The USF Board of Trustees recently approved a new MS in Marketing degree, designed for individuals desiring a specialized graduate degree instead of a more broad-based program such as the MBA.  Applications are now being accepted for this new program, which was approved in June and will boast its first students this fall. 
 

Unlike the MBA, a degree targeted at those aspiring to senior-level management positions, the new MS in Marketing is targeted at individuals aspiring to secure top marketing positions where the need for in-depth finance, management, accounting, or similar knowledge is as not as great.  Lessons learned in the program will benefit those with significant work experience, such as marketing professionals who want training specific to marketing careers, as well as those aspiring to more technical marketing positions who have not yet begun their careers. 

“We anticipate that many students in the program will be working professionals already in the marketing arena who want comprehensive training,” said Miriam Stamps, chair of the marketing department.  “Since the new professional experience entrance requirement that applies to the MBA program does not apply to this degree, we also anticipate a number of recent graduates who want to prepare themselves for more technical careers in marketing, such as marketing researchers or marketing metrics, will apply.”

No other state-supported university in Florida offers such a degree, which full-time students can complete in a year as the program is comprised of just 33 hours.  Required marketing courses, such as International Marketing, Logistics, or Brand Management are the bulk of the program, but students will also select 12 hours of electives that are chosen with direction from the department.

“Those 12 elective hours may be selected from courses inside or outside of the College,” said Stamps, noting that this opportunity will allow students to choose an area of emphasis for their degree rather than simply choose from a set ‘package’ of business courses when considering electives.  “Some graduate students may choose a number of advertising, communications, or business courses, based on their own specific needs and goals,” she said.

The deadline to apply for 2008 admission is October 15 (a limited number of seats remain for the inaugural program, which begins in September).   Admission requirements include a score of 500 on the GMAT or 1050 on the GRE, and at least a 3.0 upper-level undergraduate GPA.  For more information, contact Paul Solomon, program director, at (813) 974-5995 or at psolomon@coba.usf.edu.