World Cup of Sales.
When time spent in the classroom isn't enough, there's the SAU Sales Club.
That's why students started the SAU Sales Club as a way to get Sales majors and minors together to learn more about the industry and the career itself.
In addition to Sales competitions, the club also invites area business leaders to meetings where they impart their knowledge, successes, and failures to club members. These informal meetings are just another way Ambrose students learn from their peers as well as from the Quad Cities business community.
Comprised of Quad Cities business leaders and one student representative, the Sales Program Advisory Councili provides key insight to the program on its curriculum, pertinent job skills, internship opportunities, and more.
Members
Caroline Ruhl, Ruhl & Ruhl
Tony Noel, Cottingham & Butler
Tim Lane, Edward Jones
Laura Ekizian, QC Bank and Trust
Ken Koehler, Encompass Ins.
Jeff Sowards, Modern Woodmen of America
Gwen Tombergs, QC Storm
Brian Duffy
Lisa O'Donnell
Matt Thole '19
Business Sales consultants can build rewarding careers in advertising, insurance, real estate, retail, securities and commodities, financial services, travel, and wholesale manufacturing.
Healthcare Sales consultants sell complex scientific products to clinics and hospitals, physicians, or patients. You can work for companies that manufacture and market pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer healthcare products. Sales fields include assistive technologies, biomedical and biofeedback, diagnostic and examination devices, optical products, and orthopedics.
Since we launched the program in Fall 2016, almost 100% of our sales graduates have accepted jobs with local, regional and global companies including Deere & Company, HNI Corp., Cottingham and Butler, State Farm, and more.
We launched this program in Fall 2016, and today, more than 65 students are working toward a business or healthcare sales major or minor. And, another 100 students enroll in sales courses each semester because the skills they gain compliment a degree in Marketing, Strategic Communication, and more.
Here is what two Sales graduates said about the program:
Ryan Dobek '18: "The faculty and staff in the sales program are tremendous. They don't teach from a textbook; they teach from experience. You learn how to be a professional salesperson."
Blake Syron '18: "Everyone wants you to succeed and be the best you can be in each class. You will really experience personal growth throughout the program."
Joe Miller, PhD, Professor and Chair
John Byrne, PhD, Professor
Tom Hosmanek, Adj. Professor
Anthony Morales, Adj. Professor
Degree Requirements
Required:
ACCT 201 Accounting Principles I
ACCT 202 Accounting Principles II
BUS 201 Legal Environment of Business
ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics
FNCE 300 Principles of Finance
INTL 400 International Experiential Portfolio
PHIL 305 Business Ethics
MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing
MGMT 210 Principles of Management
MGMT 449 Strategic Management and Policy
SLS 235 Sales Principles
SLS 345 Key Customer and Relationship Development
SLS 355 Communicating to Lead and Influence
SLS 365 Advanced Sales Techniques
SLS 425 Internship - Co-op in Sales
STBE 137 Quantitative Reasoning in Business
STBE 237 Statistics for Business and Economics
Take two of the following:
SLS 375 Negotiation and Relationship Building
SLS 405 Professional Practices in Sales
SLS 415 Sales Management and Processes
Requirements for a Minor in Business Sales (15 credits)
MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing
SLS 335 Sales Principles
SLS 345 Key Customer and Relationship Development
Plus 6 additional credits from the SLS curriculum
The following is a suggested 4-year plan of study to major in Business Sales with one semester of Study Abroad.
This plan assumes the student has not met the foreign language requirement (three years of foreign language in high school).
