Boston University - College of Communication
MS in Marketing Communication Research
Boston, USA
MSc
DURATION
3 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 69,870 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* priority deadline: February 1; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until our final deadline: May 1
** additional fees may apply
Key Summary
About: Boston University's MS in Marketing Communication Research trains students to turn data into strategic messaging. You’ll learn data analytics, predictive modeling, consumer insights, storytelling for media, advertising, and social media. Faculty-led projects and labs connect theory to real-world campaigns and market research. COM emphasizes ethical communication while preparing you to craft communication strategies and influence audiences.
Career Outcomes: Boston’s Top 10 media market gives students industry access for internships and jobs. Graduates move into roles such as consumer insights analyst, marketing researcher, brand strategist, media planner, and social media analyst, working in agencies, media companies, and corporate marketing teams.
Data is the new currency. In today's world, understanding it is the key to success. Do you have the skills to unlock its potential?
Boston University's MS in Marketing Communication Research (MCR) equips you with the advanced research methods needed to predict and understand consumer behavior, specifcally focusing on communication and messaging that's most effective.
Become a marketing mastermind:
- Harness the power of data: Learn quantitative and qualitative research methods, data analysis, and social media analytics.
- Predict consumer insights and decisions: Gain insights into consumer values, needs, and desires and match that understanding to communication strategies.
- Craft winning communication strategies: Bridge the gap between data and actionable plans.
- Earn a competitive edge: Graduate with a sought-after Master's degree and an optional Certificate in Data Analytics.
- Launch a lucrative career: Prepare for positions in marketing research, consumer insights, data analysis, and more.
Learn from the best:
- Renowned faculty: Be mentored by internationally recognized experts in communication, advertising, consumer insights, and more.
- Hands-on experience: Conduct original research alongside faculty, leveraging cutting-edge technology at our Communication Research Center and Social Activation Center.
- Real-world application: Gain practical experience through internships and participation in student-led agencies.
Join a community of purpose:
- COM's values: We believe in diversity, critical thinking, and communication grounded in truth and effectiveness.
Don't just understand data – use it to make a difference. Become a marketing communication leader with BU's MS in Marketing Communication Research.
The MS in Media Science with a concentration in Marketing Communication Research consists of a minimum of 48 credits. Marketing Communication Research students will complete 8 required courses (listed below) and 4 electives.
Requirements (8 total courses; 32 credits):
- COM CM 703 Basic Media Writing
- COM CM 707 Writing for Media Professionals
- COM CM 710 Media Theory
- COM CM 722 Communication Research
- COM CM 723 Advanced Communication Research
- COM CM 724 Sampling Design and Measurement Techniques
- COM CM 730 Marketing Communication
- COM CM 824 Technical Writing for Communication Research
*All students in the Specialized Marketing Communication Research concentration will take COM CM 703 in the fall semester and COM CM 707 in the spring semester. There is one exception—students who are waived out of COM CM 703 will take COM CM 707 in the fall semester. These students who are waived from COM CM 703 will be required to take an additional 4 credits of electives to meet the overall requirement of 48 credits.
Electives (students must choose 16 credits)*:
- COM CM 501 Design Strategy and Software
- COM CM 523 Design and Interactive Experiences
- COM CM 526 Int Mrktg Strat
- COM CM 531 Media Disruption
- COM CM 535 Political Campaigns
- COM CM 539 Health Campaigns
- COM CM 714 Professional Presentations
- COM CM 7XX Social Media Management
- COM CM 809 Graduate Internship
- MET CS 544 Foundations of Analytics and Data Visualization
- MET CS 555 Foundations of Machine Learning
- MET CS 688 Web Mining and Graph Analytics
*Students in the Marketing Communication Research concentration must take four electives (i.e., 16 credits). At least 8 of these 16 credits must be from this list. The other 8 credits can be from this list or can be other 500-level or higher courses at BU.
- Theory-driven scientific methods for solving client problems and making actionable recommendations.
- How to take client problems, design research projects, execute the designs, collect data, analyze data, translate analyses into a story to which the client can relate, and make actionable recommendations that a client can implement. Ways to touch, analyze and translate data into stories.
- Preparation for a position as a research analyst or research manager in a marketing research company or the research department of firms specializing in media, advertising, public relations, marketing communication research, political campaigning, health communication, and international communication.
- Use of SPSS (the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Students get hands-on experience by carrying out actual analyses using real data sets. Techniques covered include descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, t-tests, ANOVA, and factor analysis.
- How to create various types of questionnaires and measurement procedures commonly used in communication research, including those used for assessing such factors as attitudes, beliefs, media use, and consumer behavior.
Benefit from Boston
One of BU’s greatest resources is its location. Consistently ranked among the most livable cities in the world, Boston is “America’s college town,” a city rich in history while remaining on the cutting edge. Boston is a Top 10 U.S. media market, and home to some of the world’s best agencies, media companies, and leading employers -- offering boundless opportunities for internships and careers.