CURRICULUM
AT A GLANCE

Immersive curriculum. World-class faculty.

The Vanderbilt Master of Marketing program offers a comprehensive curriculum consisting of MBA-level courses, customized immersions and real-world experiences that allow you to tailor the program to your specific career goals. In 10 months, you will develop a holistic understanding of this complex field of study through intense course work in all facets of marketing—advertising and promotion, sales, consumer behavior, big data analytics, social media, digital marketing and more. In addition to the broad base of insight gained from the curriculum, you will deepen your knowledge of industries and companies of special interest to you through 2 immersion experiences.

Degree candidates must successfully complete 31 hours of coursework to graduate. The academic calendar at Owen is based on the module (mod) system. Each mod consists of 7 weeks, and 2 mods equal one semester.

Students may be interested in taking additional courses beyond the required curriculum. For example, students who wish to gain outstanding quantitative skills should take Marketing Analytics in Mod 4. Other classes that may be of interest include Negotiation, Spreadsheets for Business Analytics, and Health Care Marketing. It is easy to make this accommodation, and students interested in this option should contact the MMark Faculty Director.

Curriculum and course information are updated annually and are subject to change.

*Students who wish to gain additional outstanding quantitative skills can swap Directed Study II for Marketing Analytics.

An Immersive Education

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You’ll have an opportunity to tailor immersive experiences to fit your career goals allowing you to deepen your knowledge in the industry, gain hands-on learning, and real-world experience.

LEARN THROUGH IMMERSION

Put knowledge into action in a way that makes you marketable.

By the numbers

no.2

Our rank on the Princeton Review Best Business Schools 2023 list for Best Professors, based on student and alumni surveys

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FAQ

Program Information

Q. Do you offer part-time Master of Marketing programs?
A.

No, the Master of Marketing program is a full-time, 10-month, on-campus program.

Q. What is the application process for completing an MBA at Vanderbilt after graduating with the Master of Marketing degree?
A.

A Vanderbilt Master of Marketing graduate who works three to five years and decides to pursue a Vanderbilt MBA is one semester ahead, with 12 credits applicable toward the 62-credit MBA program.The graduate must still complete an MBA application and be considered in the competitive applicant pool. If accepted into Vanderbilt's MBA program, the candidate can complete the MBA in three semesters instead of four. MBA applicants have an average of five years of work experience, many in the kinds of entry-level marketing and sales roles that Master of Marketing students will attain. MMark graduates will need to build the appropriate experience, then apply to the Vanderbilt MBA program and complete the remaining core classes and requirements in place at the time of MBA enrollment.

Q. Do you accept applications for spring entry into the Master of Marketing program?
A.

No. While we accept applications throughout the year, all students begin classes in August and graduate in May.

Q. What is the difference between a Master of Marketing degree and an MBA degree?
A.

The Master of Marketing is an accelerated, 10-month, 31-credit program that is a deep dive into all facets of marketing (fundamentals, analytics, and marketing strategy) and two independent-study immersions—one in industry and one in a specific marketing content area—providing the opportunity for students to tailor the curriculum to help them secure an entry-level role in marketing that does not require full-time work experience. An MBA is a 21-month, 62-credit program providing more general management offerings, including other core management topics (finance, economics, operations, accounting, organization management, strategy). An MBA allows for a summer internship in a new field (helpful for career switchers) and generally requires full-time work experience for MBA-level job consideration. A Vanderbilt Master of Marketing graduate who works three to five years post-graduation and decides to pursue a Vanderbilt MBA is one semester ahead, with 12 credits applicable toward the MBA (if accepted).

Q. What types of positions will I be qualified for upon graduating from the Master of Marketing program?
A.

Students graduating with a Vanderbilt Master of Marketing degree will be qualified for a variety of positions within the broad scope of marketing: analytics, digital marketing (including web-based and social media marketing), advertising and promotion, sales, and market research.

Q. When do classes begin?
A.

All Master of Marketing students are required to attend Orientation and complete on-campus course work prior to the start of the academic semester. For a full list of dates, please visit the Academic Calendar.

Q. Will I be included in Owen's social structure (student clubs, socials, etc.)?
A.

Owen's active student body offers a number of opportunities to get involved outside of the classroom, and Master of Marketing students will have access to all professional and social clubs.

Q. Is the Vanderbilt Master of Marketing program STEM certified?
A.

Yes! The STEM designation for the Vanderbilt Master of Marketing program allows international students to extend their post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the U.S. by 24 months, for a total of 36 months.

Admissions Information

Q. Can Master of Marketing graduates return to Owen to complete an MBA?
A.

Yes, Master of Marketing students can apply to the Vanderbilt MBA program. The admissions standards for the MBA program are different and generally require three to five years of work experience. If you are admitted to the MBA program, some of the Master of Marketing course credits can be used to satisfy MBA graduation requirements.

Q. Does a particular academic or professional background give me an advantage in the admissions process?
A.

We seek students from a wide variety of majors and backgrounds.

Q. Does the Master of Marketing program accept transfer students or transfer credits?
A.

No, the program does not accept transfer students or transfer credits.

Q. What kind of work experience does the Admissions Committee consider?
A.

We do not require prior full-time work experience for the Master of Marketing program. However, competitive applicants will have at least one internship that is applicable to career interests in marketing.

Q. Who is eligible to apply?
A.

Master of Marketing applicants need to have completed an undergraduate program at an accredited four-year undergraduate institution and should have shown high academic and personal achievement. Scores on the GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL (for applicants who are not native English speakers) should be competitive with other Vanderbilt graduate programs. Applicants should also have proven creative and analytical aptitude and exceptional communication skills.

Q. Does the Vanderbilt Master of Marketing program accept a 3-year undergraduate degree?
A.

A three (3) year degree does not meet the Vanderbilt Master of Marketing program's academic admission qualifications/requirements. International students must have a degree from an accredited 4-year undergraduate program, or they must also complete the Charter Accountancy Designation OR at least one year of a Master of Commerce degree program to compliment the 3-year degree.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
A MASTER OF MARKETING STUDENT

See what it’s like to be a student in the
Vanderbilt Master of Marketing program.

Meet Katherine