MBA Marketing Research - Does this make sense?

Graduate School Business School - MBA
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<p>So I've been mulling over what I would like to do as far as graduate education. Ultimately I'd like to work in academia, and I love research, so a doctorate in marketing is probably in the future for me. However, due to financial difficulty and lack of research experience, I don't know how that will work out for me. </p>

<p>I've been looking at an MBA program at a school where I could live at home (Lehigh Uni), attend part time (or possibly full time depending on aid) and perhaps still work and save a bit of money. My stats far exceed their average profile (I have a significantly higher GPA, I expect a significantly higher score on the GMAT, etc.) so I may have a good chance at scholarships or assistantships. I'm currently working as a human resources leader (lower management) - as a side question, is this a respectable position for applying to MBAs? I have 7 months experience as a department sales leader as well. Ultimately I was/am in charge of my areas, but my company doesn't use the word "manager" for hourly leaders, only salaried assistant store managers.</p>

<p>Anyway, I see that one of their options for focus in their MBA program is marketing, and a sub-focus is marketing research and analysis. My impression was that an MBA prepares you for professional work in management...but would an MBA with a focus in marketing research be a good background for a doctorate program? I don't feel that I have enough research experience to get into a good doc. program right now (1.5 years experience in social psychology, but only 6 months of what I consider to be "quality" research experience worth talking about). And it makes me nervous to look at current students in the doc. programs I'm interested in and seeing that roughly 90% are internationals and typically only one or two are from US institutions, making my chances for admission much, much lower. </p>

<p>Any thoughts? Is an MBA with a focus in marketing research useful for non-academic jobs, even if I would not pursue a PhD?</p>

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<p>Oh, and I guess I should have mentioned that I have my BA in psychology, if that matters at all. I never took any business courses, either. My only background in college math is statistics. My courses were primarily psych, English, religion, and politics.</p>

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<p>PhD marketing programs don’t require a marketing background usually, though some do require a masters or MBA as a prerequisite. Getting the MBA will help you develop new skills, going part time lets you build work experience and gives you time to try getting closer to a research background. A marketing MBA is very useful in the private sector and will help you jump up in your career. Keep in mind most of the time the job market rewards getting advanced degrees more when you change employers than when you get a promotion at the same employer.</p>

<p>In short: an MBA in marketing will enhance your career prospects immediately, gives you an education and credential that can stand on its own, and also helps open the PhD option for you, whether you go that direction or not.</p>

<p>I’ve been looking at marketing PhD programs recently and have a link collection in case you want to take a look at some. I can’t paste it here I think the terms forbid external links. PM me if you want the data.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>