Maddie Vanderhoofven Seeks to Stand Out with Haslam Master’s in Marketing Degree

When Maddie Vanderhoofven was preparing to graduate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business with her bachelor’s degree in marketing, she wanted to find a way to set herself apart from other candidates entering the job market. The answer turned out to be right in front of her: Haslam’s full-time, 10-month Master of Science in Marketing program.

“The idea that I could go through and finish my master’s degree and graduate with two degrees in five years was really appealing,” the Knoxville native says.

With today’s marketing roles being so specialized and competitive, Vanderhoofven knew having a master’s degree would help her stand out from other job candidates. She had considered getting an MBA but liked the idea of a more marketing-focused graduate degree.

“In a master’s in marketing program, you’re specializing, so you’re getting an in-depth knowledge of all the different facets of marketing,” she explains. “So, you have a specialized degree, and you have more knowledge specifically in marketing than someone who gets their MBA and has broad business knowledge.”

Vanderhoofven received her bachelor’s degree in May 2023 and joined the 2023-2024 cohort of the marketing master’s program a few months later.

Supportive Career Preparation

In both her undergraduate and graduate programs at Haslam, Vanderhoofven has appreciated the college’s emphasis on career preparation. M.S. in Marketing students have ample opportunities for hands-on learning, as well as assistance with resume creation, interview skills and networking to help them find job opportunities that align with their goals. Vanderhoofven feels grateful to be supported by caring faculty and staff who value their students’ learning.

“I appreciate that they know we have big goals, and they want to encourage us and help us in any way that they can to reach those goals,” she says. “They spend time with us outside of class, making sure we understand the content, and they have great connections that they leverage for us so we can get the career and the role we’re looking for.”

A Sense of Community

Another aspect that attracted Vanderhoofven to the Haslam marketing master’s degree was the program’s face-to-face format. “I’m somebody who really benefits from learning in person, and being in person also increases the connections and a sense of camaraderie with the people in my cohort, and it allows me to interact with my professors more regularly in person to increase my learning.”

That feeling of community with the rest of her cohort provides a built-in support system, she explains. “It is really nice, because it’s an accelerated program and there’s only 28 of us, so I’ve gotten to create personal connections with every person in my cohort. There are always 27 other people there to cheer you on.”

Those close relationships, along with the natural beauty of East Tennessee and the friendly atmosphere of the UT campus, are what make Vanderhoofven so excited to be a part of the Haslam M.S. in Marketing. Despite the program’s rigorous curriculum, she says, “I’ve always said it feels sort of like summer camp, where you get to spend every day with your friends, working on projects and doing what you love.”

The Haslam Master of Science in Marketing program is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 cohort. Visit the program’s website to learn more.

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Stacy Estep, writer/publicist, sestep3@utk.edu

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Haslam College of Business - Maddie Vanderhoofven Seeks to Stand Out with Haslam Master’s in Marketing Degree