I am interested in doing a master course in marketing. What I understand is that an MBA program is more for general managers or people who want to work in finance/consulting and not really for marketers. Is that an accurate impression? I have started to explore other master's degrees, such the Master of Science in Marketing from Columbia and the MS in Integrated Marketing from NYU. Any other ones I should be looking at? Thanks for any advice...

What do you want to do? what's your post graduation goal? That would decide MBA or MS in Marketing.

Hi,

In the short term I would use the degree to learn more about specific parts of marketing (getting a handle on analytics/data, primarily) - in the long term I would like to open my own marketing agency.

In that case, I'd suggest either an project-based masters, like the one in marketing practice at UCD Smurfitt, or a masters in marketing analytics like those at Rochester, Ghent, Maryland or Tilburg.

@Abigail,

In general your assessment of MBA vs MS course in marketing is accurate. But the devil is in the details, MBA in marketing from Kellogg would be more beneficial than let's say an MS in Marketing from Texas A&M.

There are several MS in Marketing courses in US, some focus purely on Marketing, some focus more of data analytics. I researched some for my sister. MS in Marketing at Johns Hopkins is more marketing based. Bentley University near Boston is more analytics, and so is MSMI at Fordham University. MS in marketing at American University Kogod is more suited for agencies.

Then again, if you want a heavy focus on Data / Analytics maybe look for MS in data analytics with flexibility to select electives from Marketing? Or if you have specific requirements like SEO / Digital / Consumer Behavior then select a program based on expertise / coursework in that.

MS in NYU is more laid out program covering 2 years. The one at Columbia is good - and competitive to get in. USC Marshall started a new one as well. I think University of Georgia has the oldest MS in Marketing Research program.

Thanks for all the info! A lot to digest.