Management is a business function. A manager is a person responsible for pulling people and a project together. And a management degree is your way of becoming that person.
Why study management? Having an education in management will greatly enhance your career opportunities. And if you don't actively work at a management level, you'll still benefit by gaining an understanding of the process of management - the principles of organization, the need for division of labor and allocation of resources, and even the necessity of a formal hierarchy in larger organizations. Management is, after all, a function of business.
But if your goal is to move into a management position or improve your current role in management, then you need to have great communication skills, logical linear thinking, comfort and competence in leadership, be decisive and enjoy leading a team towards goals.
Targeted academic upgrading on current management practices can be pursued on any level - from non credit studies to degrees from associate to doctoral levels. Management is a broad field of study which can be pursued on its own, such as a management degree, as part of another degree such as business administration major, or in a concentrated curriculum such as an MBA (Master of Business Administration) in management, an Applied Management degree, or an Organizational Management degree.
The goal of any management course is to develop business competencies such as accounting, business law, economics, management, and marketing - to gain competency in the administration of human and physical resources and to acquire skills useful to any organization. Programs can help to develop effective interpersonal skills, foster decision-making and entrepreneurial thinking, and present diverse business environments. The skills you develop can be applied to areas such as personnel management, organizational behavior, production, international and small business, healthcare, government agencies, financial institutions, telecommunications, hospitality, and education.
As with most business fields, preferred management candidates will have a minimum of a bachelor's degree. In order to pursue this degree, you should have completed an associate degree in a related major such as business, accounting, or finance or have a substantial number of undergrad credits in your chosen field. Some universities will also want to see that you have a relevant work history and career goals. A standard Management Degree will give you a broad management education with the option to tailor your curriculum to your area of interest.
To enter the Master's degree program, you would require a bachelor's degree and experience in business. Many MBA programs will include management coursework or can be self directed to include the types of courses you feel would be the most advantageous. An MBA is not universally required for career advancement, but may be preferred where a broader range of knowledge is needed.
You can select from the following programs we offer in management degrees, or refer to our MBA section:
Associate of Business Administration / Management
Bachelor of Science in Management
Bachelor of Science in Business / Retail Management
Bachelor of Science in Human Services and Management
Master of Management
Master of Management / International
An Applied Management degree bypasses any extra course work that doesn't directly apply to the management function. It has a more intense focus and is appropriate for those who already hold a degree or professional credentials and need to enhance their knowledge in order to move into management positions. It says to your organization that you are committed to fulfilling the official duties of managing projects, finances and people. If you're not already working at a management level, it shows that your goal is to get there; if you are a manager, it shows that you want to be the best you can be at your position by adding to the skills that got you there in the first place.
Applied management degrees include:
Bachelor of Science / Applied Management
Ph.D. in Applied Management & Decision Sciences
At the Bachelor level, an Applied Management degree incorporates your previous business education credits earned with courses in the key functional areas of management so that you can advance into supervisory positions. Courses focus on managing the complex interactions between different management topics when defining and solving real-world business problems. A Bachelor of Science degree in applied management generally consists of 123 credit hours that can be completed in 2 years or less.
A doctoral degree in applied management provides further specialization in the field. It prepares you to anticipate how modern global business interdependencies, technological advances and diversity impact you and the organizations you lead. As a doctoral candidate you can conduct applied research and gain a deeper understanding of trends affecting areas such as leadership and organizational change, knowledge and learning management, decision-making practices, and financial management. Doctoral students in the Applied Management & Decision Sciences programs can complete their Ph.D. in 4 to 6 years, depending on their specialization or as little as 3 years.
At the Ph.D. level, you can consider and be considered for these types of jobs at a senior level:
Entrepreneur
CEO
Independent Consultant
Executive
Senior Manager
Senior Administrator
Publisher
Public Official
Higher Education Faculty and Administrator
A Master's Degree in Organizational Management is another specialized version of a management degree, dedicated to fostering new ways of leading and working with organizational change and transitions, virtual work teams and work design, and employee and team development within corporations, profit and non-profit agencies, education and government. You can narrow your academic focus down further into any of these education tracks:
M.S. in Organization and Management / General Program
M.S. in Organization and Management / Human Resource Management
M.S. in Organization and Management / Information Technology Management
Ph.D. in Organization and Management / General Program
Ph.D. in Organization and Management / Human Resource Management
Ph.D. in Organization and Management / Information Technology Management
A management education can be applied to virtually every industry and organization and each one will have its own 'wish list' for potential employees.
Deciding on a career in management starts with selecting your area of specialization and then obtaining the education, credentials, and experience within that field. A management degree provides you with greater flexibility and value in the highly competitive business job market. When you enter the work force you'll face keen competition due to the ample supply of competent, experienced competition for managerial jobs. Managers of highly complex services, such as contract administration, generally need at least a bachelor's degree in business, human resources, or finance.
Here's an outline of 3 types of jobs a management graduation can pursue:
General and operations managers plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public and private sector organizations. Their duties can include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources. In some organizations, the duties of general and operations managers may overlap the duties of chief executive officers. Median salaries of general and operations managers in 2002 were over $68,000.
Management analysts - A management analyst or consultant is often hired on a contract basis by public and private organizations which are experiencing a monumental change in operations. For example, if a company undergoes rapid growth, a merger, or downsizing they can benefit by having an outside expert come in to work with the current management team.
As management consultant, you would analyze the current status of the organization, their goals and resources, and then present your findings and your suggested solutions. You may also be asked to help implement any changes such as staff lay offs and restructuring programs. Your attention to detail, your understanding of sound business practices, your tact and compassion, your presentation skills, good judgment, time management skills, and creativity are all important qualities to have. Since management analysts often work with minimal supervision they need to be self-motivated and disciplined.
About 33% of management analysts work as a single practitioner, while others are employed by large international organizations, in computer and data processing firms, and for all levels of government. Management consultants are in high demand in organizations conducting international business.
The pay for management consultants is high and the work is satisfying according to professionals in the field, but a 60 hour work week is common and a great deal of travel may be required. In 2002, the median salary was over $60,000 per annum, but wages will depend on many factors such as location and type of industry. The highest 10% of management analysts in 2002 earned more that $115,000.
Job opportunities are expected to be best for those with a graduate degree, industry expertise, and a talent for salesmanship and public relations.
Project managers in computer and information technology compile requirements, budgets, and schedules for their firm's information technology projects. They manage projects from development through implementation, working with internal and external clients, vendors, consultants, and computer specialists. Strong technical knowledge is essential for computer and information systems managers, who must understand and guide subordinates, yet also explain details in nontechnical terms to senior management and potential customers.
Strong growth is expected in this type of management position due to developments in information technology and the growth of electronic commerce. Traditional companies hire analysts to design intranets or company Web sites, or establish online businesses. The volatility of the computer and data processing services industry necessitates that the most successful management analysts have knowledge of traditional business practices as well as software applications, system integration, and web site management skills. Earnings for computer and information systems managers vary by specialty and level of responsibility. Median annual earnings of these managers in 2002 were over $85,000.
Because management degrees cover such a broad range of interest areas, there is no single certification or license required after obtaining your management degree.
An example of a function specific credential is the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation bestowed to Institute of Management Consultants USA members. To apply you need five year's or more experience in the consulting field and a bachelor's degree. It takes about 4 months to complete the required number of "points" and must be renewed every 3 years. The CMC mark of excellence is internationally bestowed and recognized by any of the 35 national institutes that are members of ICMCI (International Council of Management Consulting Institutes).
The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) confers the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation upon applicants in the accounting field who complete a bachelor's degree or attain a minimum score on specified graduate school entrance exams.