Marketing
PH.D. Program
The Haslam College of Business’ Ph.D. program in marketing aims to prepare students for impactful careers as academics at leading research universities.
Application review begins January 1
Applications open in August. Admission decisions are generally made in late February. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.
Marisabel Romero
Associate Professor of Marketing
Director, Marketing Ph.D. Program
[email protected]
Email Marisabel directly with questions about admission, funding or research fit.
Marketing PH.D.
Why Tennessee
A Program Built Around Mentorship
Our program is deliberately small so that students work closely with faculty mentors who share their research interests, from the moment they arrive on campus.
Milestones That Build a Portfolio
Program requirements are research-focused. A formal proposal in year one and a defense of the second-year paper mean our graduates enter the job market with a portfolio already under way and a competitive vita.
A Curriculum Built Around Your Interests
Students self-select into a marketing strategy or consumer behavior research track. Within each, coursework is customized to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to answer research questions of interest to them.
Marketing PH.D.
Placements
Recent graduates of the marketing Ph.D. program have taken academic positions at:
- Indiana University
- University of Missouri
- University of Arkansas
- Texas Tech University
- Oklahoma State University
- University of Colorado Denver
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Villanova University
Marketing PH.D.
Faculty and Research Areas
Students’ growth as scholars depends largely on guidance from their faculty mentors, so we select applicants whose research interests are well-aligned with at least one member of our faculty. The marketing faculty have two main research focus areas.
Consumer Behavior
Consumer behavior research tends to be grounded in cognitive and social psychological theories and relies on laboratory data to explain myriad consumer behaviors, such as choice when options are plentiful, saving for retirement and consumer reactions to social persuasion. Doctoral students work closely with faculty to develop and conduct behavioral experiments using the Marketing Behavioral Research Laboratory.
Students in this area typically work with:
Strategy/Quant
Strategy and quantitative marketing research examines how firms’ strategic decisions and organizational behaviors shape marketing and firm outcomes. Research is interdisciplinary, drawing on survey, archival, experimental, and analytical methods to investigate topics such as customer analytics, innovation, digital marketing, branding, sales and service management, social media, and artificial intelligence.
Students in this area typically work with:
You can also meet our current Ph.D. students to see the research going on in the program right now.
Marketing PH.D.
Admissions
The marketing Ph.D. program is kept small to provide students with close interaction with our faculty and fellow students and normally only accepts one to two candidates per year. Candidates apply through UT’s Graduate School. Your application will include:
- Three references
- A personal statement
- Transcripts
- GMAT or GRE scores
- Resume
Applications can be submitted with unofficial transcripts and test scores. Official versions are only required upon offers of acceptance.
Individuals of all backgrounds are welcome to apply so long as their motivation is consistent with the research focus of our program. We place particular emphasis on the personal statement, which should detail research interests, how they align with a current faculty member, skills and experience that prepare the candidate for research, and career objectives.
Marketing PH.D.
Financial Aid
Applicants who are admitted to the program receive an assistantship package. Students are automatically considered for financial support as part of their Ph.D. application, with no separate funding application required. Continued funding is contingent upon maintaining good standing in the program.
Students receiving an assistantship are assigned to support program faculty on their research and/or to serve as instructors in undergraduate courses. Assistantships involve a time commitment of no more than 20 hours per week.
Marketing PH.D.
Key Dates
Applications are accepted starting in August. Admission decisions are generally made in late February.
Application Review Begins
January 1
Marketing PH.D.
Typical Student Profile
These figures describe students we have admitted recently. They are not cutoffs.
What kind of students are we looking for?
- Clearly articulated research interests within the field
- A demonstrated desire to be placed at a top research-oriented university in the U.S. or globally
- Research interests that align with at least one member of our faculty
- Strong recommendations
Recent admitted student profile
- Undergraduate Degree
All accepted - Average GPA
3.5 - GMAT or GRE
Competitive applicants typically have GMAT scores in the 620 to 780 range. Applicants with lower test scores may occasionally be admitted when they demonstrate exceptional strength on other admissions criteria, such as research experience or a strong background in a relevant academic discipline. The GRE is also accepted. - English Language Proficiency
- IELTS
6.5 - TOEFL
IBT 80
CBT 213
PBT 550
Marketing PH.D.
Research Training & Milestones
Our doctoral program is designed to develop independent scholars prepared to conduct impactful research and contribute to the field of marketing. Through close faculty mentorship, individualized coursework, and research experiences beginning in the first year, students develop the theoretical and methodological skills needed to pursue their own research questions. Throughout the program, students work toward key research milestones that progressively build their research portfolio and prepare them for the academic job market.
The program runs five years and requires a minimum of 72 credit hours. Students without a master’s degree may be required to take some background courses (accounting, finance, marketing, economics, management), depending on their previous coursework and experiences.
Year 1: Build a Research Foundation
Coursework tailored to research interests and methodological needs. Students begin working with faculty on research.
- Key milestone
Develop and formally present a research proposal.
Complete qualifying exam.
Year 2: Develop Independent Research
Students continue individualized coursework and develop a substantial research project.
- Key milestone
Complete and defend the second-year paper.
Year 3: Transition to Dissertation Research
Students complete coursework and increasingly focus on dissertation research and the broader research portfolio.
- Key milestone
Form the dissertation committee.
Years 4 and 5: Prepare for the Academic Job Market
Students focus on dissertation research, the research pipeline, and job-market preparation.
- Key milestone
Formally propose and defend the dissertation.
Departments and Program Offices
UT Resources
Additional Information
Need More Information?
Email Marisabel Romero at [email protected] with questions about admission, funding or research fit, or use the form below and we will be back in touch as soon as possible.