Master’s degree programs with a concentration in marketing delve into advanced topics in advertising, research and consumer behavior. Graduates qualify for management positions within marketing and advertising firms.
Master of Business Administration in Marketing
Master’s degree programs in marketing teach students theories about consumer buying behavior, international marketing and market research. These programs provide a managerial mindset on how to maintain and run business operations. Some programs may have capstone courses in which students deal with advanced business problems or issues.
Education Prerequisites
Prerequisites may depend on each school, but most universities require students to have a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree may not necessarily be related to business, but certain schools ask that applicants complete at least some courses in business, accounting and economics. Additionally, MBA programs typically require students to provide scores for graduate tests, like the GMAT.
Course Topics
While each MBA program is different, universities usually require students to complete business core classes before moving on to electives. Core classes focus on the managerial aspects of finance so that students can understand how to be effective leaders in corporations. Marketing specialization courses may include:
- Consumer behavior
- Marketing management
- Marketing research
- International marketing
- Marketing strategies
Popular Career Options
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), graduates with master’s degrees may be able to fulfill managerial and supervisory positions (www.bls.gov). Marketing graduates can find jobs developing the advertising or sales pitch of a company. They can also choose to work in research and may conduct surveys for companies. Some common careers for graduates may include:
- Market researcher
- Marketing manager
- Advertising manager
- Sales manager
- Promotions manager
Continuing Education Information
People who want to work as postsecondary teachers or researchers in business may need to receive additional education through doctoral programs. These programs provide seminars, research projects and advanced theoretical classes related to markets and the economy. Students are expected to improve their communication and analyzing skills, especially at is pertains to scholarly articles. Dissertations are typically required to complete a doctoral program.