Master’s in Marketing
Drive business success with CU Denver’s online MS in Marketing, where advanced strategies meet digital innovation.
The online MS in Marketing provides a comprehensive education in strategic marketing management and consumer behavior, preparing students for leadership roles in today’s dynamic digital landscape.
- Fully online format tailored for working professionals.
- Hands-on learning with tools like Google Analytics, SPSS, and Qualtrics.
- Specialize in Brand Communications, Marketing Intelligence, or Global Sustainability—or follow a general track to customize your degree.
- Study at your own pace with asynchronous eight-week courses.
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Degree LevelMaster's -
School & CollegeBusiness School -
Total Credit Hours30 -
Class Type100% Online -
Time CommitmentFull-Time or Part-Time -
Start Term(s)Fall, Spring, Summer
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Program Overview
Our MS Marketing online program is created for actively working professionals who are looking to take the next step in establishing a marketing career. You’ll also have the opportunity to take advantage of the thriving Denver business, marketing, nonprofit, and startup scene from anywhere in the world. Through engaging guest lectures, hands-on projects, and networking opportunities, you’ll connect with marketing experts and executives who can offer unique insight about current marketing trends and what employers are looking for.
Learn from award-winning faculty and gain expertise in areas like:
- Digital marketing
- Consumer insights
- Marketing analytics
- Global branding
Students can participate in guest lectures and networking opportunities with leading brands like Under Armour, Ibotta, and Google.
Whether you’re currently a marketing professional or you’re looking to transition into a marketing role, this degree will give you the broad foundation and specialized skills you need to stay competitive in the ever-changing landscape of marketing.
Learning Outcomes
- Utilize Digital Marketing Tools – Apply the modern suite of advanced marketing tools to improve business functions and develop profitable strategies.
- Gather Data Insights – Analyze both quantitative and qualitative information to better inform strategy and find solutions for various marketing challenges.
- Create Scalable Solutions – Develop marketing strategies for global scalability as well as for specific markets based on assessment of global issues and cultural impact.
- Tell Impactful Stories – Create successful brand messaging and communications by using analytics, marketing tools, and consumer behavior to inform how you communicate with your audience.
Tuition Breakdown
| Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|
| $750 per credit | $875* per credit |
*Out-of-state students may qualify for discounted tuition through the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP).
Courses
Our MS in Marketing curriculum is designed to provide the training and expertise necessary for you to succeed in marketing management careers, from mid-level roles as a Brand Manager or Marketing Analyst to upper-level positions as a VP of Marketing or Chief Marketing Officer. Throughout your marketing master’s degree, you’ll gain unique insight into the complexities of marketing and learn how to develop creative solutions to today’s market problems.
MS in Marketing Core Courses (21 credits)
As a Master’s in Marketing student, you’ll be required to complete the following core courses:
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BUSN 6560 | Marketing Dynamics in the 21st Century |
| MKTG 6010 | Marketing Strategy |
| MKTG 6020 | Marketing Challenges at the Global Frontier |
| MKTG 6040 | Services Marketing for Traditional and Creative Industries |
| MKTG 6050 | Market Research Analytics I |
| MKTG 6060 | Consumer Intelligence – Psychology and Behavior |
| MKTG 6200 | CRM, Big Data, and Marketing Metrics |
Specializations
Our core curriculum focuses on essential marketing skills such as marketing communication, consumer insights, brand building, marketing analytics, and marketing strategy. Along with foundational courses in marketing management, you’ll gain hands-on experience using advanced digital marketing tools such as Google Analytics, Markstrat, Qualtrics, Excel, SPSS/SAS, and more. You’ll have the opportunity to tailor your degree with one of our three career-focused specializations, or customize your program with three graduate marketing electives of your choice.
Brand Communications in the Digital Era (9 credits)
In today’s evolving digital landscape, it is essential for marketers to have a strong understanding of the ways consumers connect with companies. Throughout the Brand Communications specialization, you’ll learn how to combine brand-building strategies with traditional and digital marketing tools. You’ll study topics in brand identity, integrated marketing communications, data analytics, SEO, social media marketing, and more. This specialization will prepare you for a career in a variety of marketing management roles, from advertising and promotions to public relations and brand management.