Year One
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| +ENGL 101 | 3 | MKTG 209 | 3 |
| STBE 137 | 3 | +ECON 202 | 3 |
| +THEO 100/200 course | 3 | +PHIL 100/200 course | 3 |
| SLS 235 | 3 | +COMM 203 | 3 |
| +Humanities | 3 | +Foreign Language 101 | 3 |
| NSS 101 | 1 | +IL 101 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 16 | TOTAL | 16 |
Year Two
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLS 345 | 3 | ACCT 202 | 3 |
| ACCT 201 | 3 | STBE 237 | 3 |
| ECON 201 | 3 | BUS 201 | 3 |
| +Foreign Language 102 | 3 | FNCE 300 | 3 |
| MGMT 210 | 3 | SLS 355 | 3 |
| +KIN Activity | 1-2 | +KIN 149 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 16-17 | TOTAL | 16 |
Year Three
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| +Social Science | 3 | Study Abroad Semester | |
| SLS 365 | 3 | +Humanities | 3 |
| +Natural Science | 3 | +THEO/PHIL elective | 3 |
| +Creative Arts | 3 | Electives | 6 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| INTL 400 | 1 | ||
| TOTAL | 16 | TOTAL | 12 |
Year Four
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| WI-Elective | 3 | SLS Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | WI-MGMT 449 | 3 |
| +PHIL 305 | 3 | Electives | 7 |
| SLS 425 | 3 | ||
| SLS Elective | 3 | ||
| TOTAL | 15 | TOTAL | 13 |
+ Satisfies General Education requirement
Required:
ACCT 201 Accounting Principles I
ACCT 202 Accounting Principles II
BIOL 205 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology
BUS 201 Legal Environment of Business
+CHEM 105 General Chemistry
+ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics
+ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics
FNCE 300 Principles of Finance
HS 250 Medical Terminology
HS 360 Principles of Healthcare Terminology
INTL 400 International Experiential Portfolio
MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing
MGMT 210 Principles of Management
MGMT 449 Strategic Management and Policy
+PHIL 310 Biomedical Ethics
SLS 235 Sales Principles
SLS 345 Key Customer and Relationship Development
SLS 355 Communicating to Lead and Influence
SLS 365 Advanced Sales Techniques
SLS 425 Internship - Co-op in Sales
STBE 137 Quantitative Reasoning in Business
STBE 237 Statistics for Business and Economics
Take one of the following:
SLS 375 Negotiation and Relationship Building
SLS 405 Professional Practices in Sales
SLS 415 Sales Management and Processes
HSLS 340 Selling in Healthcare
Requirements for a Minor in Healthcare Sales (15 credits)
MKTG 209 Principles of Marketing
SLS 335 Sales Principles
SLS 345 Key Customer and Relationship Development
Plus 6 credits from the SLS curriculum (including HSLS 340)
The following is a suggested Plan of Study for a major in Healthcare Sales with a minor Leadership Studies and one semester Study Abroad.
This plan assumes the student has not met the foreign language requirement (three years of foreign language in high school).
Year One
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| +ENGL 101 | 3 | MKTG 209 | 3 |
| +THEO 100/200 course | 3 | +ECON 201 | 3 |
| +PSCI 104 * | 3 | +PHIL 100/200 course | 3 |
| +BIOL 101 ** | 4 | +COMM 203 * | 3 |
| +IL 101 | 1 | +MATH 171 | 3 |
| NSS 101 | 1 | +KIN 149 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 15 | TOTAL | 16 |
Year Two
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLS 235 | 3 | ACCT 202 | 3 |
| ACCT 201 | 3 | STAT 213 | 3 |
| +ECON 202 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| BIOL 205 ** | 4 | +CHEM 103 ** | 4 |
| MGMT 310 * | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| TOTAL | 16 | TOTAL | 16 |
Year Three
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLS 345 | 3 | Study Abroad Semester | |
| SLS 355 | 3 | +Humanities - 2nd course | 3 |
| Creative Arts | 3 | +THEO/PHIL elective | 3 |
| +HS 250 | 1 | KIN Activity | 1 |
| +Foreign Language | 3 | +Foreign Language | 3 |
| HS 360 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| TOTAL | 16 | TOTAL | 13 |
Year Four
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNCE 300 | 3 | SLS Elective | 3 |
| PSCI 310 or PSCI 365 * | 3 | MGMT 349 | 3 |
| +PHIL 310 * | 3 | INTL 400 | 1 |
| SLS 365 | 3 | SLS 425 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 | TOTAL | 13 |
* Leadership Minor requirement
+ Satisfies General Education requirement
** Recommended for major
Scholarships and Grants
For academic/merit-based awards, we match eligible students to a qualifying award; some of them are listed below.
