Marketing (MSM)
Our Master of Science in Marketing (MSM) degree program integrates creativity with analytics and strategy with insight. You'll have the opportunity to accelerate your career in the dynamic fields of 21st century marketing.
Many students with undergraduate degrees in journalism, communications, advertising, and marketing enroll in the MSM program to advance their careers with additional credentials. Others with degrees in finance, economics, medicine, and engineering choose the MSM program as a pathway to career change.
The Marketing (MSM) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Related Programs
Curriculum
The Masters in Marketing (MSM) program’s strategic and creative curriculum builds the skills needed for strong brand management that addresses global challenges with thoughtful, actionable innovations for today’s marketplace. The MSM can be completed in 12-16 months.
Besides the traditional Master's program, the Marketing (MSM) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can complete the program in a fifth year. A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite | ||
| INFS 402N | Quantitative Methods II - Statistics Primer | 0 |
| Marketing Foundation | ||
| MARK 460 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| MARK 461 | Research Methods in Marketing | 3 |
| MARK 464 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 |
| MARK 465 | International Marketing | 3 |
| MARK 467 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MARK 468 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| Ethics Requirement | ||
| ETHC 441N | Business Ethics | 3 |
| or ETHC 446 | International Business Ethics | |
| Track Requirements | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Track Requirements
MSM students choose one of the following three tracks:
- Digital Marketing Analytics (STEM-designated)
- Integrated Marketing Communications
- Supply Chain (STEM-designated)
All three tracks have a 12-course curriculum with one prerequisite course.
Digital Marketing Analytics Track
The STEM-designated Digital Marketing Analytics track is devoted to engaging emerging capabilities built on the foundation of creative, digital, and analytical marketing skill sets.
Combining business goals with marketing decisions, this increasingly critical marketing function leverages consumer, retail, and category trend data to help marketers make informed marketing and business decisions through database models, improved sales forecasting, and data-driven tactics that enhance consumer loyalty, market share, and profitability.
Track Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Track Requirements | ||
| INFS 492 | Database Systems 1 | 3 |
| MARK 562 | Database Marketing Strategy | 3 |
| Track Electives | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Applied Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence (AI) 1 | ||
| Forecasting Methods with Artificial Intelligence (AI) | ||
| Global Strategy and Data 1 | ||
| Data Visualization 1 | ||
| Data Warehousing 1 | ||
| Digital Marketing Analytics | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- 1
Upon completion of INFS 492 Database Systems, INFS 494 Applied Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence (AI), INFS 796 Data Warehousing and any other two annotated courses, the student will earn a Business Analytics Certificate.
Integrated Marketing Communications Track
Track Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Track Electives | ||
| Select five of the following: | 15 | |
| Sales and Strategic Leadership | ||
| Comparative Consumer Behavior | ||
| Database Marketing Strategy | ||
| Brand Equity and Marketing Strategy | ||
| Integrated Media Planning | ||
| Social Media & Content Marketing | ||
| Entrepreneurial Marketing | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Pursuing Internet or Database Marketing
Students interested in careers in Internet or database marketing are encouraged to consider courses in e-commerce, data warehousing, or related areas from the extensive offerings in Loyola's highly respected masters’ degree program in information systems analytics.
Supply Chain Track
An efficient supply chain allows for a marketing strategy to be successfully implemented. The STEM-designated Supply Chain track intertwines marketing and supply chain; giving you the skills to move products from supplier to customer while also managing service operations. You’ll learn advanced techniques in inventory management, purchasing management, global logistics, and supply chain analytics.
Track Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Track Requirement | ||
| SCMG 480 | Intro to Operations Management | 3 |
| Track Electives | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Project Management | ||
| Forecasting Methods with Artificial Intelligence (AI) | ||
| Performance Improvement in Business Processes | ||
| Lean Production Concepts and Practices | ||
| Management of Service Operations | ||
| Global Logistics 1 | ||
| Purchasing Management 1 | ||
| Inventory Management 1 | ||
| Supply Chain Analytics | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- 1
Upon completion of this course and one additional supply chain track elective, the student will earn a Supply Chain Fundamentals Certificate.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Traditional Master's Program
Digital Marketing Analytics Track
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| INFS 492 | Database Systems | 3 |
| MARK 460 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Winter | ||
| MARK 464 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARK 461 | Research Methods in Marketing | 3 |
| MARK 465 | International Marketing | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MARK 562 | Database Marketing Strategy | 3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MARK 467 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MARK 468 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Winter | ||
| ETHC 441N or ETHC 446 |
Business Ethics or International Business Ethics |
3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Upon completion of INFS 492 Database Systems, INFS 494 Applied Data Mining and Artificial Intelligence (AI), INFS 796 Data Warehousing and any other two annotated courses, the student will earn a Business Analytics Certificate.
