By Lacie Blankenship
The Vanderbilt MBA program is excited to announce that its new concentration, Consumer Psychology and Marketing Analytics, has been designated as a STEM degree program. The STEM certification allows international students to extend their training in the US by 24 months.
“One of our guiding principles is Innovation and Learning, which pushes us to continually evolve our program based on global market needs,” says Sue Oldham, Associate Dean, MBA Program Operations. “The STEM designation in this new concentration signals to employers that our students are ready with a quantitative background to step into highly technical tech and product roles.”
This new concentration provides students with a foundation in marketing analytics and an understanding of customer psychology. It includes 4 required courses: Consumer Behavior, Consumer Insights for Marketing Decision Making, Quantitative Analysis for Marketing Decision Making, and Marketing Analytics, and students must also choose 2 courses from options ranging from Marketing Communications: Advertising and Social Media to Pricing Strategies and Brand Management.
Under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, international students with F-1 status who graduate from colleges and universities in the United States are eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training, which provides up to 12 months of work authorization in their field of study.
Now that the Vanderbilt MBA Consumer Psychology and Marketing Analytics concentration has a STEM-eligible CIP code, international graduates in F-1 status can apply for an additional 24 months of OPT, also known as the OPT STEM extension, for a total of 36 months of work authorization after graduation.
The STEM designation not only impacts international students but also strengthens the resumes of domestic students.
“I am thrilled that the MBA Consumer Psychology and Marketing Analytics concentration can offer international graduates the chance to apply to work in the US for 3 years before needing an H-1B visa,” says Jennifer Escalas, Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Dean Samuel B. and Evelyn R. Richmond Chair in Marketing. “This new concentration will provide our students with a solid foundation in marketing analytics, as well as a strong understanding of the psychology of their customers.”
If you are an international student in F-1 status, please contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to determine your eligibility.
