MS in Marketing

Make data-driven marketing decisions

Specialize in marketing and analytics

The Master of Science in Marketing is a 30-32 credit hour specialized graduate degree. For the professional currently employed in marketing, it offers the opportunity to enhance overall knowledge, skills, and abilities. Students can choose an area of emphasis in marketing analytics, or digital marketing and brand management.

About the Program

The MS in Marketing is designed for individuals who:

  • Want a specialized, research-oriented marketing degree,
  • Want to prepare themselves for leadership in the discipline,
  • Want to prepare themselves for more technical careers in marketing, marketing communications, or marketing metrics,
  • Want to meet minimum qualifications for teaching at SACS and/or AACSB accredited institutions.

Students with no academic preparation in business must complete foundation coursework in marketing. This requirement can be met by completion of  MAR 6815 Marketing Management.

Chat with Students

Alumni Testimonials

Jackson Beers

Jackson Beers (Class of 2021)
Client Service Analyst, Information Resources Inc.
On-site at Refresco in Tampa, FL, USA

“Having also completed my undergraduate studies at USF, my time in the Masters of Marketing Program stands out as the underlying foundation for my career. Pivoting towards graduate school allowed me to explore areas of the marketing realm that I truly believe I would have never been exposed to. Coursework focusing on more technical elements of marketing allowed me to delve into the market research industry with confidence in my abilities. All in all, my time in this program pushed me towards actualizing my interests and finding a position I look forward to growing in. I am thankful for the dedication of the program’s staff and look forward to opportunities in the future to give back to USF.â€

Briana Cervantes

Briana Cervantes (Class of 2020)
Marketing Manager, Z-School LLC, FL, USA

"Being a psychology major I never thought I would be pursuing a business graduate degree, but a lot of what I learned in the MS Marketing program related to my psychology major especially when it came to understanding your target audience and brand management. The program’s coursework consists of 'real world' marketing projects and many classes have guest speakers from big companies that come in to speak on current trends, challenges, and practices. While the coursework did prepare me for a career in marketing, the faculty played a big role in helping me achieve my goals not just inside the classroom, but in my professional life as well. The faculty truly care about your goals and will help students in any way they can. This program gave me the skills I needed along with a supportive network that helped me start my career in marketing."

Jadrien Musharbash

Jadrien Musharbash (Class of 2020)
E-Commerce Brand Manager, Lafeber Company

"The MS in Marketing at the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ has been an exceptionally positive experience. Coursework, ranging from case studies to group projects, challenged me to view marketing from a real-world perspective. Small class sizes fostered engaging topics and conversations between student and professor that were relevant to the marketing industry. I grew close relationships with my professors, and overall, the program provided me with the skillset needed to jumpstart my career in the marketing field."

Advisory Board

Elizabeth Johnson, Cofounder and CEO, Pathformance

As the CEO of Pathformance, Elizabeth Johnson is responsible for leading the company, which is focused on the data technology, ad-tech, and measurement industry.  Johnson has more than 20 years’ experience driving sales growth in the CPG and technology industries. Johnson most recently served as vice president of digital marketing for Retailigence Corporation, but her experience includes marketing roles with JL Buchanan, SetSight, Hershey and AC Nielsen/Spectra Marketing.  Johnson is passionate about all things CPG, retail, ad-tech, and digital marketing.  Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin and is a Certified Professional Strategic Advisor.

Doug Pace, Founder and CEO, Stonehill Innovation

Doug Pace is the CEO of Stonehill Innovation.  The company has been recognized by the United States Chamber of Commerce as Emerging Business of the Year, CIO Review Magazine 20 Most Promising Performance Management Provider, and by Great Agencies as a Top Analytics & Business Intelligence Agency. He has been recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by the American Business Awards and Consulting Magazine as one of the 75 Most Influential Consultants in the United States. Prior to founding Stonehill, Pace was an equity partner and COO at an award-winning interactive agency that was recognized as Ad Age Magazine Top 100 Interactive Agency and Microsoft Global Partner of the Year. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a Certificate in Energy Innovation from Stanford University.

Kathy Sadden, Chief Marketing Officer / Investor Relations, AgileThought

Kathy Sadden is chief marketing officer for AgileThought. She has more than 30 years’ experience as a consultant and leader of sales and marketing teams for both consulting and technology services firms. Sadden has assembled high performing teams as a managing director and leader focused on building programs that led to client value and success. Sadden has also built and implemented various programs for client retention through account planning an cNPS programs, including sales operations practices. She has a degree from the University of North Texas and has passed the CPA exam.

