MS in Marketing Program FAQ
The Advising office has a FAQ section we would encourage you to read carefully. In addition, a useful step by step process is outlined at the admissions site, please visit Application Guidelines for details.
Overview
The Master of Science in Marketing degree program teaches the principles and application of marketing concepts and best practices. Each of the five different tracks emphasizes different topics such as advertising, branding, business development, marketing analytics, marketing management, market research and product management.
| Masters in Marketing |
Masters in Business Administration (MBA) |
| 36 hours |
53 hours |
| 17 fewer credit hours of tuition than the MBA |
N/A |
| Can be completed in 1 to 1-1/2 years |
Can be completed in 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 years |
| No calculus prerequisite |
Calculus prerequisite |
| You can take up to 30 hours of marketing courses, the additional 6 hours are comprised of a statistics and a database course |
You can only take 15 hours of marketing courses; most courses cover a wide range of subjects such as accounting, finance, operations research, economics, etc. |
| Allows a depth of specialization in marketing core courses plus an added specialization in areas such as advertising, business development, marketing analytics or product management |
Students can pursue a concentration in marketing which cannot exceed 15 hours |
Marketing is an essential part of almost any company. Marketing graduates can pursue careers in areas such as Advertising, Brand Management, Business Development, Marketing Analytics, Market Research, Marketing Management or Product Management. Students can specialize in industry specific marketing careers such as Business to Business, Consumer packaged goods, e-Business, International Marketing, Pharmaceutical Marketing, Sports Marketing, Technology Marketing, Retailing, Marketing Consulting and many more.
The MS in Marketing program is a 36 credit hour program. It usually takes 1 to 2 years to complete the program depending on how many credit hours you decide to take each semester. If you wish to do it in one year, because some courses are only offered in the Spring or Fall semester, you may not be able to choose some of the electives you would like.
No, there are no prerequisite courses.
Courses are usually offered once a week in the evenings starting at 7:00 pm and ending at 9:45 Monday thru Thursday in the Fall and Spring semesters and 6:00- 10:00 pm in the summer semester. Our evening program allows professional students to work in full time jobs or internships during the day which is a major advantage of our program. “Part time” is the designation for those students taking 9 credit hours or less per semester. You can even take one course (3 credit hours) per semester if you desire- there is no minimum. International students usually take 12 credit hours per semester which for Visa purposes is considered full time; the time of day a course is offered has nothing to do with it being part time or full time.
There is no calculus prerequisite or requirement for this program.
We have two student chapters: The American Marketing Association (AMA) and the American Advertising Federation (AAF). These two organizations operate at both the local and national levels; students get a chance to meet and network with experienced industry officials, and in some instances, participate in scholarship competitions. The marketing department also engages with numerous other marketing organizations and we often have free passes for students to events at Search Engine Marketing, the DFW Interactive Marketing Association and the DFW Product Management group.
We will offer the “Product Management Academic Certificate” and the “Marketing Analytics & Market Research Academic Certificate”. Each certificate program requires 4 courses and passing a proficiency exam. . Please go to the respective academic certificate page found in the left hand menu for details.
Yes, there are several classes offered online however they are not offered every semester so it is hard to plan ahead of time on doing a large percentage of the program online. .The following courses are currently available online: all the business core courses (MKT 6301, OPRE 6301 and MIS6326); from the Marketing core currently only MKT 6310 Consumer Behavior has an online offering; from the marketing electives the following courses have an online offering at least once every year: MKT 6330 Brand Management, MKT 6332 Advertising & Promotional Strategy, MKT 6336 Pricing, It is NOT possible to do the entire MS in Marketing program online at this time, while we are adding an average of one online course per year we currently do not have plans to make the program entirely online. Students can take some courses online or in the classroom to best meet their needs.
No, however we are adding more online courses every year; at this time there is no target date by when all courses will be available online.
No, because most students in the MS in Marketing will be working full time jobs, it is difficult to organize a foreign trip with enough students. However the School of Management frequently offers different semester long study abroad programs which may count for transfer credit or may qualify for the Marketing Projects elective course (both require pre-approval from the Marketing Program Director).
Upon approval, up to 9 hours of graduate level course work from other universities may be transferred into the MS in Marketing degree program. You must have obtained a grade of B or better and the course cannot have been taken more than 5 years ago. You can apply for transfer or waive of credits after enrolling in the MS in Marketing degree.
Waivers of program requirements may be granted in recognition of previous course work completed with a grade of “B” or better within the past six years in a specific business program area. Waivers are approved by the appropriate program director through a process that allows a student to skip a core course and take the next higher level course in the same academic area with no reduction in the overall program hour requirements.
Transfer of credits may be granted for equivalent graduate course work taken at other universities with a grade of “B” or better within the past six years. Up to 9 credit hours of course work from other universities may be waived from or transferred to the MS in Marketing program.
Students officially admitted to a School of Management graduate program must obtain prior approval before taking any courses at another university. The resultant transfer hours may be denied if prior approval is not obtained. See the School of Management Advising Office for details on applying for pre-approvals.
