Food Marketing
Student standing by the Meijer wall in the Food Marketing Hub

Graduate Certificate in Food Marketing

Craft a skill set that positions you for leadership roles in CPG and retail environments with the specialized, applied knowledge companies are hiring for.

Statistics

96%

of WMU Haworth graduate students had instructors who made them excited about learning

—2024-25 Career Outcomes Report
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Hybrid

program format

96%

of WMU Haworth graduate students participated in Experience-Driven Learning

—2024-25 Career Outcomes Report
Explore the data

Earn your graduate certificate in food marketing

The graduate certificate in food marketing opens up possibilities in your current role or gets you ready for a career switch. The coursework, which is offered synchronously online or in person, centers on food marketing strategy and category management, including hands-on projects. The certificate can be taken on its own or through elective courses within the WMU MBA program, so you can earn both the MBA and the certificate at the same time.

With only 15 credit hours needed to earn the credential, you can quickly gain the advanced skills that will help you achieve your career goals. And you’ll have the credibility that comes from a program with international recognition for preparing food marketing professionals to lead in local and global companies. 

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What will you learn in the graduate certificate in food marketing?

  • Global food marketing strategy, enhancing your knowledge of multinational companies in the food industry and global food trends.
  • Category management, where you’ll build and deepen your skill set, including practice with industry-specific AI tools that are the first of their kind for category management.
  • Integrated purchasing, operations, and logistics process improvement in manufacturing and service firms, developing innovative solutions to process design, management and improvement challenges presented through business case studies, simulated systems or projects within the value chain of an organization.
  • Work-based projects where you can use large-scale projects at your current workplace to apply your developing skills in leadership, strategy and food marketing.
  • Project management and communication skills that employers cite as critical in leadership positions.
  • Special topics including strategic sourcing, cannabis marketing and others. 

 

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Customize your degree

The graduate certificate in food marketing can be taken on its own or paired with the WMU MBA. By taking business food marketing courses as electives for the MBA degree, you can earn both credentials simultaneously, giving you a true edge in the workforce. 

WMU food marketing students in the Haworth College of Business with Dr. Russell Zwanka

How does a WMU MBA build skills that will help you stand out in the job search or qualify for a promotion? 

  • You’ll gain a thorough background in all areas of business and be able to easily translate your knowledge to different functional areas. 
  • With the MBA’s focus on communication and team projects, you’ll grow your skills in navigating team dynamics, which will prepare you to be a leader in your organization. 
  • You’ll develop a network of professional contacts since the WMU MBA has a focus on relationships, fostering student connections, faculty mentorship and opportunities to engage with employers.

Student quote

The food marketing graduate certificate gave me the opportunity to enhance the skills I use in the workplace while learning to apply them through a new lens. It helped me think more strategically, communicate more effectively, and better understand how different pieces of the business come together, ultimately helping me connect strategy to execution.
— Kylie von Lienen, consultant, franchise category strategy, The Coca-Cola Company

Flexible format and credit for work projects

As a food marketing student, you’ll get the flexibility of hybrid courses backed by the quality of an AACSB-accredited business school. The flexible program format allows you to attend classes online (synchronously) or in person, giving you the balance you need for your busy schedule. The courses are designed to maximize connections and collaboration between students who attend online and in person so that you still get the full benefits of classroom interaction. You will also get the most out of your time in the program, with the opportunity to submit a significant project for course credit, applying your skills in real-time while you also achieve milestones for your current job.

Steps to apply

To apply to WMU’s food marketing graduate certificate program, start your application, which will include: 

  • A resume or curriculum vitae
  • Official transcript from the institution where you received your undergraduate degree, as well as a transcript from the institution(s) where any additional graduate level courses or degrees have been taken or completed
  • Evidence of English language proficiency for international students
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Find out what’s next with a graduate certificate in food marketing

Food fuels the future—and there is an expanding need for experienced professionals who can work within consumer packaged goods and retail settings. Companies are seeking leaders who can use the latest technology and analyze consumer behavior and shopper trends for critical insights. The graduate certificate in food marketing helps you be competitive for roles in Fortune 500 companies, local companies, boutique marketing firms and more. 

President or vice president

The food marketing graduate certificate positions you for leadership, and the proof points are as numerous as WMU alumni working as executives in the field. Food marketing graduates have risen to the level of president or vice president, and this program gets you on the path to leadership roles.

Small group of professionals looking at a laptop

Senior category management strategist

WMU graduates are some of the best-trained category management specialists and strategists, which is why they are in high demand. Theory and practice are paired with AI technology for category management, providing you with a powerful combination of skills.       

A student in business attire standing authoritatively in the Haworth College of Business.

Manager

Whether you are a brand manager, marketing manager or leading another functional team, managerial roles are one of the areas where WMU graduates excel. Skills in communication, teamwork and project management ready you for an assortment of managerial roles in the food industry.

Frequently asked questions about the food marketing graduate certificate

The graduate certificate can be completed within four to five semesters, and hybrid courses allow you to attend online or in person for maximum flexibility. 

Yes, food marketing courses are held synchronously in a hybrid format where you can attend online or in person. The entire degree can be taken online, yet you still have the advantage of meeting with your classmates and professor as a group. Evening courses make the program ideal for working professionals.

You can pursue the program on a part-time basis, and our advisors will help you determine the best schedule for you.

To apply to WMU’s food marketing graduate certificate, you will need: 

  • A resume or curriculum vitae
  • Official transcript from the institution where you received your undergraduate degree, as well as a transcript from the institution(s) where any additional graduate level courses or degrees have been taken or completed
  • Evidence of English language proficiency for international students

If you have the required application materials and qualifications, your entry into the program will be smooth and seamless.

Start your application

No, you do not need to take the GMAT or GRE for this program. However, if you plan to also earn your MBA, you should plan to take the GMAT unless you have three years of professional experience. If you have three years of work experience, you can receive a waiver for the GMAT exam. Contact Renuka Phillips, director of graduate programs, to learn more about GMAT waivers.

No program prerequisites are required for this graduate program.

The program has rolling admission, which means you can apply at any time of the year and enter the program in any semester. Most food marketing students begin the program in fall. Just make sure your application is completed two full weeks before the semester you plan to start.

Yes! WMU Haworth offers select scholarships for graduate programs. Learn more about Haworth College of Business scholarships. Once you're admitted, you can search and apply for available awards through WMU's Scholarship Universe tool. You'll just need your WMU ID to log in. 

For assistantships, positions in the Haworth College of Business are listed on Handshake.

Yes, you can! The graduate certificate in food marketing and the MBA complement each other. The courses for the graduate certificate all count as electives in the MBA program so you can earn both credentials at the same time. The combination of MBA strategy courses and the specialized courses in the food marketing graduate certificate provide you with a competitive edge that will make you stand out at your current company or in the job search.

A nationally recognized program, learning from expert faculty featured in national media outlets for their expertise in food marketing, hands-on projects that are relevant to the industry—the list of reasons to choose a food marketing graduate certificate does not end there. 

In addition, you can earn your MBA at the same time, giving you a resume that will impress, and increased job opportunities and compensation that will help you reach your life goals. Don’t forget all of the credentials you earn at WMU Haworth come from a business school that is AACSB-accredited, which offers high standards while you are a student and even higher credibility as you seek out future opportunities as a professional.

Questions? Get in touch!

Questions? Get in touch!

WMU Haworth is here to help you get answers to questions, find resources and become the best professional you can be. 

Email Renuka Phillips, director of graduate programs

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