Admission Standards

Required:

• A bachelor’s degree.
• Undergraduate grade point average that satisfies the Graduate School requirement of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
• At least one semester of statistics (SCMS 2710, MATH 1530 or equivalent).
• Test scores (either GRE or GMAT accepted). A GRE quantitative score of at least 155 is desired, but all applicants are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• For international students only: if an English Proficiency Exam is needed, a score of at least 80 on TOEFL, 6.5 on IELTS.

Suggested (but not required)

• Successful completion of at least one semester of calculus (MATH 1830, MATH 1910 or equivalent).

Admission Procedures

Include the following materials in your online application via the Tiger Tracks portal:

• Transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended attesting to the courses taken and/or degrees earned, and verifying their successful completion.
• Score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• Applicant’s resume or CV.
• 3 letters of reference. Only letters from former professors or supervisors of academic research are acceptable.
• A short Personal Statement, explaining why the applicant wants to pursue graduate studies in marketing at our institution. Please include an outline of current research interests.
• International students must additionally include:
  • If your highest degree earned is from an international university, a credential evaluation by any credentialling agency listed in www.naces.org.
  • If an English Proficiency Exam is needed, TOEFL or IELTS.

Coursework (72 credit hours)

A total of 72 credit hours of graduate coursework must be completed. A minimum of 39 hours must be taken at the University of Memphis.

Summer Paper Presentation

Students in their first and second years are expected to work on research papers during the summer, supported by Summer Research Grants. These papers are presented to a faculty committee during the fall semesters of their first and second years, with the goal of developing them into a component of their dissertation.

Research

Students are exposed to a variety of methodological courses designed to enhance their capability to design, implement and conduct research studies which address relevant marketing problems. Students are expected to complete their Ph.D. programs of study with some record of success in publishing their research efforts through conference papers and/or journal manuscripts.

Teaching

Developing teaching skills is a major component of the PhD program. In the course of the program, doctoral students are provided with a balanced teaching and research assistantship. Student evaluations as well as faculty input (by observing doctoral students teach) are used to assess teaching skills. If teaching skills are found inadequate, the PhD candidate will be advised an appropriate course of action.

Lab Time

Students are expected to work at the Customer NeuroInsights Research Laboratory (CNRL) during in-person/online data collection.

Dissertation

Students must write and defend a dissertation. 

• Dissertation Committee:  consists of at least four members, including the student’s main adviser (Chair) and other members of the graduate faculty. One of these four members must come from outside the Department. The student is responsible for identifying the members of the Dissertation Committee with the help of the adviser.
• Dissertation Proposal: when the idea for the dissertation has been approved by the Dissertation Committee, it must be presented to them.
• Dissertation Defense: After the Dissertation is approved by the Dissertation Committee, the Dissertation Defense must be scheduled according to the Presentation Guidelines. For style, format and submission guidelines and University deadlines, please visit https://www.memphis.edu/gradschool/current_students/tdguide_preparation.php