Marketing education prepares high school and college students for rewarding careers in marketing, management and entrepreneurship. DECA enhances that education by providing recognition and leadership activities directly related to classroom study. These activities focus on national, state and local programs designed to recognize attainment of specific occupational and leadership skills.

The objective of marketing education and DECA is to teach marketing and management skills in career areas such as hotel management, restaurant marketing and management, food marketing, department and specialty store retailing, industrial and international marketing, finance and credit, advertising, insurance, wholesaling and entrepreneurship. The curriculum is tailored to the specific career goals of students and includes basic scholastic and communication skills, human relations and employability skills.