In the past, a PhD in Marketing was something you might research and write your dissertation on. But with the rise of social media and the digital marketing space, traditional academic approaches to a PhD have shifted. Now, with fully-fledged social media platforms generating billions of dollars yearly and even more users than some of the traditional ‘big four’ US TV networks, the role of social media in a PhD has completely shifted. Today, a PhD in Marketing can easily be completed online. With many courses available for free on sites like YouTube and Twitter, as well as hundreds of vetted and popular PhD courses available from leading universities, students can now graduate with a formal PhD in just a few months with little to no previous work experience.
So, what are the most popular options for an online PhD in Marketing? We took a look at the most in-demand jobs and course trends for 2020 and found some fascinating insights. We’ll introduce you to the hottest topics and best courses leading to a PhD, as well as outline the steps to follow to achieve your academic goals.
1. Why Marketing?
As mentioned above, social media has transformed the way we communicate, conduct business, and learn. Simply put, marketing is the process of communicating your products and services to potential customers so they are more likely to choose you over your competitors. Marketing is a popular choice for students looking to specialize in digital marketing or social media marketing. With countless companies expanding their operations online, digital marketing is a highly sought-after skill. In 2020 alone, some research group predict that there will be a significant rise in demand for digital marketing as a career. With the digital marketing field expanding even more in the upcoming years, it’s definitely a lucrative career path. In 2020 alone, US businesses earned a combined total of nearly $14 billion from online marketing and advertising activities. That’s according to the Future of Consumer Marketing (2020) forecast from the HubSpot Blog.
2. Top Marketing Courses
In order to successfully execute your PhD in marketing, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the latest trends and technologies in the field. To that end, enrolling in a top-notch marketing doctoral program is key. Luckily for you, we’ve curated a list of the top courses and Universities for a PhD in Marketing. Take a look and see which one is right for you.
Marketing Phd: Overview
If you’re looking for an overview of this category, you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about the PhD in Marketing. We’ll introduce you to the concepts and theories behind the course, the qualification and what it requires to succeed.
To begin with, a PhD in Marketing is a professional doctorate that can be gained from a range of qualified institutions. As above, this degree can be gained online or onsite and may be completed in as little as two years. In many cases, a PhD in Marketing can be completed in as little as one year with onsite classes and an internship. On this front, many leading universities have open admission policies and award scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need. Additionally, many universities have special partnerships with employers and offer job placement alongside the degree. So, not only can you gain valuable experience, but you can also find employment after you graduate.
A PhD in Marketing requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of doctoral study. For many students, these are broken down into a number of required courses followed by a couple of electives. For full-time students, this equates to around 10 to 12 hours of class per week. While this may not sound like a lot, bear in mind that these are introductory classes and much more in-demand courses are available online.
Marketing Phd: Coursework
As mentioned above, a typical course schedule for a PhD in Marketing will include a number of required courses followed by a couple of electives. While many students find it beneficial to specialize in one area, many marketing professionals often find their careers are more varied. Accordingly, a marketing PhD will have an excellent understanding of the entire field with a broad base of general knowledge.
The courses required for a PhD in Marketing are detailed below:
Courses Required For A Marketing PhD
In many cases, a PhD in Marketing will require you to complete a total of 12 to 16 credit hours of introductory courses. These are mandatory and should be taken in order. The first three courses are typically designed to give the student an overview of the field. For instance, a student might undertake a course in digital marketing or social media marketing, both of which are hugely in-demand areas. Another option is marketing analytics. This is a burgeoning field that sees professionals working in marketing gather, analyze, and interpret data from various digital and real-world sources. Data collection and analysis are two important facets of a marketing PhD.
Once the introductory courses are complete, a student will then be able to select a specialization. One of the most popular areas for a marketing PhD is data science. A growing number of universities offer fully-funded data science training and courses. So, if you’re looking to gain expertise in this area, you can easily find a guide to the best data science courses online and even apply for a professional degree with a top-tier university.
Marketing Phd: The Dissertation
Upon successful completion of a PhD in Marketing, you’ll be able to write and defend a dissertation. This is a defining moment in a student’s career, as it shows the ability to research and think critically. Many students find it helpful to set up a dissertation prospectus, as this will help them plan out their studies and write the final version. Additionally, the dissertation itself is usually between 15 and 20 pages long with extensive footnotes and a bibliography. Once the dissertation is approved, a student will be awarded with a PhD in Marketing.
The Difference Between A PhD And A Master’s
A PhD is a higher degree than a master’s and is generally conferred upon a successful completion of a doctoral program. A PhD is a doctorate of philosophy and can be gained after a student has successfully completed a doctoral program in either science or philosophy. But what is a doctoral program? Simply put, a doctoral program is a three-year course of study that allows a student to fully develop their critical thinking skills and knowledge of a specific field. This is in contrast to a master’s which is usually a two year course of study that focuses on teaching a student how to better work in their chosen career field.
What Does A Marketing PhD Education Level Offer?
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in marketing, it’s essential you understand what kind of education level you’ll need to succeed. According to the 2019 Marketing Research Report from Dynata, a market research firm, only 16% of marketers feel that their existing marketing education is sufficient for the job they want. For 82% of marketers, a bachelor’s degree in marketing is not enough. Instead, they claim that a master’s degree in marketing is necessary. Additionally, 42% of marketers feel that a PhD in marketing is necessary for their job searches. These are just some of the findings from the report.
To put this into context, only 14% of marketing professionals strongly agree that their existing degree is sufficient for their current job search. Only 19% feel their existing education is even close to being sufficient. But perhaps more importantly, only 7% feel that their existing education puts them at a significant disadvantage compared to those with a bachelor’s degree.
With the covid-19 pandemic and its effect on our everyday lives, businesses, and industries, it’s crucial that marketing graduates are well-equipped to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. For many students, this may mean changing their career paths, as the demand for marketing professionals has significantly increased. While the above data does give us some idea of future career opportunities in marketing, it’s also important to be aware of current job market trends. To that end, let’s take a look at some of the most in-demand jobs and careers in marketing for the upcoming years.
2.1 Management Positions
Overall, job prospects in marketing are excellent, as some research groups predict that there will be a significant rise in demand for marketing professionals in the coming years. Currently, management positions are among the most sought-after career paths in marketing. To support and expand upon this, let’s have a look at some of the most in-demand job titles in marketing.
Manager, Media Planning and Buying
Thanks to the expanding role of digital marketing in today’s world, many marketing departments have seen an increase in the number of personnel who specialize in media planning and buying for the marketing campaigns of consumer brands. In 2020 alone, some research group predict that there will be a significant rise in demand for media planners and buyers as the role of traditional advertising continues to decline.