MASTER OF SCIENCE / FULL-TIME

Marketing
made to move
people.

The only DC-area master's built around integrated marketing communications.

Get Information Apply Now

01.

Live client, real stakes.

Spend a semester solving a marketing brief for a working client — past cohorts have partnered with the Smithsonian and brands across the capital.

02.

A cohort, not a crowd.

Small classes and a single, year-long cohort. Your classmates become the first lines in your professional network.

03.

Washington as your studio.

Site visits, industry guests, and an internship economy of agencies, nonprofits, and federal brands — all within the Beltway.

At a Glance

MS in Marketing

American University's MS in Marketing is the only fully integrated marketing master's offered by a business school in Washington, DC. You'll learn the AI tools reshaping the industry, navigate the creator economy, and graduate ready for work at the agencies, brands, non-profits and public-sector communications. You'll graduate as a marketing leader who can do the creative and strategic work that AI can't do, command a room, forge new paths, and create enduring campaigns.

When is the next deadline?

Go to the application →

December

Priority Scholarship Consideration

Closed

April

Final Deadline for International Applicants

Closed

August

EXTENDED
Application
Deadline

Open — next deadline

>1 Year

You'll take classes on AU's beautiful campus with a close-knit cohort of marketers, making lasting connections.

BS/MS

Motivated undergraduates can apply for the combined BS/MS program, taking classes that count towards both degrees, saving you time and money.

>$31,000

Well-qualified students paid an average tuition of $30,822 in academic year 2025.

Let's talk about your next move.

Two minutes now, answers within a day. Tell us where you are and we'll show you how the MS in Marketing fits.

Ask about tracks, timelines, and the applied client project
Get the real numbers: costs, scholarships, and the Double Eagle discount
Talk to someone who will actually know your name

Prefer email? Write to kogodgrad@american.edu

Request information

Why Earn Your MS in Marketing at Kogod?

We're the only integrated marketing degree at a business school in DC.

You'll get unique skills that the market needs as the ground shifts under marketers feet.

See the full picture.

Most marketing master's are singularly focused on brand, digital, or analytics. Kogod is the only AACSB-accredited business school in DC that offers an integrated marketing communications master's, equipping you with the skills to work and manage a variety of marketing disciplines.

Learn by doing.

Every cohort delivers real client work for a variety of businesses and non-profit organizations, and has an opportunity to participate in a partner agency capstone. You'll graduate with a full portfolio and real-world connections marketing leaders across industries.

Supercharge your ideas with AI.

AI is rewriting how marketers approach their work. Become fluent in the latest generative AI tools to research, ideate and produce, all while maintaining the judgement and taste needed to earn lasting relevance in an attention economy.

Master the influencer market.

Learn how creators how creators, platforms, and brands transact. You'll get hands-on with recruiting and running influencer campaigns, producing events like the Kogod Creator Summit, and understanding what it takes to build a sustainable creator career of your own.

The marketing core

Marketing has always been about understanding people. What's changed is everything else: the channels, the data, the speed, the stakes. The core gives you strategy, consumer behavior, and analytics — so whatever direction you take next, you take it with confidence, backed by evidence.

Sample core classes

Understanding the Marketplace and Consumer
Digital Marketing & Strategy
Data Driven Marketing & Customer Behavior

View requirements in the catalog

Marketing Communications

Build campaigns that hold up in the boardroom and land in the feed — then prove it twice over in an applied client project with a real organization and real stakes.

Classes you may take

Integrated Marketing Communications
Marketing for Social Change
Capstone: Applied Client Project

View full requirements in the catalog

Marketing AnalyticsSTEM-designated

Lean into the numbers: statistics, marketing analytics, and a digital strategy capstone. F-1 students: STEM designation unlocks the 24-month OPT extension.

Classes you may take

Marketing Analytics I & II
New Product Management
Capstone: Digital Strategy

View full requirements in the catalog

Why You'll Love Kogod

The accelerating wave of AI technology is erasing routine tasks faster than new roles appear, leaving many young graduates unsure where they stand.

At Kogod, we present a clear, actionable answer—plant yourself at the intersection of three essential capabilities: AI fluency, uniquely human skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Responsible AI Use

Get hands-on-keyboard experience with the latest AI models for research, audience modeling, content production, and campaign optimization while sharpening your editorial judgement to use them well.