To complete this specialization, you’ll take the following courses:
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| MKTG 6070 | Brand Identity & Marketing Communication Strategy |
| MKTG 6092 | Digital Media Marketing – Tools and Analytics |
| ELEC | One additional MKTG 6000 or higher elective course |
Marketing Intelligence & Strategy in the 21st Century (9 credits)
Great marketing is both a science and an art, and companies are in need of marketing professionals who are passionate about thinking outside the box to solve business challenges. The Marketing Intelligence and Strategy degree specialization is designed for students who are interested in leading marketing intelligence teams and developing innovative strategies that make a lasting impact. Your courses will dive into topics in big data customer relationship management, marketing research, branding integration, consumer psychology, IT applications, and more. You’ll discover how to balance strategy and intelligence to develop successful marketing plans based on consumer data and market insights.
Students who select this specialization must complete the following courses:
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| MKTG 6070 | Brand Identity & Marketing Communication Strategy |
| MKTG 6090 | Big Data Customer Relationship Management |
| ELEC | One additional MKTG 6000 or higher elective course |
Marketing & Global Sustainability (9 credits)
Now more than ever, companies around the globe need to focus on developing smart, sustainable brands that can lead the way into the future. The Marketing and Global Sustainability specialization focuses on the role of sustainable marketing in for-profit and nonprofit companies from a global perspective. Throughout your courses, you’ll gain valuable insight into corporate social responsibility, sustainable business practices, life-cycle analysis, corporate sustainability reporting, global climate change, and sustainability as a competitive advantage. Your global sustainability specialization will prepare you for sustainable marketing management roles that allow you to make a positive impact on the world through your work.
As a Marketing & Global Sustainability student, you’ll complete the following required course:
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| MKTG 6830 | Marketing & Global Sustainability |
| You’ll also choose two of the following elective courses: | |
| MGMT 6821 | Managing for Sustainability |
| MGMT 6822 | Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility |
| MGMT 6826 | Business for a Better World |
| MGMT 6827 | Global Climate Change |
General Marketing Track (9 credits)
Well-rounded and experienced marketing professionals are in high demand, and our marketing program is designed to give you the expertise you need to stand out in a competitive job market. If your career goals aren’t aligned with one of our three specializations, you’ll have the opportunity to customize your marketing degree program to match your unique interests by choosing any three graduate-level marketing electives.
Your general marketing program gives you the ability to choose your own electives in areas such as marketing communication strategy, digital media, marketing analytics, global sustainability, market research, marketing strategy, data analytics, digital marketing, and more. You’ll develop a deep understanding of the digital marketing tools and strategies you need to confidently move into leadership roles within a marketing team.
Career Outlook
What Can I Do with a Master’s in Marketing?
Your marketing graduate degree will prepare you for a career in areas such as:
- Advertising
- Branding
- Digital Marketing
- Marketing Communications
- Product Marketing
- Public Relations
- Market Research, and more
You'll find opportunities to network with top marketing executives and collaborate with competitive brands at the forefront of the marketing industry, including SendGrid, Marketo, Under Armour, Ibotta, and Google. Whether you’re making a career shift from another field or you’re a seasoned marketing professional looking to establish your career, our master’s in marketing degree will increase your marketing knowledge and help you enhance your future career prospects.
Business Career Connections
As a Master’s in Marketing graduate, you'll have full access to our Business Career Connections team for life.
Our career services include:
- Career workshops designed to help you perfect your resume, LinkedIn profile, and job search process
- Advising appointments to explore what your personal career path looks like, review your resume, or schedule a mock interview
- Career events that help you hone your networking skills and meet hiring managers from top companies
- Job announcements via monthly emails with the latest job and internship opportunities specific to your marketing degree
Our connections to over 300 business partners provide exclusive opportunities to network with industry leaders in the Denver metro area and beyond. With over 10 years of career advising experience, our team of experts will help you navigate the corporate recruiting process for in-demand marketing jobs.
Admissions
In order to apply to the Master of Science in Marketing program, you will need to have completed an undergraduate degree in any field from an accredited institution. No prerequisite courses are needed to join the program. Our online MS in Marketing degree is designed for people from any academic background who are looking to build their marketing career, so students from all undergraduate majors are welcome to apply.
