Medill IMC Professional Master’s FAQ

A master’s in integrated marketing communications (IMC) is a graduate program focused on blending creative and analytical marketing strategies to help organizations build strong and cohesive brand identities. This degree emphasizes both consumer insights and human connection, teaching students how to craft marketing messages that resonate across multiple platforms.

The curriculum covers areas like digital marketing, brand communication, financial accounting and marketing research, preparing students to lead in today’s dynamic marketing landscape by creating strategies that are data-driven, yet creatively compelling.

This degree is ideal for professionals looking to optimize strategic marketing processes and strengthen their leadership skills.

Northwestern’s IMC Professional program is delivered in a live online format, with the option to enhance your experience by adding immersive, in-person courses to your elective choices.

The program is particularly designed for mid-level to senior-level professionals with at least three years of work experience, providing a part-time structure that lets students advance their education without pausing their careers.

Students can tailor their education by selecting from 10 elective courses, focusing on areas including digital marketing, brand communication and integration management. Northwestern’s Medill School, known for its legacy in journalism and marketing communications, equips students with both the art and science of marketing, ensuring they are prepared for the evolving demands of the industry.

Additionally, the STEM designation further sets this program apart, offering students cutting-edge tools for analyzing and solving complex marketing problems.

The Northwestern IMC Professional program is a part-time program designed for working professionals, and it can be completed in less than two years.

Students can extend their studies up to five years if needed. The program’s live online format is designed to accommodate the busy schedules of mid-career professionals.

The admissions process for Northwestern University’s IMC Professional program begins by submitting an online application that includes all required materials, such as transcripts, test scores and recommendation letters.

The program has multiple application rounds, with deadlines typically in August, October and November for the upcoming academic year. Each round follows a set schedule, with a corresponding decision notification and deposit deadline.

Applicants should ensure their materials are complete before the deadline for their desired round.

For a detailed guide to the application process, Northwestern offers a step-by-step video tutorial to help applicants navigate the system, including document submission and fee payment.

Learn More About the Application Process
Watch the Application Walkthrough Video

Applicants to Northwestern’s IMC Professional program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. They are required to submit academic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

For non-degree coursework, such as certificates or MOOCs, no transcript is required, but the courses should be listed on your resume. If you have transfer credits for three or more courses, a transcript from the original institution is also needed.

International applicants must submit a course-by-course credential evaluation and degree verification through a NACES provider, as well as an official English translation of their transcript if necessary.

The admissions requirements for the IMC Professional program at Northwestern University include:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Academic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• GRE or GMAT scores (optional).
• Resume detailing professional experience.
• Professional statement outlining career goals and why you are pursuing the IMC degree; visit the admissions page for full details
• Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic references.
• Admission interview
• Application fee

Please note: Applicants can upload unofficial transcripts during the application review process but will need to provide official transcripts upon admission.

No, GRE or GMAT scores are not currently required for admission to the Northwestern IMC Professional program. While you may choose to submit these scores to enhance your application, they are not mandatory at this time.

Yes, international students can apply for the IMC Professional program at Northwestern University. They must provide additional documentation, including a course-by-course credential evaluation and degree verification from a NACES provider.

If the transcripts are not in English, they must also be submitted with an official English translation.

Yes, the IMC Professional program is designed for mid-level to senior-level professionals, and applicants are expected to have at least three years of professional work experience.

While the program does not specifically require prior marketing experience, it is particularly suited to those in marketing, communications, media, public relations or business who seek to advance into leadership roles or fill gaps in their knowledge.

Tuition for the Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications Professional program at Northwestern University is $5,463 per unit for the 2024-2025 academic year. Students typically take one or two units per quarter, with a total of 13 units required for the program.

The total estimated tuition for the entire program is $71,019, based on current rates and completion within two years.

Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time and are not inclusive of textbooks, course materials or additional program-related expenses. Students are encouraged to regularly check the University’s official tuition listing for the most up-to-date information. Any changes in tuition or fees will be communicated through official University channels.

Explore Financial Aid Options

Yes, there are additional costs:*

• Application fee: $100
• Tuition deposit: $500
• Books/supplies: Estimated at $900 for the academic year ($300 per quarter)
• Loan fees: Estimated at $1,725 for the academic year ($575 per quarter)

Please note: Tuition does not include textbooks or other fees, and costs are subject to change. Students are encouraged to verify rates on Northwestern’s official tuition listing.

* Visit the tuition page for more information.

