Master of Science in Marketing: What is it?

The field of marketing combines creativity and strategy, and helps businesses succeed while keeping up with industry trends. Pursuing a Master of Science in Marketing degree is valuable for professionals seeking to advance their careers. This degree equips individuals with advanced knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of modern marketing strategies, consumer behavior, and digital marketing trends.

Benefits of Master of Science (MS) in Marketing

An advanced degree in marketing can offer individuals a range of benefits and opportunities. A master’s degree in marketing prepares students for success in various areas of marketing. These areas include marketing management, digital and social media marketing, consumer behavior, marketing research, advertising, and more. Some of the benefits of choosing to pursue an advanced degree in marketing include:

• Gain In-Demand Skills: Graduates gain in-depth knowledge in marketing, allowing them to become specialists in the field. This expertise enhances their ability to communicate effectively, think creatively, and act strategically. These are invaluable skills in today’s job market.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Learn key concepts, data analysis techniques and software tools for making key marketing decisions including segmentation, targeting, positioning, forecasting, new product design and resource allocation.
• Career Advancement: An MS in Marketing opens opportunities for career advancement and higher-level roles within marketing departments or related fields. Graduates are often better positioned for leadership roles, such as a marketing manager or director.
• Adaptability: Given the rapid evolution of marketing, an MS in Marketing ensures that professionals are well-equipped to adapt to new trends and technologies.
• Networking: Students can take advantage of networking opportunities with industry professionals, alumni, and guest speakers, fostering valuable connections for future career growth.

 Career Opportunities with a MS in Marketing

Whether working for a corporation, an agency, or as an entrepreneur, marketing professionals play a vital role in shaping how products and services are perceived and embraced by the public. An MS in Marketing equips professionals with the skills required for today’s marketing careers.

Professionals with an MS in Marketing distinguish themselves as qualified and knowledgeable job candidates. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 10% employment growth rate for marketing managers from 2021 to 2031 – double the predicted national job growth rate. Graduates from the University of Illinois Chicago’s online Master of Science in Marketing program are prepared for the following roles and find jobs with salaries that range between $60,000 to $160,000*:

• Marketing Manager: $158,280 per year 
• Marketing Research Analyst: $78,880 per year 
• Product Marketing Specialist: $69,428 per year 
• Social Media Manager: $57,700 per year 
• Public Relations Manager: $83,626 per year 
• Digital Strategist: $89,000 per year 
• Brand Manager: $161,455 per year 
• Sales Manager: $120,222 per year 

Educational Opportunities for a MS in Marketing

A Master of Science in Marketing degree is a graduate-level program designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of marketing principles, strategies, and emerging trends. Professionals interested in breaking into the field should consider pursuing their MS in Marketing degree.

Why consider earning your master’s in marketing online?

Working professionals that need to balance work and school should consider enrolling into an online MS in Marketing program. Universities committed to prioritizing their online programs will ensure students receive high quality and high engagement online courses. Benefits include:

• Flexibility: An online program provides students with optimal flexibility, allowing them to take their courses at their convenience and from any location.
• Collaborative: Online instructors will maintain a strong presence, especially at the University of Illinois Chicago, offering optional synchronous office hours and accommodating 1:1 meetings as needed.
• Diverse Perspectives: Students will collaborate with a diverse group of peers located all over the country (or world). Interacting with individuals from various backgrounds, cultures, and professional experiences enhances the learning environment.

The online MS in Marketing program at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)

UIC offers a 100% online MS in Marketing degree designed to prepare students to excel in the most important areas of marketing and offers cutting-edge training in the latest techniques in digital marketing and marketing analytics which are critical to success in today’s market. Housed in the UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School, the MS in Marketing degree is a 32-credit hour program and can be completed in as few as 12 months.

The MS in Marketing program consists of 8 online courses that highlight both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of marketing. Taught by a renowned faculty involved in research and practice, the curriculum integrates theoretical knowledge with practical application and covers a wide range of topics, including market research, consumer behavior, branding, digital marketing, and strategic marketing management. UIC’s program prides itself on being student-centered and highly interactive. The program’s online courses prioritize active engagement of our students through various avenues like discussion boards, video contributions, collaborative projects, and more, fostering rich interactions between peers and faculty.

In UIC’s online MS in Marketing program, students will learn how to:

• Develop integrated marketing strategies and solutions that identify and exploit emerging market opportunities.
• Design, conduct, analyze, and apply market research to aid managerial decision making.
• Plan advertising and promotional campaigns across media, including online, radio, television, print, outdoor.
• Develop effective digital and social media marketing campaigns.
• Use digital marketing tools for paid search ads, search engine optimization (SEO), organic social media, social media ads and mobile marketing.
• Apply the right marketing data analytic tools to test alternative marketing activities and improve marketing outcomes.
• Understand how customers evaluate products and make purchase decisions.
• Extend marketing strategies to international markets.

*Salary data sources include Bureau of Labor Statistics and Glassdoor.