Admission Requirements
Once you’re ready to apply to the Master’s in Marketing program, you’ll need to submit the following application materials by the deadline:
- $50 application fee for domestic applicants; $75 fee for international applicants
- Online application and essay responses
- Official transcripts from every college or university attended
- Resume/CV
- Letters of recommendation, if applicable
- GRE or GMAT test scores, if required
- English Language Proficiency scores (international applicants only)
Get Personalized Support for Your Application
When you’re ready to apply to the MS in Marketing program, our dedicated CU Denver Enrollment Team will help walk you through the entire process, from gathering required materials and submitting your application to checking your admission status and enrolling in CU Denver. After you submit your completed application and required materials, you will be able to check your admission status online. You’ll receive a final admission decision by email within two to three weeks of completing your application.
Testimonial
How is the MS in Marketing different from an MBA in Marketing?
While an MS in Marketing and an MBA with a marketing focus are different in many ways, both degrees have the potential to help you meet your professional goals. When you’re deciding which degree is the right fit for your career, consider these key differences between an MBA and a Master’s in Marketing:
- Market research analytics
- Marketing strategy
- Consumer behavior
- Brand identity
- Social media marketing
- Applied economics
- Strategic management
- Accounting
- Information systems
- Marketing dynamics
Our online Master’s in Marketing degree is highly specialized, meaning that everything from core courses to electives will focus on honing your expertise as a marketing professional.
You’ll gain a deep understanding of advanced marketing strategies and management tools, and you can tailor your degree even further through our marketing specializations in brand communication, marketing intelligence, and global sustainability.
Examples of course topics you’ll study as an MS in Marketing student include:
For students who aren’t looking for a specialized degree in marketing, CU Denver also offers a fully online MBA with a Marketing specialization that focuses on building a traditional business foundation.
An MBA provides a broad background in management and administration, with an emphasis on building an advanced management career. If you choose a marketing specialization, you’ll complement your business education with a few elective courses in essential marketing topics.
Examples of course topics you’ll study as an MBA student include:
This accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools, with less than six percent of the world’s business programs obtaining AACSB accreditation.
The CU Denver Business School is accredited by AACSB International, a global nonprofit association that is committed to providing excellence in education for future business leaders. As an AACSB accredited degree, the Master’s in Marketing program must meet rigorous academic standards and commit to providing high-quality education through strategic curriculum design and dynamic thought leadership.
Tuition & Financial Aid
At CU Denver, we strive to keep our tuition costs affordable so that you can get a world-class education that fits your budget. When you earn a degree, you’re not simply getting a diploma—you’re making a lifelong investment in yourself and empowering your future career. We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education.
Our CU Denver Enrollment Team can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your CU Denver degree.
Application fee: $50 for domestic applicants; $75 for international applicants
Total tuition for the Master’s in Marketing program*:
- In-state tuition: $21,600
- Out-of-state tuition: $25,170
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for eligible students to use toward paying educational costs while enrolled in a CU Denver program. To determine your eligibility and apply for financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When you submit your FAFSA, you will be considered for three types of aid: grants, work-study, and student loans. To be considered for federal financial aid, you will need to apply early and annually.
*Estimated tuition costs based on full credit hours for the MS in Marketing degree (30 credits). Contact our CU Denver Enrollment Team for more details.
Ways to Save Money
From financial aid and scholarships to corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your CU Denver degree.
Scholarships
Once admitted to CU Denver, you can access our scholarship portal to apply for various funding opportunities. Scholarships don’t need to be repaid and are available each semester.
Transfer Credits
As a transfer student, your previous coursework may count toward your CU Denver degree, saving you tuition costs and time. A transfer credit evaluation will be done upon admission.
Veteran & Military Student Benefits
CU Denver offers military-friendly support, including waived application fees, GI Bill benefits, and credit for military training through the Veteran & Military Student Services.
Experience flexible, career-focused programs with CU Denver’s renowned quality—100% online—taught by expert faculty in engaging courses within a supportive community, all at an affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships available.
Flexible, career-focused programs with the same CU Denver quality—100% online.
Expert faculty, engaging courses, and a supportive online community.
Affordable tuition with financial aid and scholarships for online students.
Ready to get started?
Take the first step toward earning your online degree by calling us at 303-860-5604 or filling out the form above for more information.