The Medill IMC Professional program offers core and elective courses designed to enhance your marketing communications expertise. Core courses include Financial Accounting, IMC Strategic Process and Marketing Research. Students can then select from 10 electives, with options such as Advanced Brand Management, Digital Marketing Activation, Consumer Insight and more, allowing you to tailor the program to your specific career goals.

Explore the Curriculum

In addition to online coursework, Medill offers immersive courses held in cities around the world. These week-long, in-person courses provide the chance to engage deeply with industry leaders, faculty, and peers while earning credit toward your degree. Recent immersive courses include Design Thinking in San Francisco, Global Perspectives in London and Integrating Sustainability in Brand Management in Chile.

By participating in immersive courses, you’ll build lasting connections and develop skills that are crucial to the rapidly changing marketing landscape.

Explore the Immersive Courses

The Medill IMC Professional program consists of 13 courses: 3 core courses and 10 electives, allowing students to tailor their learning to align with their career goals. Electives offer flexibility, enabling students to focus on specialized areas of marketing, such as digital marketing, brand management or customer value innovation, or explore a broad range of topics for a well-rounded education.

The Medill IMC Professional program equips students with a broad range of technical and digital skills essential for navigating today’s marketing landscape. Courses such as Digital Marketing, Media and Innovation and Digital Marketing Activation cover core components like search engine optimization (SEO), paid search, web analytics and programmatic marketing. Additionally, students gain experience with social media marketing, content strategy and data analytics tools for evaluating campaign effectiveness.

In more specialized courses like Marketing Metrics, students develop proficiency in digital analytics tools for tracking performance across platforms such as web, email and mobile. The program emphasizes the use of tools for data collection, tagging and surveying, ensuring that students can apply these skills to real-world marketing strategies. Additionally, they explore cutting-edge trends in big data, algorithmic targeting and content personalization—all pivotal in the era of real-time marketing.

View the Course List

A degree from the Northwestern Medill IMC Professional program opens doors to a wide array of career opportunities in industries such as technology, consumer goods, healthcare and media. Graduates frequently step into roles such as:

• Chief marketing officer (CMO): Leading an organization’s entire marketing strategy.
• Marketing director: Developing and overseeing multi-channel marketing initiatives.
• Digital marketing manager: Implementing online campaigns to engage audiences.
• Brand manager: Managing the perception and growth of a brand.
• Market research analyst: Analyzing consumer behavior to inform business decisions.

The program’s strong focus on both strategic thinking and data analysis ensures that Medill IMC Professional program graduates are highly sought after for leadership and creative roles.

Graduates of the Medill Integrated Marketing Communications program are well-equipped to embark on a wide range of rewarding careers in marketing and communications. With a focus on blending traditional marketing principles with cutting-edge digital strategies, Medill IMC graduates are in high demand across various industries. Here are some key career prospects for IMC alumni:

• Senior leadership and C-suite roles: Many IMC graduates ascend to leadership positions such as chief marketing officer, marketing director or brand director, where they drive strategic direction and oversee comprehensive marketing initiatives.
• Data-driven positions: With a strong emphasis on analytics, IMC graduates often excel as marketing managers, market research analysts or marketing analytics managers, leveraging data to inform marketing strategies and improve performance.
• Digital and creative careers: As the digital landscape continues to evolve, graduates find opportunities as digital marketing managers, social media managers or content marketing managers, where they create innovative campaigns that resonate with audiences.
• Public relations and communications: IMC alumni also thrive in roles like public relations manager or copywriter, where they manage brand reputation and create compelling narratives to engage stakeholders.
• Industry diversity: Medill IMC graduates are employed in a wide array of sectors, including technology, healthcare, finance, education and non-profit organizations, reflecting the versatility of the skills acquired in the program.
• Strong employment rates: Recent surveys indicate that 88% of part-time, online professional master’s graduates from 2019 to 2022 secured employment shortly after graduation, demonstrating the strong job market for IMC alumni.¹
• Robust growth opportunities: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects significant growth in marketing-related roles, particularly for positions such as market research analysts (expected to grow by 13% from 2022 to 2032) and advertising, promotions and marketing managers (projected to grow by 8% in the same period).^2,3

By pursuing a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications at Medill, graduates not only gain advanced marketing skills but also join a robust, global network of alumni and industry professionals, enhancing their career prospects in a dynamic and evolving field.

Visit the Careers Page

Marketing communications (MarCom) refers to the various methods and strategies used by businesses to communicate with their target audiences about their products and services. This can include advertising, public relations, promotions and direct marketing. The primary goal of marketing communications is to inform, persuade and remind potential customers about a brand and its offerings.