Karen Sparkman, Vice President - Customer Experience, Tampa Electric Co., and People's Gas

She joined the company in June 2017 as director of customer experience operations at Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas and has played a key role in the transformation of the broader customer experience organization across contact centers, customer billing, credit & collections and payment operations. Before joining TECO, Sparkman was a Customer Experience leader at Snohomish County Public Utility District in Everett, WA., and prior to that, she worked at Colorado Springs Utilities. She has a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix and a master's degree in business administration from Colorado Technical University.

Danielle Vona, Chief Marketing Officer, Bloomin’ Brands

Danielle Vona was named chief marketing officer for Bloomin’ Brands in 2021 after serving as CMO for the Casual Dining Restaurant Portfolio, including Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, and Carrabba’s Italian Grill.

Vona is responsible for overseeing marketing, from brand strategy to implementation. She guides a team of marketers, agencies, and partners across various functions, including business strategy, consumer insights, brand marketing, food and beverage development, and field marketing.  She previously held senior marketing positions at PepsiCo, Sonic, Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Vona earned a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University.

Mike White, Chief Marketing Officer, Raymond James

Mike White is chief marketing officer at Raymond James. He heads Raymond James’ corporate marketing and corporate communications efforts and is responsible for directing its brand management, marketing services, advisor marketing, communications and meeting and event functions. He also supports strategic planning for the firm.  Before joining Raymond James as an assistant to the chairman, White was vice president of e-business strategy at Prudential Financial.  He has also held a variety of marketing, business development and consulting positions at Dun & Bradstreet, United Airlines and Aon Consulting Group.  White earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Davidson College and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago.

Frequently Asked Questions


Admissions

Are standardized test scores (GRE or GMAT) necessary to be considered for admission to the MS in Marketing program?

Applicants can get a waiver from submitting GRE/GMAT test scores based on their work experience (3 years or more of relevant experience) or their undergraduate GPA (3.5 or higher). The MS Marketing uses a portfolio admissions process and test scores are only one of several inputs considered while making admission decisions. View more information about admission decisions

Can I enter the MS in Marketing program without an undergraduate degree in business?

Yes, students from all undergraduate majors can be considered for admission. In fact, students from other liberal arts majors such as communications, psychology, or economics, etc. can transition into a marketing and business career with an MS in Marketing degree. If a student does not have an undergraduate marketing management course with a grade of B or better, they will have to complete a foundation course in their first semester.

What are the MS in Marketing admission requirements?

Who can I contact with more questions?

Is there an application deadline?

Are there application requirements that can be waived?

The program offers two options for GMAT/GRE test waivers. Applicants can review the waiver options under the apply now section of this website. The applicant would need to complete the appropriate waiver form and upload it under the test section of the online application.

Can I send my application information to the department for an evaluation before I apply?

The faculty director and assistant director of the program welcome queries but cannot review application materials and 'pre-admit' students to the program before the complete application is submitted and reviewed by the admissions committee.

How does the application process work?

Applications are submitted to the USF Office of Admissions and are sent to the department for evaluation when the required documents have been attached to the online application. t is ideal to submit your application after you have gathered all the required documents. Once the application is complete and the application fee paid, it is evaluated by the Muma College of Business and then by the Office of Admissions.

What code do I use to send test scores to USF?

The institution code for USF is 5828 and applies to all tests administered by ETS (GRE and TOEFL). For the GMAT, the school/program code is VP9-M4-86.

Are there any special application instructions?

All documents must be in a pdf format and you should attach them to the online application (do not send any hard copy documents). Once an admissions decision is made, the USF Office of Graduate Studies will contact applicants for any required hard copies.

How can I check my application status?

Applicants may review admissions status online. Note that if the status reads that an application has been 'referred' to the department, this just means it has left the Office of Admissions. It is reviewed by several other departments before a final admission decision is made.

I have questions about the online application, who should I contact?

Below are some common application questions. If you have other queries concerning the online application and required documents, they can be directed to Graduate Studies Academic Program Specialist Le’Shelle Davis at: lspence3@usf.edu.

  • What should I do if my GPA is not scored out of 4.0 points? Just estimate the GPA; staff evaluate transcripts for grades.
  • My credits are calculated differently, as I am an international student - what should I enter? Just estimate!
  • The application asks about a certification, do I need this? This refers to College of Education graduate students only. This program does not require a certification.
  • The Office of Graduate Admissions website mentions sending hard copies. Should I do this? Again, please attach all required documents to the online application as a PDF. Do not send any hard copies until an admission decision has been made.</li>

Can I defer my admission if necessary?

Applicants may request a deferment of up to one year by contacting Assistant Director Stacee Bender at staceebender@usf.edu.

I just got admitted. What do I do next?

The program will provide registration instructions once admission has been finalized. In the meantime, applicants should complete any other requirements that are outstanding with the university such as immunizations, immigration, etc.


