UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler To Offer Certification Program in Category Management for Marketing Majors

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April 2, 2015

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

April 2, 2015

The University of Texas at Tyler will offer a new certification in category management for UT Tyler marketing majors this fall, Dr. James Lumpkin, College of Business and Technology dean, announced.

This certification – valued in excess of $1,000 – is at no cost to the students.

Proficiency modules will be embedded within the coursework of a variety of UT Tyler marketing courses including Principles of Marketing, Retailing in the 21^st Century, Marketing Research and Retail Analytics. Students who pass all the modules will be eligible to sit for an additional exam outside of the university to attain the title of Certified Professional Category Analyst.

“The marketing department in the College of Business and Technology at The University of Texas at Tyler is proud to offer marketing students the opportunity to participate in the certification program for ‘Certified Professional Category Analyst,’” said Dr. Krist Swimberghe, department chair. “This certification will differentiate our students from their competition when they are looking for a career with top-branded retailers and manufacturers, like Brookshire Grocery Company, Kraft, Pepsi-Co, Red Bull, Seven Eleven, Wal-Mart and many others.”

Category Management is a collaborative continuous process between manufacturers and retailers to manage a product category at retail, and the purpose is to optimize shopper satisfaction. The end result is a combination of assortment, price, shelf presentation and promotion, which optimizes category performance over time.

Students interested in the certification program may contact their academic adviser within the department for curriculum and other details, Swimberghe added.

For more information, visit the department homepage[BROKEN LINK] or call 903.565.5585.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.