The Graduate School and College of Business are excited to announce the Master of Science in marketing analytics. As the second program of its kind in Illinois and one of only 16 in the nation, this innovative, highly anticipated degree will allow students to develop both broad and deep technical skills in marketing analytics.
Students who earn a marketing analytics master’s degree will exit the program prepared to succeed in a wide range of industries, including customer intelligence, digital marketing, and marketing/business analytics, as well as business fields like human resources, communications and public relations, health care, financial services, and even sports.
No matter what career path a marketing analytics student plans to take, they can pursue the degree with confidence that the skills they’ll develop while enrolled will have universal appeal to any fields seeking employees with expertise in data visualization, analysis, and predictive analytics.
“We began with a graduate certificate program, and now offer a master’s degree that covers marketing analytics topics in greater breadth and depth and gives students valuable experience applying those skills in internships and capstone projects solving practical business problems.”
—Dr. Horace Melton
Dr. Horace Melton, Department of Marketing chair, is thrilled about the wealth of enriching learning opportunities the marketing analytics degree will create for students in the Department of Marketing.
“The marketing analytics master’s program is a major expansion of the graduate curriculum the Department of Marketing has offered since 2019. We began with a graduate certificate program, and now offer a master’s degree that covers marketing analytics topics in greater breadth and depth and gives students valuable experience applying those skills in internships and capstone projects solving practical business problems,” Melton said.
The comprehensiveness of the marketing analytics degree curriculum is one of its greatest strengths. Students can expect to take a deep dive into advanced marketing analytics topics like advanced tools and analyses, brand management, digital marketing, and sales forecasting while receiving a wide coverage of business analytics space in their courses.
In today’s rapidly shifting employment landscape, marketing positions continue to evolve into technical roles within organizations, so aspiring marketing experts will be excited to know the marketing analytics curriculum also covers a diverse range of tools and technologies, including R, Python, Tableau, IBM SPSS Statistics, ForecastX, SQL, Machine Learning and AI using AWS and Google platforms, as well as digital marketing tools such as Google Analytics and SEO and SEM programs.
Students aiming to make rapid advances in their careers as marketing analysts are excellent candidates for the Master of Science in marketing analytics degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an increase of 18% in the number of marketing analyst jobs from 2019-2029, a significantly faster increase than the average for jobs in other fields, and for those with advanced degrees and higher salaries, the potential for job growth in this space is even greater.
Additionally, according to GoUSA and salary.com, the average annual salary for the recipient of a master’s in marketing analytics is approximately $93,000. With a proven track record for mapping a trajectory for higher salaries and job growth for those with an advanced degree in analytics, the marketing analytics master’s will give students a valuable competitive edge as they navigate their professions.
The Department of Marketing will offer two marketing analytics master’s program options, each one specifically tailored for students on a unique academic path. Undergraduate degree holders can apply for the traditional marketing analytics master’s sequence, while current Illinois State undergraduate students may be interested in exploring the accelerated marketing analytics master’s sequence.
“The new accelerated marketing analytics sequence offers a great opportunity for our students to earn their bachelor’s and master’s in five years and enter the job market with an advanced degree.”
—Dr. Horace Melton
“The new accelerated marketing analytics sequence offers a great opportunity for our students to earn their bachelor’s and master’s in five years and enter the job market with an advanced degree. We are excited about introducing these new programs in 2023!” Melton said.
Illinois State’s Master of Science in marketing analytics program is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2023. Applicants can start an application using the BusinessCAS application platform.