Program

How many credits is the MS in Marketing program?

The MS in Marketing program is 30-32 credits depending on whether the student is required to take a foundation course in marketing management. Other than the foundation course, other courses in the program are 3 credit hours each.

Why should I pursue a MS in Marketing degree instead of an MBA degree?

The MS in Marketing is a specialized master’s degree while the MBA is a more generalist degree. The MS in Marketing is well suited for a) early career marketing executives with an interest in getting more in-depth knowledge of different areas of marketing, (b) recent graduates working in other areas looking to transition to marketing, and (c) those who are completing their undergraduate degree in marketing, psychology, communications, advertising, economics and other related disciplines.

Are there different concentrations or areas of specialization in the MS in Marketing program?

The MS in Marketing program does not have concentrations. However, we do offer the opportunity to focus your electives in either Marketing Analytics or Digital and Brand Management. Students can use their 9 credits of marketing electives to earn an individualized area of emphasis in one of those two areas.

What professors teach in the MS in Marketing program?

How many electives can I choose from in my program?

The program includes 9 credits (or 3 courses) of marketing electives and 6 credits (or 2 courses) of business electives. Business electives can be chosen from other business disciplines such as management, entrepreneurship, general business, information systems, etc. Students must meet any course specific prerequisites needed for the business electives. As such, finance and accounting electives are not often used.

Is the MS in Marketing program offered an all three USF campuses?

Students can take classes from any of the three campuses that are applicable to the degree. The majority of the courses for this program are taught by faculty from the Tampa campus.

How long does it take to complete the MS in Marketing program?

The length of time it takes to complete the program depends on a couple of variables. The first is whether the student is required to take the foundation course. The second is how many courses the student takes each term. In general, the fastest a student could complete the program is one calendar year (all three terms- Fall, Spring, Summer). Students have up to 5 years to complete once they start. Most students who work full-time take courses on a part-time basis, two a semester.

Does the MS in Marketing program offer career development ?

Yes, the MS Marketing program has access to the Graduate Career Advancement within the Muma College of Business Graduate Programs Office.

Do I have to commit to be a full-time or part-time MS in Marketing student?

Students can choose to be full-time or part-time based on their individual schedules. The minimum credits to be considered full-time in graduate school is 9 credits. Note that international students have to maintain full-time status for their student visa. Also, some forms of financial aid require a minimum enrollment. Please refer to the Financial Aid office or the Office of Veteran Success for more information, if applicable.

Learn more about the Financial Aid office or the Office of Veteran Success.


Finances

What is the estimated cost of attendance/pricing per credit?

2023-2024 Tuition Rates are as follows: $ 467.34 per credit hour for Florida residents and $ 913.08 per credit hour for non-Florida residents. You may view the Cost of Attendance to estimate your additional expenses in regard to housing, food, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

Are there graduate assistantships available in this program?

Graduate assistantships in the Muma College of Business are limited in number and competitive in nature. Each school within the college handles the hiring process for any openings they may have. Keep in mind that positions do not come open at a particular time, you will need to keep an eye out on the Careers@USF website for openings. You may apply to a position after you have been admitted into a degree program. The position must directly relate to your academic program. As far as the compensation package for an assistantship goes, they are paid an hourly wage and receive a health insurance subsidy from the university. At this time, master’s level assistants in the Muma College do not qualify for a tuition waiver. As such, you will need to be prepared to pay the full cost of attendance.

Are there scholarships available in this program?

A limited number of scholarships are available to graduate business students. The application for these scholarships will be distributed to admitted and current students. Please note that the amounts of these scholarships typically range from $1000 to $3000. As such, we cannot provide full funding to admits.

How do I apply for other forms of financial aid like loans?

A step-by-step guide for financial aid for graduate students and other information about financial aid can be found on USF's University Scholarships & Financial Aid Services website.


International Students

Where can I find information about required TOEFL / IELTS scores?

I'm an international student, where can I get help on the documents needed to attend USF?

Information for International Students can be found at the Admissions Information for International Students website.

I have never traveled abroad before. What resources are available to make my initial arrival comfortable when I reach USF?

Many student organizations on campus do their best to make arrival and early days as pleasant as possible. Examples include the USF Friends of Internationals Ministry, a faith-based organization.

Can I get practical training while in the program?

Co-Curricular Practical Training has very specific requirements. International students enrolled in the MS in Marketing program can participate in an internship and are eligible to complete up to 3 credits of business electives via this option.

View more information


Contact Us

Current Students

Sherri Pooley
sherripooley@usf.edu
Academic Services Administrator
Office: BSN 103

Prospective Students

If you have not yet applied to the program, please contact a recruiter.