Professional Sales, B.A.

Learn valuable sales management strategies needed for business success by learning how to build business relationships, negotiate sales terms and ultimately close the business deals needed for companies to succeed now and in the future.

Sales professionals keep businesses running. In our increasingly solutions-driven economy, connecting consumers and companies with the products and services they need to stay competitive is a fast-growing field for ambitious people excited to make connections and create lasting value for customers.

Despite overwhelming demand for sales professionals in the business world, only a handful of schools in the U.S. offer a dedicated program in professional sales. The Lenoir-Rhyne University program was built by leading experts and industry stars from Fortune 500 companies and leaders in academia to create a specialized offering for our students. 

A business education is built into our program, so you’ll have expertise ready to apply as soon as you graduate. Learn how to analyze, how to coach and excel as a sales leader, including the following.

• Relationship-driven professional selling
  Learn prospecting through relationship building to a higher and deeper level of “thinking” through the sales approach as a master planner, listener, negotiator and partner. Obtain fundamental knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to succeed in a professional selling position and focus on the planning and research necessary to be a credible and compelling salesperson. Advanced topics include team selling, negotiating, and leveraging account development activities.
• Negotiation in business and sales
  Learn the concepts behind negotiation and develop your own negotiating style. 
• Sales leadership
  Learn the “hard” analytical skills as well as the “soft” skills for effective management and coaching. Explore key sales and management concepts related to the sales function and that of the sales manager in the firm. Develop hands on analytical and management coaching skills using business case studies and articles, and active hands-on practice.

Program Outcomes

With a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Sales you will be able to apply the principles of relationship-driven selling to sales activities, including: 

• Choose the correct approach to manage sales teams.
• Provide critical feedback about the selling practices of others.
• Develop skills in buyer/seller negotiation strategies.
• Create an integrated sales strategy for any organization.

Learning Outside the Classroom

Future employers and post-graduate schools will look at your entire undergraduate work both inside and outside the classroom. Take full advantage of all opportunities that are available to you at LR, including research, study abroad, internships, student clubs and organizations.