Background

In 1979, the marketing faculty of UGA in cooperation with some of the leading marketing research professionals created the first graduate program to award a Masters degree in Marketing Research. This program was designed to develop marketing research professionals of the highest caliber and thereby satisfy a critical need of U.S. business.

Faculty

The MMR faculty consists of senior members of the marketing faculty who have taught in the MMR program for several years. The faculty members participate in professional meetings, interact with Advisory Board members, and keep themselves informed on current issues, developments and trends in the marketing research world. The faculty is responsible for keeping the MMR curriculum at the state-of-the-art so MMR students learn the latest and best ways of solving marketing problems.

Students

The MMR program seeks students who are bright (high GMAT scores and high GPAs), motivated (they know they want a career in marketing research), and personable (they possess the personal traits that will ensure their success in business).

In the early years of the MMR program, students were drawn mostly from Georgia and the Southeast. Currently we have a truly international representation in our student body which brings more talents and points of view to our classes and it makes the students more attractive to employers.

Today, there are over 400 MMR alumni in U.S. corporations and marketing research firms contributing to the success of products and services in every business category.

Curriculum

The curriculum of the MMR program was designed to provide the knowledge the student requires to be an effective marketing research professional. The MMR courses cover the critical facets of theory, technology, and practice necessary to conduct state-of-the-art marketing research. MMR course content is changing continuously and additional courses are added as necessary.

Advisory Board

The MMR Advisory Board, consisting of representatives of Marketing Research firms, manufacturing companies and service companies was formed to advise the Center for Marketing Studies on recruiting of students, curriculum and development of internships.

Today there are over 70 industry professionals on our Advisory Board whose support is critical to the success of our program.

Advisory Board members provide internship and employment opportunities for MMR students after they complete their twelve months of coursework.

The Advisory Board meets semi-annually to hear reports on our educational efforts and to discuss other issues relevant to the program. The Executive Committee and other committees of the Advisory Board members and Faculty carry on work on curriculum, recruiting, and internships, and make recommendations to the program director.

Facilities

The MMR program has a well-equipped classroom for its sole use and a computer center for MMR students only. The classroom has audio-visual capabilities as well as the usual classroom facilities. The computer center is equipped with a local area network, current software, and marketing research databases. Students can also take advantage of UGA’s wireless network (PAWS), which provides students, faculty, and staff with free wireless Internet access from almost all areas of campus and downtown Athens.

Administration

The Center for Marketing Studies is independent of other administrative units of the Terry College of Business, and has several responsibilities:

• Student recruitment
• Fund raising
• Design and production of brochures and teaching materials
• Creation and maintenance of student records
• Management of Advisory Board membership
• Meetings and material
• Development and implementation of strategic plans
• Establishment and enforcement of academic standards