MPS Branding
New York, USA
Master degree
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
17 Mar 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 71,500 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* Rolling Admissions, but we advise applying by March 15th, 2026
Key Summary
The Masters of Professional Studies in Branding is the first and longest-running program of its kind in the world and offers a select group of students an opportunity to study with some of the most accomplished brand experts working today. This accelerated one-year graduate degree program is a challenging multi-disciplinary experience of in-class lectures, real-world client projects, unique and progressive workshops, examination of classic business school case studies, individual one-on-one professional mentorship, and group and personal projects.
The foundation of the Masters of Professional Studies in Branding is the deep exploration and understanding of the role brand strategy plays in business, behavior, marketing, and culture. During the year, students will develop an understanding of diverse brand and business strategies and will include courses on diverse market research techniques, brand development life cycles, semiotics, and visual communication, business-to-business and business-to-consumer brand frameworks, history, cultural anthropology, trend forecasting, economics, statistics, behavioral psychology, communication, persuasion, brand management, and design. In addition, we investigate marketing challenges involved in creating, sustaining, and reinventing brands as well as gain an understanding of corporate-level discourse.
With our upcoming priority deadline of March 15th approaching, please be sure to begin your application on our application portal below.
The MPS Branding curriculum allows students to create frameworks to guide brand, design, and business development; critically evaluate brand, business, marketing, and design frameworks; and master the intellectual link between strategy and creativity.
All students must complete a total of 36 credits in 10 months and defend a thesis. All courses are graded on a pass/fail system. Students are required to attend every scheduled class meeting, complete required readings, participate actively in class discussions, and create an original body of work, culminating in the successful defense of the graduate thesis.
Fall
- The Anthropology of Branding
- A Unified Theory of Branding
- Business and Branding Strategies
- Brand Failures: 1970 to the Present
- The Evolution of CPG Brands and Package Design
- Lecture Series: Design Matters Radio Podcast I
- The Meaning of Branded Objects
Spring
- A Brand Called You
- Analysis, Insight, and Forecasting
- Brand Physics
- Lecture Series: Design Matters Radio Podcast II
- Pitch Perfect: How to Win New Business
- The Power of Persuasion
- Practices in Design and Market Research
Summer
- Thesis: Repositioning Brands and Experiences
- Summer Workshops
Dual-Track Learning Environment
The world is evolving and so are we. The School of Visual Arts Masters in Branding program now offers two opportunities to earn your graduate degree. You can choose how and where you earn your degree: onsite from our campus or remotely from your home. We have adapted the program for an online platform, which is 100% identical and 100% in sync with our onsite classroom.
Utilizing the latest technology, students participating in the online program can seamlessly stream into the classroom, facilitating active discussion with professors and the onsite cohort. Experience the same rigorous courses, collaborative real-world projects, renowned faculty, and dedicated peers from wherever you are. It’s a new brand of learning for a new generation of brand builders.