What is the Best Degree for Becoming a CMO?

Are you interested in becoming a chief marketing officer (CMO)? If so, you may be wondering what the best degree to earn for this type of occupation will be. There are several ways that you can enter into this field of work; however, most employers will prefer that you possess a Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. While earning this degree, you will learn how to develop sales objectives, create customer relations programs, direct marketing research, predict market trends and much more. Let’s take a closer look at what this type of degree program will entail.

Resource: Top 10 Best Online Masters in Marketing Degree Programs

Master’s of Business Administration

During this program, you will learn how to apply business skills to a wide range of business operations that are carried out by upper-level management personnel. Your program will most likely include much coursework, including reports, hands-on training, internships and an assortment of group projects. To fully complete your master’s program, you should prepare yourself to take part in at least two years of educational studies. Before enrolling in the program, you will need a bachelor’s degree in business administration, journalism, public relations, communications or some type of related field.

Involved Coursework

During your Master’s of Business Administration program, since your concentration will be in marketing, many of your courses will focus directly on marketing-related topics. In addition, many of the topics covered will focus on the following:

– Communication
– Managerial strategies
– Organizational behavior
– Operations management
– Economics
– International business
– Accounting
– Finance
– IT strategy and management

Internship

As part of your master’s program, you will most likely be required to take part in an internship. This internship will prove to be very valuable in that it will provide you with great hands-on experience that you can take to your next or current place of employment. In addition, the amount of time that you take completing your internship can count towards your years of experience that you outline on your resume. Many employers will prefer that you have at least five to seven years of experience working in the marketing industry before hiring you as a CMO, so it will be very beneficial that your internship time can count towards your years of experience.

Continuing Education

To stay up-to-date with today’s latest marketing trends, many employers will prefer that you take part in continuing educational courses even after you have earned a Master’s in Business Administration. If you prefer, you may even want to continue your education to the next level by earning a Ph.D. in business administration. In doing this, you will expand your employment opportunities which will most likely lead to an increase in your salary level as well. The courses involved in earning your Ph.D. will focus on extensive research, and you will be required to take part in several dissertation projects. While earning this type of degree will most certainly help you land a job as a CMO, the career path followed by most people who possess a Ph.D. in business administration is usually that of a post-secondary professor who teaches business.