Fairfield Dolan Launches New Dual-Degree MBA and MS in Marketing Analytics and Strategy

Fairfield Dolan Launches New Dual-Degree MBA and MS in Marketing Analytics and Strategy

Photo of Fairfield University students walking on campus

The new dual-degree program offers students a solid business background and targeted, research-based marketing analytics skills.

(…) there is a strong demand for research-based analytical skills to evaluate data and provide companies with strategic insights to achieve competitive advantage.

— Director of the MSMAS Program Julie Marella

For students seeking to initiate or advance a career in business, the MBA has long been the degree of choice. And in recent years, companies have been looking for marketing analytics skills in addition to the broad foundation and leadership direction of managing people and processes that the MBA provides. Those looking to jump into a career in marketing have had to weigh the options between pursuing an MBA or a specialized master’s degree in marketing. To both address this problem and to graduate students with the specialized skills needed to excel, Fairfield Dolan has launched a dual MBA and MS in Marketing Analytics and Strategy (MAS) degree.

Combining the MBA with the MSMAS degree prepares graduates for a multi-faceted world requiring strategic and research-based analytical skills. Through the program, candidates will gain managerial knowledge in accounting, finance, information systems, and analytics with an additional focus on marketing and strategy using analytical software, statistical methods, and data resources. Those specialized skills are necessary largely because of the vast amount of data companies are now collecting, explained Julie Marella, director of the MSMAS program.

“Regardless of the industry, companies are gathering data from many sources such as social media, mobile devices, browsing history, and e-commerce websites,” said Professor Marella. “As a result, there is a strong demand for research-based analytical skills to evaluate data and provide companies with strategic insights to achieve competitive advantage.”

The MBA/MSMAS dual degree is a flexible program that can be completed part-time or full-time, in either an online or hybrid format. Full-time students who have completed the prerequisite coursework can complete the minimum 48 credits in 15 months. All candidates have the flexibility to enter the program in either the summer, fall or spring term. Concentration areas include accounting, analytics, finance, and management.

MBA/MSMAS dual-degree candidates also complete a capstone project that provides students the chance to work with companies to solve real business problems, another aspect of the dual degree that differentiates the program from the Dolan MBA.

“MSMAS students have had the opportunity to help startup companies launch their businesses or work with well-known companies such as Henkel, Philips, Horowitz Research, Nascar, Bridgeport Islanders, Orange Theory Fitness, and PBR, some which have led to job offers,” said Professor Marella. “Students work with standard industry analytical tools including Tableau, Qualtrics, and SPSS, and apply data from Nielsen, IRI, and Kantar Media. By the time they graduate, all MSMAS and dual-degree students will also be Google Analytics certified.”

As the MSMAS program director, Professor Marella works to establish partnerships with a broad range of companies, so that students can build their resumes and have experiential learning opportunities that set them apart when interviewing for jobs.

“Dolan MSMAS students are in demand because of their specialized skill set and experiential knowledge,” said Professor Marella. “We collaborate with companies and our Marketing Advisory Board to adjust our courses to ensure students are being taught the latest skills and software using real data and projects for today’s market. One hundred percent of MSMAS graduate students were employed within three months of graduation. Just think what having a dual MBA/MSMAS degree can do for our students! 

Learn more about the MBA/MSMAS dual degree program, or the MS Marketing Analytics and Strategy program with concentrations in business analytics, management, finance, and product management.

Tags:  Dolan School,  Top Stories

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