Marketing for today's global economy
International marketing is a challenging field where linguistic and cultural nuances make all the difference. A Master of Science in Global Marketing from Thunderbird will enhance your reputation and hiring potential in this competitive field. You'll learn from world-class business and marketing authorities through real-world case studies focused on multinational corporations across the world, from Canada to Thailand and everywhere in between. The program features core curriculum in global marketing, including general management and global affairs, with a breadth of additional global marketing electives for specialization.
Economics bootcampsDepending on your undergraduate background, you may be required to take an online economics bootcamp prior to beginning the program. Read more. |
English proficiencyDepending on your TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score (if applicable), you may be required to take “Business English Communications” course(s) prior to beginning the program. |
Sample course descriptions
Note: Not all courses shown here are taught at all times. This listing represents a sample of the courses available at Thunderbird, but is not meant to be all-inclusive. Please speak with an admissions representative to discuss the specific classes being offered in the next term.
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Course Number: ST-4434Credit Hours: 1.50
Globalization is becoming a key factor in the competitive advantage of companies today. Therefore, understanding culture, cross cultural differences and similarities, the characteristics of the global work context, and working in multicultural teams across boarders using technology, are necessary for becoming successful leaders in global organizations. An important aspect of this course is the opportunity to work on a team project as a member of a virtual, multi-cultural team, consisting of four members from MBA classes in four different cultures.
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Course Number: GF-4524Credit Hours: 1.50
The objective of this course is to gain an in-depth knowledge of the field of global pricing, covering the psychology, economics and tactics of pricing for a business enterprise, product or service. Better pricing knowledge usually converts to better bottom-line results, yet pricing is often overlooked as a tool to strengthen brands and overall profitability. Students will learn pricing theory and tactics as well as develop hands-on pricing skills, all aimed at improving profitability.
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Course Number: GF-4507Credit Hours: 3.00
Pricing presents managers with one of their most powerful levers for maximizing profits and shareholder value. However, this value often lies untapped within many organizations, with managers lacking a clear understanding of how to improve pricing practices within their companies and industries.
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Course Number: GF-4517Credit Hours: 1.50
This course examines how an organization can
identify, develop and manage products for global markets.
Issues include the product development cycle, the innovation
charter, and the management of barriers to product development. -
Course Number: GF-4513Credit Hours: 1.50
The primary objective of this course is to expand the students? understanding of the process of managing the customer interface. After completion of this course the student should have a basic understanding of sales management, including cross-cultural dimensions of sales force recruitment, selection, training, evaluation and compensation; sales territory design; and the interface between marketing and sales. Students learn from discussions centered on cases, assigned readings; lectures; and interaction with guest speakers as well as an applied project.
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Course Number: IF-5914Credit Hours: 3.00
The learning program of this internship is largely supported by the sponsoring organization with some faculty involvement. Since academic credit is granted, it is required for the student to coordinate with the Faculty Advisor who facilitates the learning process throughout the internship. The student must discuss with the Faculty Advisor, regarding the academic paper (minimum 4-5 pages of a special internship topic) and the progress of the work during the internship (at least one session during the trimester).
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Course Number: IF-5911Credit Hours: 0.00
This Internship is structured as an independent study Internship and requires a close working relationship with the Faculty Advisor. The 3.0 credit Internship paper (minimum 15 ? 20 pages) includes a detailed assessment plan and conference with the Faculty Advisor (minimum 3 sessions per trimester). It should be organized as a field studies paper or a consulting paper.
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Course Number: GF-5541Credit Hours: 3.00
This course focuses on the managerial and technological
issues related to the design and implementation of
business-to-business marketing strategies. The course places
emphasis on the management of long-term relationships with
end-users and distributors within a value creation framework.