Integrated marketing communications, on the other hand, goes a step further by ensuring that all communication channels work together harmoniously. IMC emphasizes a unified approach, blending various marketing tools and techniques to deliver a consistent message across all platforms. This holistic strategy ensures that the consumer experience is seamless, reinforcing brand messaging and enhancing consumer engagement.

In summary, while marketing communications focuses on individual tactics to reach their target audiences, integrated marketing communications emphasizes the importance of aligning these tactics to create a cohesive and effective marketing strategy.

Choosing between a Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications and a traditional Master’s in Marketing is important for your career path. Here’s why the Medill IMC Professional program is the superior choice:

• Comprehensive skill set: Medill’s IMC Professional program merges creativity with data analysis, equipping you with the tools to craft engaging, consumer-focused marketing strategies that stand out.
• Leadership opportunities: Graduates are prepared for high-level roles such as chief marketing officer and chief customer experience officer. The IMC curriculum is tailored to develop strategic thinkers who can lead marketing departments.
• Consumer-centric approach: With a strong emphasis on understanding consumer needs and behaviors, you’ll create campaigns that resonate, giving you an edge over traditional marketing graduates.
• Real-world experience: Engage in hands-on projects with top companies, tackling real marketing challenges that enhance your resume and skill set.
• Flexible formats: Choose from full-time or part-time options to fit your lifestyle, whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional.

The Medill IMC master’s degree offers two formats tailored to different career stages.

The IMC Full-Time program is a 15-month option designed for recent graduates or those with limited experience, focusing on launching or accelerating your marketing career. This format includes a quarter dedicated to a strategic project with a leading company, providing valuable hands-on experience.

On the other hand, the IMC Professional program is a part-time option for mid- to senior-level professionals. It offers a variety of options towards completion with live online and in-person, elective, immersive courses, and consists of 13 courses, featuring 10 electives tailored to your interests, such as digital leadership, crisis communication and more.

Whether you choose the full-time or professional format, both paths prepare you for leadership roles in marketing communications, blending creativity with data-driven strategies.

Explore the Full-Time IMC Program

The IMC Professional program offers a flexible learning experience, combining live online and immersive in-person courses.

Here are some key details about the course delivery model:

• All core classes are 10-week live online courses with synchronous instruction.
• Students must complete all core classes before enrolling in electives.
• The in-person courses are called immersive courses and are optional electives.
• While taking an immersive course is not required for graduation, many students find it to be a highlight of their experience.
• We also offer 10-week live online elective courses.
• For all 10-week live online courses, students are expected to attend classes live each week.
• Asynchronous courses are not available.
• Class recordings are provided at the faculty’s discretion and are intended solely for learning support, not as a substitute for instruction in the event of a student absence.

The IMC Professional program is delivered live online, with in-person learning offered exclusively as immersive elective courses. This flexibility allows students to take in-person classes as optional electives and there is no in-person course requirement.

Please see the FAQ on “How Are Courses Delivered” for more details.

No, IMC Professional online courses are delivered through the live online program format.

Students must attend classes at scheduled times, allowing for real-time interaction with peers and faculty. This format enhances collaboration and engagement, replicating the dynamic environment of in-person classes while offering an online setting.

The IMC Professional program offers several elective immersive courses throughout the year, each designed to provide in-person learning and networking opportunities. These courses include:

• Introduction to Marketing Technology (March, New York City): Led by Jonathan Copulsky, this course covers the challenges and opportunities presented by various marketing technologies.
• Design Thinking (December, San Francisco): Taught by Tran Ha, this course focuses on innovative product and service design that meets customer needs.
• Digital Leadership (September, Chicago): Instructed by Randy Hlavac and Erik Qualman, this course equips students with key digital leadership skills.
• Circular Economy: Business Sustainability (June, San Francisco): Led by Preeti Shroff-Mehta, this course explores sustainable practices within the business value chain.
• Integrating Sustainability in Brand Management (December, Santiago, Chile): Taught by Vijay Viswanathan, this course examines brand strategy in relation to social and environmental impact.
• Global Perspectives—London (June, London, UK): Instructed by Candy Lee, this course focuses on global marketing and organizational behavior in a multicultural context.
  

Each week-long immersive course fulfills one credit toward the degree and is held entirely in person, allowing students to connect deeply with faculty and peers.

Explore Immersive Courses

No, the IMC Professional program’s course delivery model consists of live online classes. Students may choose to take immersive elective courses in person after completing four core courses.

View the Immersive Courses