THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

The Kellogg Marketing doctoral program provides rigorous training in the skills required for success as a world-class marketing researcher. This is achieved via coursework, close collaboration with faculty, and intellectual exchange in a department known for its research culture.

Our program offers two different tracks in training marketing scholars: a consumer behavior track, and a quantitative marketing track. Both tracks focus on understanding the impact of marketing activity on consumers and firms. However, they differ in terms of the theories and methods used to analyze data. Consumer behavior researchers tend to focus on psychological aspects of a consumer’s decision-making process and analyze data collected through laboratory studies and field experiments. Quantitative marketing researchers often draw on theories of behavior from related social sciences (e.g., economics, psychology, sociology), use data from observational and archival sources and field experiments, and analyze the data using advanced statistical and econometric techniques.

Additional resources:

• Department website
• Program handbook(s)

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

Requirements can also be found in the Program Guidelines for Marketing PhD students issued by the Kellogg School of Management.

Master's

While the goal of our doctoral program is the awarding of a PhD degree, a Master of Science (MS) degree may be awarded to currently enrolled, qualified doctoral students. Students who are continuing for a PhD degree, or students who withdraw from the PhD program, may be considered for a MS degree if they are in good academic standing and have completed 9 graded doctoral courses with a cumulative 3.0 GPA.

PhD

Total Units Required: 18

Students in the PhD Program are required to take 18 courses; however the required and elective courses are different based upon the research track: consumer behavior or quantitative marketing. Refer to the course tables below for each research track.

Consumer Behavior:

Special Note: Students enroll in the 4 courses listed above in years one and two.

Quantitative Marketing:

To fulfill the 18-course requirement, students must register for a minimum of 3 courses in fall, winter, and spring quarters during years one and two. Registration in Independent study (MKTG 499-0) would also qualify. All elective courses must be approved. Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 to be in good academic standing.

Other PhD Degree Requirements

• Examinations: PhD qualifying exam during June of the first year. 
• Research/Projects: Oral presentation of a research paper at the end of summer in years one and two, at which time the performance on the qualifying exam, coursework, and second-year paper are reviewed and students are passed into candidacy.
• PhD Dissertation: Original and significant research; topic and advisor or advisors should be selected in the second year; presentation of preliminary results (prospectus) to their committee no later than the last day of final exams in the fall quarter of their fourth year.
• Final Evaluations: Oral final examination on dissertation and submission of an approved dissertation.