Terry College of Business, University of Georgia

Master of Marketing Research program

Coca-Cola Center for Marketing Studies

The Coca-Cola Center for Marketing Studies, established in 1986, seeks to advance professional marketing research education and to identify and develop new programs and methods which will better serve the marketing community's needs for education and information. The Master of Marketing Research Program, an internationally recognized graduate program within the Terry College of Business, is administered by the center. The center also works to maintain and strengthen relations with the business community.

The Center is funded by endowment grants from the Coca-Cola Company, The Coca-Cola Foundation, AC Nielsen, M/A/R/C/ Inc., Audits and Surveys, MRCA, and the membership donations of an extensive list of leading firms on the MMR Board of Advisors. These funds support assistantships for the MMR students, faculty research grants, teaching materials, and seminars by industrial leaders. The faculty of the Marketing Department appreciates this support by these firms and invites the participation of other firms.

Masters in Marketing Research Program Benefits

The Terry College MMR Program is the leading specialized program for developing skilled marketing research professionals and executives. The program offers a unique blend of academic coursework, practical applications and projects, industry speakers and seminars. The benefits of the MMR are unmatched:

Exceptional Career Placement Record
The Terry College MMR is recognized for its exceptional success in placement. Demand for experienced MMRs is high (100% placement) and salaries are competitive (average salary $70,000 since 2005). On average, more than 25 client and supplier firms conduct interviews for MMR students. Placements are available nationwide and international placements are increasing.

Financial Assistance
Financial aid in the form of assistantships are available. The stipend is $10,000 and includes a tuition waiver. Assistantships are awarded on the basis of merit.

12-Month, Focused Curriculum
Challenging and cutting edge coursework provide MMRs with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the marketing research industry in just 12 months. The MMR faculty ensure that courses, assignments, projects, and speakers are relevant to real-world applications.

Practical Approach to Learning
MMR courses stress practical application to real-world marketing research problems. Board-sponsored research projects - from problem definition to research design, data collection, analysis, and final client reports - are conducted annually to provide hands-on experience. In the past, projects have been sponsored by Microsoft, IBM, Coca-Cola, and Home Depot.

Other Benefits
Individual Attention to Students MMR class sizes of 30 or fewer students enhance faculty attention to individual student learning and personal development. MMR faculty, Advisory Board members, and Alumni develop first-name professional relationships with students and provide the individual coaching and mentoring essential for career development.

Active Role for Industry Executives The MMR Advisory Board provides seminars, sponsors live marketing research projects, and offers counsel on admissions, curriculum, and placement policies. This past year, more than 25 executives led seminars, and over 50 attended the fall and spring Board meetings.

Technologically Advanced Facilities and Campus MMR classes are conducted in a dedicated and fully equipped classroom and computer lab. Multimedia equipment is available for state-of-the-art presentations and computer-assisted instruction. MMR students are taught to use the latest analytical tools and multimedia technology. Additionally, wireless Internet capabilities exist on the UGA campus as well as the downtown Athens area.

MMR Class Quality and Diversity The Terry College MMR classes are characterized by their intelligence, work experience, and cultural diversity. A sense of cooperation and support among MMR students is apparent and enables students to work and learn successfully in a team environment.

Long-Term Career Prospects Long-term prospects for MMRs are exceptional. Newly graduated MMRs move quickly into Project Manager, Senior Analyst, and Marketing Research Manager roles. Many of our alumni are now Directors of Marketing Research at client firms or Senior Vice Presidents at suppliers and agencies. The MMR provides clear passage to these top management careers.

Admission Requirements
Besides a strong desire for a career in marketing research, what does it take to be part of the Terry MMR program? Here are a few of the qualities we look for. However, please note that we evaluate each student application on an individual basis. We take the following qualities into consideration, as well as the strength of the personal essay and interview.

Bachelor's degree

Strong undergraduate grade point average in a quality degree program
Average GPA for students entering the MMR program: 3.4

Excellent verbal and mathematical skills

Competitive GMAT scores
Average GMAT score for students entering the MMR program: 630

Faculty references

Relevant work experience prior to entering program
While most students entering the MMR program have prior work experience, students are also encouraged to apply to the MMR program for enrollment straight after completing their undergraduate studies.

TOEFL scores for international applicants