Dual degrees: MBA/MS and Masters in Marketing
Yes, the minimum required total for both degrees is 63 credit hours, or 9 fewer credit hours than if you pursued them separately. However, you may have to do more than the minimum 63 credit hours because some programs do not share many of the same courses as the MS in Marketing.
Yes, the minimum required total for both degrees is 54 credit hours, or 18 fewer credit hours than if you pursued them separately. However, you may have to do more than the minimum 53 credit hours because some Masters programs do not share many of the same courses as the MS in Marketing. For example there would not be many shared courses in a dual MS in Finance and MS in Marketing.
Fast Track for UT Dallas Undergraduates
This program is only available for UT Dallas undergraduate students. Undergraduate B.S. in Business Administration or Marketing students (if from other UT Dallas schools, please check with the advising office for any additional requirements) can Fast Track into the MS in Marketing degree by selecting their courses carefully. Two key benefits:
- You do not need to take the GMAT or GRE exam if you enroll in the MS in Marketing within one year from completion of your undergraduate degree and meet the GPA criteria in the Fast Track program.
- As an undergraduate you can take graduate level courses in Consumer Behavior, Market Research, Brand Management, Advertising, Sales and/or Database Marketing which can be useful to highlight in your resume.
Qualified seniors may take up to 9 hours of marketing graduate courses that will apply to both their B.S.degree and satisfy the requirements for the M.S. in Marketing degree. For details please go to: Fast-Track Programs Page.
Please note that this does not impact nor change the GMAT requirement for SOM sponsored scholarships administered through the Dean’s office. A GMAT score will still be required to qualify for consideration of these scholarships.
Admission Steps
First read the
Frequently asked questions provided by the Advising office, then please visit the
applications guidelines to start the admission process online for the MS in Marketing degree. Click on the online admission process after you have read the instructions.
For domestic applicants (Fall – July 1, Spring – November 1, Summer – April 1) For international applicants (Fall – May 1 , Spring – September 1 , Summer – March 1 )
NO, as long as you submit the online application and pay the application fee before the deadline. However, keep in mind that all documents must be submitted before you can be considered for financial aid or admitted into the program. After all the documents are turned in there is still a processing time of approximately four weeks so it is in your best interest to submit all of your documentation as soon as possible.
Below is a summary of the steps you must take:
- Complete the online application, including the application fee.Please visit Application Guidelines for online application.
- Submit official GMAT (no more than five years old) or GRE (no more than five years old) scores. The school’s average GMAT is 600; the average GRE is 1240. This is an average. Lower scores can be compensated for by the GPA, work experience and extracurricular activities. The GMAT and GRE are not the only criteria considered for admission.
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended. At least one transcript must show conferral of a degree. Official certified, signed or stamped transcripts must be turned into Enrollment Management or may be transferred electronically between institutions. Currently, our master’s students have an average undergrad GPA of 3.3.
- For all international students, submit an English proficiency test no more than two years old from one of three testing services. Minimum scores required are TOEFL 80; PTE 67; IELTS 6.5. In addition, international students meeting the GMAT/GRE (with a high score in the verbal), PTE, TOEFL or IELTS admission criteria must also have a face to face or a recorded Skype webcam interview with the Program Director. In the Marketing program, it is essential that international students have excellent communication skills and proficiency.
- Submit a detailed resume of all work history.
- Request three letters of recommendation from current or past employers, community leaders, former professors, etc.
- Submit a One page, double spaced, typed paper outlining the applicant’s academic interests and goals. This may be submitted with the online application.
While applying for the program you do not need to submit the original transcripts, but after admission and before registration for classes you will need to submit the official transcripts.
No, you don’t need to submit the TOEFL if you have graduated from a university in the United States.
Your current academic adviser, faculty or if you are working, your supervisor, manager or colleague/coworker are the best persons to write your letters of recommendation.
GMAT and GRE exams
Yes, you must take either the GMAT or the GRE. If you have taken one of the exams previously, you must have been completed it within than five years prior to your application to the program.
UTD automatically by the exam administrator, speeding up the process.
GMAT code is ZTZPQ23
GRE code is R6897.
Our program has no preference, one benefit of the GMAT is that we offer more subsidized prep courses than we do for the GRE. We currently only offer two GRE prep courses for the GRE vs. approximately 7 courses per year for the GMAT. Regarding level of difficulty both exams are very similar and this determination can be highly subjective. We suggest you compare them by checking out GRE and GMAT prep books from the library and/or ask other students their opinion.
As a policy we do not base admission on just one factor. We look at your GMAT or GRE score, GPA, if you attended an accredited school, any relevant extracurricular activities you were involved in and work experience if applicable.
For the MS in Marketing program, we consider the best GMAT score.
Cost of the Masters in Marketing
The cost varies, depending on your residency status. If you are a Texas resident it is a lower price than for non-residents; however if you qualify for the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship, in addition to the $1,000 scholarship for the academic year (not per semester) you also qualify for the Texas resident tuition rate which in a one year period can be equivalent to a savings of $8,600 to $12,400 in savings.