You may also qualify for scholarships or grants due to your talent in the fine arts or athletics. Contact the Admissions Office so we can be sure you're getting what you need.
For need-based support, eligibility is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAU school code is 001889.
And finally, look below under Outside Scholarships to see examples of non-SAU financial aid, and be sure to get an early start on your applications!
Amounts are for first-year students entering St. Ambrose in the 2021-22 academic year.
There is no need to apply for the scholarships or grants below; students automatically are eligible if they meet specific criteria. The Admissions Office calculates the award amount by using unweighted high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores*.
Your scholarship will automatically renew each year of your undergraduate studies – up to four years – as long as you maintain satisfactory progress toward an undergraduate degree, a minimum 2.0 GPA, and remain a full-time student.
2021-22 Scholarships
FOR STUDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS
On Campus (Merit-Based Scholarships)
Ambrose Advantage
Criteria: Iowa resident, Pell Grant eligible, 2021 high school graduate, min. unweighted GPA 2.8, admitted to SAU and FAFSA filed by Mar. 15
Award: Full tuition
Trustee
Criteria: unweighted 3.9 GPA and minimum 29 ACT or 1340 SAT score
Award: $25,000/year and invited to compete for a full tuition scholarship
Presidential
Criteria: minimum unweighted 3.8 GPA and 28 ACT or 1310 SAT score
Award: $23,000/year
Academic
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score (optional)
Award: $15,000-$21,000/year
University Grant
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score (optional)
$13,000/year
On Campus (Additional Institutional Scholarships)
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships
Criteria: parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Award: $1,000/year
Freeman Pollard Diversity Awards
Criteria: ethnically diverse student; FAFSA required. Additional aid available.
Award: $500-$1,000/year
FOR STUDENTS LIVING OFF CAMPUS
Off Campus (Merit-Based Scholarships)
Academic Scholarships
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score (optional)
Award: $13,000-$16,000/year (Iowa resident) or $14,000-17,000/year (non-Iowa resident)
University Grants
Criteria: based on unweighted GPA and ACT/SAT score
Award: $11,000/year
Off-Campus (Additional Institutional Scholarships)
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarships
Criteria: parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Award: $500/year
Freeman Pollard Diversity Awards
Criteria: ethnically diverse student; FAFSA required.
Award: $500/year
*While St. Ambrose University has a Test-Optional admissions policy, standardized test scores are required for admission to specific programs and eligibility for top academic scholarships.
At SAU, our international students can qualify for university scholarships and grants based on academic achievement, merit, and their performance and abilities in fine arts and athletics.
Below, you'll find a quick summary of financial awards, and we continually look for ways to make an Ambrosian education even more affordable and attainable. Recently, we began offering athletic scholarships for Marching Band and Esports.
If you have any questions or want to apply, please contact the International Student Admissions office.
Institutional Scholarships (2020-21)
There is no need to apply for the scholarships or grants below; students are automatically are eligible if they meet specific criteria, although some may require a certain GPA to stay eligible.
Academic Scholarship – $15,000-$21,000/year
Athletic Scholarships
We have many international student-athletes who are contributing and growing their skills as valued team players. As a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), St. Ambrose can award athletic scholarships to student-athletes. The amount varies and is based on performance and ability. These scholarships allow you to earn a college education while competing in the sport that you love. At Ambrose, we embody the value of developing both the mind and body.
To qualify for an athletic scholarship you must be eligible to play a sport at St. Ambrose. You can read about those qualifications here. The NAIA also has a complete website on how to register for eligibility at playNAIA.org
To learn more about all of our athletic teams and opportunities – including Esports – click here.