Human Intelligence

The human work of brand positioning, creative judgment, cross-cultural reads, ethical decisions, and client persuasion is increasingly important as AI commoditizes execution. You'll have honed your strategic skills to become an operator in any organization.

Innovation in Action

Entrepreneurship isn't limited to founding a start up. You'll be confident in creating value in any organization and taking action in ambiguity, or striking out on a creator career path of your own. Take on real client projects in the classroom where you'll create wholesale campaigns from scratch and build a portfolio prior to graduation.

Sustainable Thinking

The industry is shifting in real-time as AI revolutionizes white collar work. Sound strategy is sustainable and can last through industry-rocking changes. The sustainable principles you learn will shape how you decide what to launch, how to position it, what claims you can defend, and how brands earn long-term trust.

Michael Clayton

Program Director

Ten years running marketing communications for Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge, and Michelin at Campbell-Ewald and BBDO, then a PhD at the University of Florida. He'll read your work, know your goals, and tell you what'll land in an interview.
Read full bio
Kelli Frias

Frias's research sits where marketing meets consumer welfare — pricing strategy, healthcare affordability, early-stage venture risk, and the service economy. Students work alongside her through the Market Impact Hub at Kogod.
Read full bio
Sarah Mady

A few sentences on why students love this professor.
Sonia Grier

She received her Ph.D. in Marketing, with a minor in Social Psychology, from Northwestern University and also has an MBA from Northwestern University, with an emphasis on marketing, non-profit mgmt and international business.

How long is the program?

Eleven months, full-time. You start in fall and finish the following summer. The program is cohort-based, so you'll move through it with the same group of students.

What's the difference between the Marketing Analytics Specialization and the Marketing Communications Track?

Same intro and core, different second half. The Analytics Specialization goes deep on quantitative skills — required statistics (ITEC-610), marketing analytics (MKTG-662), new product management (MKTG-671), and a digital strategy capstone (MKTG-663). The Communications Track focuses on integrated campaign work, ending with the Applied Client Project (MKTG-688) taken twice for a 6-credit capstone.

Is the program STEM-designated?

The Marketing Analytics Specialization is STEM-designated. The Marketing Communications Track is not. STEM designation matters most for F-1 international students, who can apply for a 24-month OPT extension after graduation if they complete the STEM-designated specialization.

Is the program offered part-time or online?

No — the MS in Marketing is full-time, in-person, cohort-based. If you need flexibility, look at Kogod's online MS programs (Marketing Analytics, Business Analytics & AI) or related graduate certificates.

Do I need a marketing or business background?

No, your undergrad can be in anything. For the Marketing Analytics Specialization, you'll need a business degree, a business minor, or program-director approval.

Do I need a GMAT or GRE?

No, but it may help strengthen your application. Check out our detailed admissions requirements or talk to an admissions advisor if you have any questions.

I'm an international student. What do I need to do?

All standard requirements plus a satisfactory TOEFL or IELTS score if English isn't your first language. Most international students choose the Marketing Analytics Specialization for the STEM designation and the 24-month OPT extension that comes with it.

What does the program cost?

After merit aid and program scholarships, recent students paid an average of $31,577.78 for the full degree. That's the typical net cost — your actual will depend on your aid package, your eligibility for the Double Eagle alumni discount, and whether you qualify for graduate assistantships.

Can I work while in the program?

Possible but not encouraged. The cohort is full-time and the workload reflects that. Most students take on internships during the program rather than full-time outside work. The Applied Client Project alone is the equivalent of a part-time agency engagement.

I'm a current undergraduate. How does the combined bachelors/

Apply to a "Combined Bachelor's and Kogod Master's" program — typically in your junior year. Approved students take graduate-level courses as undergrads and apply up to 9 graduate credit hours toward both degrees. You finish your bachelor's, then complete one more year for the MS in Marketing.

I'm an AU alum. What's the Double Eagle discount?

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Sep

How to Build a Graduate School Application Webinar

Applying to graduate school can be confusing. Let us help! Join our Kogod Graduate Admissions team for an informational overview covering application deadlines, requirements, and timelines. This will be a live session and attendees are welcome to ask questions during the program. Register Now

11 a.m. to Noon ET

Oct

Kogod Overview Webinar

Curious what it's like to be a Kogod graduate student? Join our Kogod Graduate Admissions team for an informational overview covering our programs, curriculum, and community This will be a live session and attendees are welcome to ask questions during the program. Register Now

9 to 10 a.m. ET

Nov