Push forward the frontiers of marketing thought.
The marketing doctoral program at Michigan State is designed to prepare individuals for a career of significance in marketing scholarship and teaching at research universities.
Ph.D. Marketing Program Overview
The marketing faculty in the Broad College are interested in working with prospective graduate students who show the potential to become top scholars in the field. The research productivity of the marketing faculty consistently ranks among the leading research intensive universities in the world. We look forward to you joining the Ph.D. program as we endeavor to push forward the frontiers of marketing thought.
Research Environment
Explicitly focused on marketing strategy, the Ph.D. in Marketing program trains researchers interested in topics such as brand and new product management, relationship marketing and corporate strategy. The program is supportive, collaborative and focused on publishing top marketing research papers.
Through research assistantships, doctoral students form, develop, manage and execute theoretically sound and statistically valid marketing research projects. Students gain hands-on experience conducting thorough literature reviews; developing and writing conceptual framework and hypotheses development sections; collecting and analyzing data using advanced statistical methods; and supporting why their research is relevant.
The Byington Marketing Speaker Series provides doctoral students the opportunity to meet with some of the top marketing researchers in the world. Past guest speakers included Neil Morgan (Indiana University), Robert Palmatier (University of Washington), Robert Meyer (Wharton), and Roland Rust (Maryland).
Resources
The department forms partnerships with major firms both within and outside the state of Michigan, in addition to companies involved in Executive Development Programs, Broad College alumni and numerous campus centers.
The university also provides strong econometrics, management, psychology and supply chain management support courses to fill out a student’s minor.
Dive Deeper
Students are admitted to the doctoral program only for a fall semester start and on a full-time basis. Find out more about admission criteria and the application process.
Learn MoreFaculty-student collaboration is a significant part of the Broad experience. Doctoral students have the opportunity to work with some of the top researchers across multiple disciplines. Find out more about the research opportunities for marketing doctoral students at MSU.
Learn MoreThe marketing faculty at the Michigan State University Broad College of Business are among the best in the world. Find out more about our faculty currently working with doctoral students.
Learn MoreSee a roster of current doctoral students in the program as well as a listing of our graduates’ placements.
Learn MoreTuition and Financial Aid
All doctoral students are supported by graduate (teaching/research) assistantships. There is no separate application for assistantships. For the last several years, the typical doctoral student earns approximately $30,000 each year in addition to their tuition waivers and health insurance coverage.
According to our marketing Ph.D. graduates, research assistantships are paramount to learning how to submit their research to top marketing journals after graduation.
Contact Information
- Department of Marketing
- Business College Complex
- 632 Bogue St Rm N370
- East Lansing, MI 48824
- broad.msc.inquiries@msu.edu
- Phone: (517) 353-6381
- Fax: (517) 432-1112
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Overview
- How long does it generally take to complete the program?
The program is designed to be completed in five years to give students the best chance at completing research projects prior to the job market to increase their odds of finding an elite research position. Occasionally, students with advanced research portfolios can graduate in four years.
- Can I study part time and work full time?
The doctoral program is strictly a full-time program. We require students to be on campus on a full-time basis, as doctoral students have a broad range of responsibilities including coursework, research assistantships and independent study.
- What is a research assistantship?
The range of responsibilities during a research assistantship are broad and covers aspects related to forming, developing, managing and executing a theoretically sound, statistically valid and rigorous marketing research project. Students are required to conduct thorough literature reviews, develop and write conceptual framework and hypotheses development sections, collect and analyze data using advanced statistical methods and provide support for why the research is relevant and important to the academic and practitioner fields. Graduates of the marketing Ph.D. program at Broad frequently cite their experience as research assistants as the paramount reason for their ability to form, develop, manage and subsequently submit their research to top marketing journals after graduating from the doctoral program.
- Where do MSU graduates get hired?
Recent placements include:
- University of Kentucky
- University of Mississippi
- West Virginia University
- Rutgers University
Learn more on the Students and Placements page.
Admissions
- What is the deadline for applications?
To be considered for an assistantship or fellowship, the deadline for applications is December 9. Applications are reviewed after January 10 and sometimes again in late March or early April, depending on whether positions remain available for the incoming class. All accepted students begin the doctoral program in August (there are no spring or summer starts). It is strongly recommended that applications be completed prior to December 9 for full consideration.
- Are there minimum test scores for successful applicants?
GMAT scores have ranged from 650 to the upper 700s, with most scores in the upper 600s or lower 700s.
TOEFL scores have generally ranged from 105 to 118.
- How many applicants do you accept each year?
The number of students admitted to the doctoral program each year has ranged from one to four, but is typically two or three.
Financial Aid
- What kind of financial aid is available?
All doctoral students are supported by graduate (teaching/research) assistantships. There is no separate application for assistantships. For the last several years, the typical doctoral student earns approximately $30,000 each year in addition to their tuition waivers and health insurance coverage.
