Southern New Hampshire University

MKT620: Consumer Behavior and Marketing

A guide to SNHU's graduate MKT-620, which examines the psychological, social and cultural drivers of consumer decisions and turns them into marketing plans.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

MKT-620 at Southern New Hampshire University is a graduate consumer behavior course.

The catalog lists it as Consumer Behavior and Marketing and says students investigate psychological, social and cultural drivers of consumer behavior and decision making, analyze segmentation strategies, customer journey maps and motivational theories, and see how consumer insights influence brand perception, loyalty and market positioning.

The catalog also says students develop data-informed marketing plans that align with customer values, behaviors and needs and support ethical, effective marketing. No prerequisite is listed. The graduate step up from the undergraduate course is in application: you are expected to turn theory into a plan, and to defend its ethics.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversitySouthern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
Course codeMKT-620
Official titleConsumer Behavior and Marketing
Level and creditsGraduate, 3 credits
PrerequisiteNone listed in the catalog
Typical workSegment analyses, journey maps, theory applications, marketing plans (check your syllabus)

What MKT-620 Covers

Catalog themeWhat it means in practice
Psychological, social and cultural driversWhy people choose as they do, at personal, group and cultural levels
Segmentation strategiesDividing a market into groups with distinct needs
Customer journey mapsVisualizing touchpoints, feelings and decisions over time
Motivational theoriesFrameworks that explain what energizes behavior
Brand perception, loyalty and positioningHow insights shape how a brand is seen and kept
Ethical, data-informed marketing plansPlans grounded in evidence and respect for customers

Key Concepts Explained

Customer Journey Maps

A journey map lays out the stages a customer passes through, what they do and think at each, and where the experience goes well or badly. It is useful because it exposes moments where a small change makes a large difference.

Illustration (invented): For an online furniture shop, stages might be discovery, comparison, purchase, delivery and use. If research shows customers worry most during delivery, tracking updates and a clear returns promise address the anxiety at the moment it occurs.

Segmentation That Is Useful

Good segments are measurable, reachable and different enough to need different treatment. Behavior and needs often work better than demographics alone.

Illustration (invented): A fitness app could segment by goal (weight loss, strength, stress relief) and by usage pattern (daily, weekly, lapsed). Each combination suggests a different message and feature emphasis.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Assignment typeWhat it testsHow to approach it
Theory applicationLinking concepts to behaviorSelect two or three theories and apply them to a defined consumer group
Segmentation strategyAnalytical choiceDefine criteria, describe segments and justify the target
Customer journey mapExperience thinkingBase each stage on evidence and mark pain points
Marketing planApplication and ethicsTie tactics to insights and discuss ethical considerations

Ethical Marketing in Practice

The catalog's mention of ethical marketing means plans should consider the effect on customers. Points worth addressing include transparency about data use, avoiding manipulative or misleading tactics, and care with vulnerable groups.

IssueResponsible practice
PersonalizationExplain how data is used and offer control
PersuasionBe honest about benefits and limits
Vulnerable groupsTake extra care with messaging and targeting

Using Motivational Theories Well

The catalog names motivational theories, so expect to apply at least one. Treat a theory as a lens: say what it predicts about your chosen consumers, look for evidence that supports or contradicts it, and note what it means for the marketing plan.

Comparing two theories can strengthen an answer. If one emphasizes needs and another emphasizes social comparison, show which explains your group's behavior better and why. A balanced view suits graduate expectations.

Choosing Evidence About Consumers

Because the course is graduate level, assertions about consumers need support. Useful sources include peer-reviewed studies, reputable industry reports and public survey data, each with a date and a clear method.

Combine kinds of evidence where you can. A survey figure shows how common an attitude is, while interview quotations or published case studies help explain why. State the limits of each source honestly, such as sample size or the country studied, and avoid generalizing beyond them.

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for MKT-620

How We Help with MKT-620

Send the prompt, rubric and any case details. A graduate-level marketing writer can prepare a custom analysis, explain the theories and journey mapping, or review your own draft for evidence and ethics. For methods that help you study consumers, see our qualitative research guide.

GradeEssays is independent of Southern New Hampshire University. Our work is a study and reference aid: use it to understand the approach, then write and submit your own work under SNHU's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, with free revisions within the scope of your original request and a full refund if late.

Strengthen Your MKT-620 Consumer Analysis

Share the brief and your draft. We prepare a custom analysis or review yours for theory use and ethics.

Start My MKT-620 Help

Free revisions · Full refund if late · Written from scratch for your order

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MKT-620 called Consumer Behavior in Marketing?

SNHU's current catalog lists it as Consumer Behavior and Marketing.

Does MKT-620 have a prerequisite?

The catalog lists none.

What is a customer journey map?

A visual of the stages a customer goes through when interacting with a brand, with their actions, thoughts and pain points.

How many credits is MKT-620?

It is listed as 3 credits at graduate level.

How does it differ from MKT-345?

MKT-345 is undergraduate and focuses on the stages of purchase and use. MKT-620 adds segmentation, journey maps, motivational theory and ethical marketing plans at graduate depth.

Can you help me draft a segmentation strategy?

Yes. We can show a worked example and review your draft against the rubric.