The creation and maximization of value are central concepts,
both from an end user as well as from a supplier perspective. The emphasis throughout the course is on the management of the marketing function and the use of marketing techniques -
Course Number: JA-4100Credit Hours: 3.00
This course emphasizes the use of the target language in context, especially the lexicon of business. Readings from newspapers, journals, and books (although to a restricted degree in non-Latin alphabet languages) familiarize future international managers with issues in the areas of the world where the target language is spoken. Activities include small group discussions, oral and written projects, and grammar review.
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Course Number: JA-4025Credit Hours: 3.00
Fundamentals I is intensive and emphasizes interactive activities that develop oral proficiency. Participants study the four communicative skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)with emphasis on the development of oral interaction. The use
of a cassette player may be required. Classes meet four times a week. -
Course Number: JA-4026Credit Hours: 3.00
In Fundamentals II major emphasis continues to be on the development of speaking and listening proficiency, but increased attention is also given to reading and writing. Authentic materials in the target language reflect situations
relevant to the international manager, except for non-Latin based languages or Asian languages. -
Course Number: JA-4015Credit Hours: 3.00
This is an introductory course for beginning language learners. No prior knowledge is required. Students study language fundamentals such as pronunciations, vocabulary and grammar. The emphases are: a) establishing a solid foundation in pronunciations; b) building up vocabulary and sentence patterns in communicative contexts; c) introducing writing systems and preparing students to read characters. In addition, cultural and social information that go along with language use are also included in the teaching.
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Course Number: JA-4020Credit Hours: 3.00
This course is a continuation of Fundamentals I and II. It aims to help students further develop communicative skills in listening and speaking, with an additional emphasis on reading texts. The emphases of this course are: a) building up more vocabulary and grammatical structures for communications purposes, b) integrating the linguistic and cultural knowledge acquired in Fundamentals I and II with the new knowledge, c) introducing business content and terminology in instructions and activities.
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Course Number: ML-4015Credit Hours: 0.00
In recent years, the business world has become increasingly sensitized to the presence of institutional governance and defining the culture of a corporation and its core values. Stated explicitly or not, these issues not only impact the reputation of the venture or corporation, but also its sustainability and financial bottom line.
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Course Number: ML-4020Credit Hours: 0.00
In recent years, the business world has become increasingly sensitized to the presence of institutional governance and defining the culture of a corporation and its core values. Stated explicitly or not, these issues not only impact the reputation of the venture or corporation, but also its sustainability and financial bottom line.
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Course Number: GF-5412Credit Hours: 3.00
This course will (1) increase your understanding of the nature of organizational change (through conceptual frameworks, readings and discussions), (2) increase your skill in managing change (through a project) and (3) enhance your sensitivity to the contribution and consequences of the human element as related to change. As a pivotal requirement of this course, you will create and manage a change project. This project will be the platform through which you will apply the issues and concepts that we cover in this course.
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Course Number: ST-4432Credit Hours: 1.50
This course covers the critical legal issues every entrepreneur and manager need to know in conducting global business. The topics include organizational structure, financial issues at startup and expansion, domestic and international tax issues, intellectual property issues, employment law issues, and transactional law issues. Each session will be covered by a lawyer expert in the topic area under the direction of a Thunderbird faculty member.
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Course Number: GF-4803Credit Hours: 3.00
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Course Number: GM-4102Credit Hours: 1.50
This course covers the development and use of managerial accounting information, including both financial and non-financial performance measures, in making long- and short-run decisions. Topics include cost-profit-volume analysis, cost behavior, relevant costs, job-order and processes costing, activity based cost management and the analysis of customer profitability.
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Course Number: MGT-4466Credit Hours: 1.50
This course provides a fast-paced review of key concepts and tools in global strategy and organizational behavior for students already possessing some knowledge in these areas. Both strategy formulation and implementation are addressed. Topics include: strategic focus; competitor and industry analysis; core competencies; organizational culture; cross-cultural leadership; and change management. The need for global businesses to fit all these elements together in the pursuit of competitive advantage is emphasized.
