Message from the Coordinator
Isenberg’s marketing PhD students are immersed in a full-time program designed to develop them as researchers and teachers and to place them in select marketing departments around the world. We provide an apprenticeship to our students, involving them in research from the earliest days of their program. Our faculty are focused on understanding consumer and corporate behavior. We have experts on a range of topics including financial well-being, services marketing, sales channels, diversity and culture, consumer well-being, social media marketing, experience design, innovation, and branding.
We support our students by offering:
- Close interactions with faculty — the marketing department provides a highly collegial atmosphere where students work with faculty to develop ideas.
- Cross-disciplinary training — students have access to the many outstanding departments at Isenberg and across the university, taking much of their coursework from experts in complementary fields.
- Dual focus on research and teaching—students receive training in how to conduct high-level research and gain teaching experience through leading classes and engaging with faculty mentors.
We welcome applicants who are inquisitive, ambitious, and determined.
Matt Thomson
Professor of Marketing
At a Glance
- Faculty are focused on understanding consumer and corporate behavior
- Access to the Berthiaume Behavioral Research Lab with eye-tracking, facial analysis, & GSR technology
- Quality, personalized mentorship with a 1:1 student-faculty ratio
- Guaranteed graduate assistantship funding and benefits for 5 years
- Assistantships around $40,000+ per year
- Opportunities to learn from top scholars, with research faculty bringing diverse expertise
Application Deadline: December 15
Reach out to PhD Coordinator Matt Thomson at mthomson@isenberg.umass.edu for more information.
Faculty work alongside doctoral students on a variety of projects, publishing in top-tier marketing journals. Recent projects include:
- Cue Me If You Want My Tip: An Investigation of Tipping Norm Cues on Customers’ Tipping Behavior
- Red, Blue and the Extreme Review: The Effect of Consumer Political Orientation on Review Ratings
- Subscription Models for Add-On Features: The Role of Unfairness and Psychological Ownership
- Imperfect Yet Cherished: How Nostalgia Increases Acceptance of Unattractive Produce
Students work closely with their advisor and the full faculty team, gaining a strong foundation through diverse perspectives. Gain opportunities to learn from top scholars, with research faculty bringing diverse experience.
Students generally complete a PhD in marketing within 4-5 years. Students must take 48 hours of coursework, including marketing theory, statistics and research methods. Students complete an independent research project during their first two summers, and must pass a comprehensive exam. Students teach for three years at Isenberg and research, write and defend a dissertation.
Amherst, Mass., is a quintessential New England college town, with scenic surroundings that include mountains, trails, and four-season outdoor recreation. Learn more about the Western Massachusetts experience.
Roadmap: Degree Timeline
Your roadmap to a PhD—designed to help you make a lasting impact through research and scholarship.
Years 1 & 2: Coursework
- Students complete 45 credits of coursework and milestone exams, building a foundation in strategic management theory and research methods
- Flexibility to customize much of the curriculum across the university
- Sample courses:
- Marketing and the Public Good
- Interpreting Qualitative Data
- Causal Identification with Quasi-Experimental Data
- Consumer Behavior:Theory, Insight, and Impact
- Experimental & Causal Inference Methods
- Regression & Advanced Modeling
- Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning
- Qualitative & Mixed Methods
Years 3 & 4 : Dissertation & Teaching
- Focus on dissertation proposal, research, and defense
- Teaching requirement up to three to four courses, gaining valuable classroom experience
Marketing Doctoral Candidates
Learn More
Take the next step by contacting our admissions team!
To apply, you'll need:
- GRE or GMAT scores
- Official transcripts
- Personal statement and resume
- Short essay response
- Letters of recommendation
- English proficiency scores (if applicable)
For questions, contact doctoral_program@isenberg.umass.edu.