Integrated Marketing Communications Track
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ETHC 441N or ETHC 446 |
Business Ethics or International Business Ethics |
3 |
| MARK 460 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Winter | ||
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARK 461 | Research Methods in Marketing | 3 |
| MARK 465 | International Marketing | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| MARK 464 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MARK 467 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MARK 468 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Winter | ||
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Supply Chain Track
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| MARK 460 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| SCMG 480 | Intro to Operations Management | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Winter | ||
| MARK 464 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARK 461 | Research Methods in Marketing | 3 |
| MARK 465 | International Marketing | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| MARK 467 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MARK 468 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Winter | ||
| ETHC 441N or ETHC 446 |
Business Ethics or International Business Ethics |
3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 9 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
Digital Marketing Analytics Track
| Senior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| INFS 402N | Quantitative Methods II - Statistics Primer 1 | 0 |
| MARK 460 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARK 461 | Research Methods in Marketing | 3 |
| Select one Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Master's | ||
| Summer | ||
| MARK 562 | Database Marketing Strategy | 3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Fall | ||
| INFS 492 | Database Systems | 3 |
| MARK 467 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MARK 468 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| MARK 464 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 |
| ETHC 441N or ETHC 446 |
Business Ethics or International Business Ethics |
3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARK 465 | International Marketing | 3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
This is a pre-requisite course. Students may take statistics courses such as STAT 103 or ISSCM 241 to fulfill this requirement.
- 2
Select Marketing elective course with the Graduate Program Director or academic advisor.
Integrated Marketing Communications Track
| Senior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| INFS 402N | Quantitative Methods II - Statistics Primer 1 | 0 |
| MARK 460 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARK 461 | Research Methods in Marketing | 3 |
| Select one Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Master's | ||
| Summer | ||
| MARK 464 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 |
| Choose one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Fall | ||
| ETHC 441N or ETHC 446 |
Business Ethics or International Business Ethics |
3 |
| MARK 467 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MARK 468 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARK 465 | International Marketing | 3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
This is a pre-requisite course. Students may take statistics courses such as STAT 103 or ISSCM 241 to fulfill this requirement.
- 2
Select Marketing elective course with the Graduate Program Director or academic advisor.
Supply Chain Track
| Senior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| INFS 402N | Quantitative Methods II - Statistics Primer 1 | 0 |
| MARK 460 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARK 461 | Research Methods in Marketing | 3 |
| Select one Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Master's | ||
| Summer | ||
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Fall | ||
| SCMG 480 | Intro to Operations Management | 3 |
| MARK 467 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MARK 468 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Winter | ||
| MARK 464 | Integrated Marketing Communication | 3 |
| ETHC 441N or ETHC 446 |
Business Ethics or International Business Ethics |
3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARK 465 | International Marketing | 3 |
| Select one Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
This is a pre-requisite course. Students may take statistics courses such as STAT 103 or ISSCM 241 to fulfill this requirement.
- 2
Select Marketing elective course with the Graduate Program Director or academic advisor.
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
As a Quinlan MSM student, you will:
- Develop the creative and strategic skills you need to lead and innovate in the diverse, digital, and dynamic field of marketing
- Learn marketing strategies that deliver brand growth and a competitive advantage in a time of sweeping economic, environmental, and social change
- Gain the technical business skills that are essential in today’s global economy
- Learn to ask the questions that are important to humanity as you harness the power of marketing to promote positive social change
- You will also build a strong foundation in: Marketing finance; Strategic planning; Brand leadership; Digital and social content development; Leadership and ethics; Database analytics; Sustainable business leadership; and Global campaign development.