Fine Arts Scholarships
These scholarships are based on your performance and ability in art, music, or theatre, and you may qualify for the Michael Kennedy Theatre Scholarship. Audition or portfolio required. Contact the Admissions office to apply or for more information.
See below to learn more about outside scholarships and we encourage you to begin your search early.
Amounts are for transfer students entering St. Ambrose in the 2021-22 academic year.
St. Ambrose scholarships are awarded for fall and spring semesters only* and renewable up to 120 credits of undergraduate study, which includes credits transferred to St. Ambrose from prior attendance. For example: If you transfer in with an AA/AS degree, you would receive a scholarship for two additional years at St. Ambrose.
*Total combined scholarships may not exceed cost of tuition. Scholarships offered to transfer students who enroll full time, online students not eligible.
2021-22 Scholarships
PHI THETA KAPPA
Criteria: awarded to all Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society members transferring from a community college
Award: $16,000
OR
TRANSFER ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Criteria: based on GPA
Awards:
3.5-4.00 GPA $15,500
3.0-3.49 GPA $14,500
2.5-2.99 GPA $13,500
2.0-2.49 GPA $11,500
Ambrose Advantage Scholarship
Criteria: Iowa resident, Pell Grant eligible, min. unweighted GPA 2.8, admitted to SAU, full-time enrollment
Award: Full Tuition
Fr. Welch Alumni Scholarship
Criteria: parent is a St. Ambrose graduate
Award: $1,000 per year (on campus); $500/year (off campus)
Dual Admission Scholarship
Criteria: participant in SAU/community college dual admission program
Award: $1,000 maximum
Freeman Pollard Diversity Award
Criteria: Ethnically diverse student; FAFSA required. Additional aid available by application
Award: $1,000/year (on campus); $500/year (off campus)
2021-22 Federal and State Aid
Iowa Tuition Grant
Criteria: based on financial need, Iowa residents only. File FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1, deadline July 1.
Award: $6,200
Federal Pell Grant
Criteria: based on financial need; file FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1
Award: $6,345 maximum
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Criteria: based on financial need, priority to Pell Grant recipients. File FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1.
Award: $400 maximum
Federal Work Study
Criteria: based on financial need. File FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1
Award: $1,850
As a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), St. Ambrose can award athletic scholarships to student-athletes.
These scholarships allow you to earn a college education while competing in the sport that you love. At Ambrose, we embody that value of developing both the mind and body.
How do I qualify for an athletic scholarship?
You must first be eligible to play a sport at St. Ambrose. You can read about those qualifications here. The NAIA also has a complete website on how to register for eligibility at playNAIA.org
With more than 31 varsity athletic teams and state-of-the-art facilities in which to play them, the Fighting Bees of SAU are bold contenders on any field. Watch this video
How do I qualify for a fine arts scholarship?
Scholarships are awarded based on performance and ability in art, music and theatre. Review the various requirements below:
There are many opportunities to receive scholarships from outside sources, here are a few websites to begin researching your options:
- Fastweb
- College Board Scholarship Search
- Scholarships.com
- Peterson's Award Database
- Scholly (app download)
Another tip: Next time you're on campus, check out the bulletin board outside Bee Central where we post more flyers and applications for outside scholarships.
Matt Thole
Bachelor of Arts degrees in Business Sales, Marketing, and Finance,Account Executive at Kunkel and Assoc., Employee Benefits and Commercial Property and Casualty Division,Class of 2019
At SAU, Matt discovered an educational environment that encouraged innovation and tenacity. He jumped into sales competitions, served as a Resident Advisor, led retreats, and competed in intermural sports. His relentless commitment to excellence paid off: three degrees – earned in just 3.5 years – and a job waiting for him after graduation.
Contact
Joe Miller, PhD
Marketing/Sales
McMullen Hall
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6383
MillerJosephC@sau.edu