Because tuition can vary from year to year, please go the Bursars page for a chart which shows the amount of tuition by credit hour, residency status, degree program and admission year. Scroll down the page after the chart to find information on supplemental tuition and other fees.
This plan freezes tuition rates at the rate applicable to the first semester you enroll, and remains valid for a period of four years.
Financial Aid
While international graduate students can receive merit based scholarships they are not eligible for need based grants through UT Dallas. International students can apply for loans, but they need a credit worthy cosigner who is a US citizen or permanent resident who resides in the United States. UT Dallas does not have its own loan program. If you would like to pursue a private education loan you will need to select a lender and apply directly. While UT Dallas may be asked by the lender to confirm you are a student we are not otherwise involved in the process and cannot recommend any lender. Additional information can be found at
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/finaid/Sources/alternative_sourcesEE.htm.
The deadline for submitting the FASFA and supporting documentation is typically during the month of April. The Spring deadline is typically during the month of October. HOWEVER, you can still apply for financial aid after the deadline. All applications are considered for federal loans. Because the federal Direct Stafford Loan is an entitlement program there is enough funding for the program without regard as to when the FAFSA was submitted. Additional information can be found
here.
- Complete the online application at this federal government website (do not go to the .com website as this is a private entity which will charge you a fee): http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/#
- FASFA (federal government) will send you by email a Student Aid Report (SAR) within approx. 3 business days telling you your expected contribution to your educational expenses.
After the Office of Financial Aid has reviewed your application they will offer you a financial aid award. This award usually includes one or more of the following:
- A Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford loan up to $8,500 per year (Fixed percent 6.8%)
- Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan up to $12,500 per loan (6.8%)
- Graduate PLUS loan (7.9%) The Graduate PLUS loan borrowing limit is UTD’s Cost of Attendance budget, minus other scholarships, grants and loans. This budget can be found at http://www.utdallas.edu/student/finaid/Estimated_Costs.htm
The difference between the unsubsidized and subsidized loans are that the government pays the interest owed during the loan period. To see more details go to the financial aid website http://www.utdallas.edu/student/finaid/dirlending.htm
- Once admitted (nothing is done or sent by UTD’s Office of Financial Aid until you are admitted into our program) UTD’s Financial Aid office first sends out letters beginning in April, and continues on a rolling basis for applications submitted later. The Office of Financial Aid sends continuing students their financial aid offer beginning in June. They will check to see if you are maintaining a 3.0 GPA average and complete at least 2/3 of the classes you attempt. Academic progress standards for financial aid eligibility can be found at http://www.utdallas.edu/student/finaid/SAP.htm.
To be eligible for federal student loans you must be registered as at least a half-time student. For graduate students this is considered to be 5 credit hours per semester long term and 3 hours in summer.
Unfortunately you will have pay the tuition; however when the financial aid is approved you will be reimbursed very quickly for the tuition you paid (assuming you do end up qualifying).
Yes. The most common problem is that students delay applying and/or do not submit all the required documentation on a timely basis. Financial Aid office states that other common problems are
- Not checking your UTD email for information or document requests. The University will only send email to your UTD email address. Please set up your UTD email account to forward mail to your personal email or check your UTD email!
- You are assigned a contact at the Financial Aid office based on your last name. However, it is best to use the general email address as that person might be out of the office, etc. The general email address is financial-aid@utdallas.edu .
See a list of contacts.
It is best to mail in your package vs. faxing or email/scanning. Mail it to:
Office of Financial Aid, ROC 22
800 West Campbell Road
Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Scholarships
In addition to the $1,000 scholarship for the academic year (not per semester), you qualify for the Texas resident tuition rate which in a one year period can be equivalent to a savings of $ 8,600 to $12,400 in savings.
The deadline for this scholarship is the 2nd Friday of July for the Fall semester and the 2nd Friday of November for the Spring semester.
Yes, students can apply for as many as scholarships as they wish. However some scholarships do NOT allow you to “stack” or use more than one scholarship per semester.
If the student’s application is considered amongst the top applicants, then the student may be considered for a scholarship automatically, in which case the student will be notified accordingly.
No, students don’t need to be enrolled at UT Dallas to apply for the scholarships but they should register for the required number of credit hours once they come to UT Dallas.
Students who have taken the GRE within the past 5 years can apply for scholarships only after completing one (1) semester at UT Dallas. Your cumulative GPA from the previous semester will be considered as part of the assessment process.
Yes. You are eligible for scholarships as soon as your degree starts. If you are provided with any scholarship that will be mentioned in your I-20 form as well.
International Students Services
The Career Center helps international students in various areas such as: resume, mock interviews, English Improvement, job fairs, career counseling and other services. Please visit the Career Management site for more information.
www.utdallas.edu/career
While there may be some internship opportunities for international students these are much fewer opportunities than what exists for domestic students. In addition, there are almost no opportunities for visa sponsorship into full time jobs for international students. Approximately 30% of our MS in Marketing students are international students. Many of these students have one to several years of experience in different areas of marketing such as marketing analytics, business development or advertising. Normally, the duration of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) is only 12 months.. You may contact the International Student Services for more details.
