MS in Marketing Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the MS-Marketing program and the MBA program?

The MS-Marketing program is specifically designed for students who have an undergraduate major or minor in business and wish to concentrate in a specific area of marketing. Whereas the Mays MBA program at Texas A&M University is a 48-hour program regardless of undergraduate major (with the first year being the core business courses), the MS-Marketing program is a 38-hour program for those who completed the core business courses as an undergraduate (or take four core business courses during the first year of the program). The MS-Marketing program is designed to allow students to focus more specifically on marketing.

Another difference is that the MBA program requires at least two years post-undergraduate work experience. The MS-Marketing program does not have this requirement (although some students have a year or two of post-undergraduate work experience). Since many of the MS-marketing students have limited business experience, the MS-Marketing program is designed to be very applications oriented. Each semester, students work on real marketing projects for companies. During the summer MS-Marketing students work as an intern for a company or nonprofit organization. Opportunities are provided, through small group interactions with visiting executives and a required marketing leadership seminar, for students to interact with marketing leaders.

What are your admission standards?

We require either the GMAT or GRE. International students are also required to take the TOEFL.

Although there are no minimums required for admission, the average scores on the combined verbal and quantitative sections for those students admitted for the fall 2009 were as follows:

• GMAT - 615
• GRE - 1200
• GPR - 3.6 (last 60 hours)
• TOEFL - 113

Prospective MS-Marketing students should have all grades and letters sent, tests taken, and scores reported before applying, since no decision can be made without a complete application.

When can students enter the program?

Our policy is to accept students for fall semester only. Non-business undergraduates needing to take prerequisite courses should apply for spring or summer admission.

When are the application deadlines?

January 15 is the priority deadline for international students. The Texas A&M deadline for international student applications is March 1. For consideration for a university-level Graduate Merit Fellowship (for U.S. students with very high grades and GMAT/GRE scores), applications should also be in by December 10.

Students requiring all/most prerequisite courses should enroll in January or June to take their prerequisite classes during the spring or summer semester.  International students desiring to take prerequisite courses in the spring should have their completed fall application in by September 15. U.S. students desiring to take their prerequisite courses in the spring should have their completed applications in by November 1. Students desiring to take prerequisite courses in the summer should have their application in by February 1 (international students) or March 15 (U.S. students).

U.S. residents should have application materials in by December 10 if they wish to be considered for a university-level Graduate Merit Fellowship. Otherwise, U.S. residents should have all application materials in by April 1.

As there are a limited number of applicants admitted and decisions are made on a rolling basis, prospective students are encouraged to apply during the fall or early spring semester.

How many students are in the MS-Marketing program?

Thirty-five new students enrolled in the program in the fall 2009 semester. This includes eight students from the Professional Program in accounting at Texas A&M who are getting their masters degree in marketing.

How long does it take to complete the MS-Marketing program?

Most students take 16 months to complete the program. The breakdown for students with an undergraduate business degree would be:

• First Year:
  • Fall - 13 hours
  • Spring - 13 hours
  • Summer - 3-hour internship
• Second Year:
  • Fall - 9 hours
• Total: 38 hours

What if I don't have an undergraduate business degree?

No problem. Before beginning the program, students will need to take:

• One principles of management courses (either undergraduate or graduate)
• One principles of marketing course (either undergraduate or graduate)
• One corporate finance course (either undergraduate or graduate)
• One principles of accounting course (either undergraduate or graduate)
• Two undergraduate statistics courses (or one graduate)

These prerequisites may be taken at Texas A&M or another accredited university and transferred in. Students may apply for spring or summer admission to take prerequisite courses.

Is an internship required?

We highly encourage a summer internship for all MS-Marketing students. Students will interview during the fall and spring semester for a possible internship for the next summer. The internship will run 10 weeks during the summer, with students receiving three hours of credit. Students entering the MS-Marketing program directly out of a bachelor's program, and with little or no work experience, should seriously consider finding an internship.

While the Graduate Business Career Services Office, the Center for Retailing Studies and the MS-Marketing advisor can help students locate internships, students are encouraged to pursue this on their own as well, through their own networking contacts.

2009 Summer Internships

What is the average class size?

Class sizes range from 25-45, with most marketing classes having an average class size of 35.

What are the estimated expenses involved with the MS-Marketing program?

The following are general estimates for tuition and fees for three semesters of the program, not including books and living expenses:

• In-state: $11,000
• Out-of-state: $20,000

Please note that out-of-state and international students awarded a scholarship or 20-hour assistantship pay the in-state tuition rate.

More specific expense information is available at Student Business Services and International Student Services.

What type of financial aid is available within the Department of Marketing?

At least three types of financial aid are available:

• Scholarships - a limited number of $1,000/year scholarships.
• Assistantships - a limited number of graduate assistantships. Currently, students with a 20-hour per week assistantship receive a monthly salary, in addition to tuition reimbursement and health benefits. A few 10-hour per week graduate assistantships are also available.
  
  Most graduate assistants are assigned to a professor in the department, assisting him/her with with teaching and research activities or serving as Teaching Assistants for the Friday "break-out sessions" of MKTG 321. There may be other graduate assistantship opportunities in other departments on campus.
• Fellowships - A very limited number of $1,000/month Graduate Merit Fellowships awarded on a competitive basis for U.S. students only by Texas A&M's Office of Graduate Studies. Students interested in applying for these fellowships should have their completed applications in by December 10. This allows sufficient time for the marketing department to nominate students for this award. Most of these fellowships are awarded to doctoral students, but some are awarded to master's students.

How do I apply for a scholarship, assistantship or fellowship?

All students accepted to the MS-Marketing program are automatically considered for a departmental scholarship and graduate assistantship. If professors need a graduate assistant, they go to the incoming student file in the department to select a candidate before each semester. The professor may want to arrange a personal or telephone interview with a prospective graduate assistant.

Many times, graduate assistantships are not obtained until the student is on campus, before the beginning of the semester. So even if a graduate assistantship has not been obtained prior to your arrival, there is a still a possibility of obtaining one after you start the program.

Students might also check with the Office of Student Financial Aid for information about other scholarships or fellowships that might be available.

Where do most students live?

Most students live in one of the numerous apartment complexes located in the Bryan-College Station area. More specific housing information for graduate students is available from the University Apartments web page and Off Campus Student Services. The Texas A&M shuttle bus service provides transportation to and from most apartment complexes in the College Station area.

What about jobs? What kind of placement rate do you have and what kinds of jobs do MS-Marketing graduates get?

The average salary for non-PPA December 2008/May 2009 graduates was $66,000 and the average salary for non-PPA December 2007/May 2008 graduates was $65,000.

Here is a listing of the jobs received by our most recent MS-Marketing graduates:

Employment of December 2008/May 2009 MS-Marketing graduates