Degrees in Management

The business community is evolving that requires not only managing skills but also global knowledge, and a career in today's economy begins with an advanced education. Colleges and universities offer innovative managing degrees that can be as broad in scope or as specialized as the student wants his or her education to be.

Are you interested in a college degree that specializes in managing skills for work in a nonprofit organization? Or how about working toward a management degree that emphasizes building construction? These types of managing degrees are available at today's colleges and universities, where the focus is on providing you with the right hands-on education to make a difference in the work place. Instead of just textbook learning, these schools challenge you to think outside the box in a problem-based learning style that solves real-world issues confronting managers on a daily basis.

Today's college education is more than classroom learning, it's about learning to communicate with technology, learning to communicate verbally, and learning to communicate in writing. Effective managers can articulate a point of view, bring forth their vision for solving a problem, and make decisions in real time. With a college degree in management, a student is equipped to hit the ground running.

Today's education encourages student to be diversified in their knowledge base of managing, and a degree in management gives you a head start in beginning a career. An education in management never goes out of style; it only reinvents itself to accommodate new influences that affect change in the marketplace. Companies that take their products and services across the globe must be able to speak the local language and understand the unique business practices in these new markets. The managing professional who is educated and motivated to succeed will be open to tremendous new possibilities for both personal fulfillment and financial success.

Today's college programs that lead to an associate's degree in management generally require 2 years of study. An associate's degree is designed around the fact that this is the minimal amount of education that will be required to start an individual's career in management. If a student plans to achieve a higher plane of management challenges, and the rewards that go with it, a 4-year bachelor's degree is the answer. A master of business administration degree, or MBA, is a graduate level of education beyond the bachelor's course of study in management that opens up a professional's career for climbing the corporate ladder, and sometimes leads to skipping a few rungs on that climb upward. A doctor of philosophy degree, or PhD, is a doctorate level of education beyond the graduate course of an MBA study in management that expands a professional's career for positions outside of the normal range of business management.

Business Management

The master of business administration (MBA) degree, is a graudate level degree in business administration. It is one of the most sought after management specializations by business professionals because of its educational value and its ability to open new doors for employment and advancement.

The MBA generally takes 2 years of full-time study to complete, but a number of colleges and universities offer accelerated programs where the learning time is reduced in exchange for carrying a heavier course load and a compressed class schedule. Schools also offer an executive MBA (EMBA) that is tailored for those already exposed to the business world. The EMBA degree builds on the experience of working executives and managers.

Students who study for an MBA are generally required to take a wide assortment of introductory business courses in the first year, where they will generalize their understanding of business practices. Introductory courses include subjects such as the basics of accounting, understanding how market operate, market data analysis, financial management, project management, and corporate structure. In the second year of an MBA degree, a student is required to focus and specialize on an aspect of business, such as strategic planning, global operations, accounting systems, global marketing, or managing human resources. Between the first and second years of study, the MBA programs normally require a full-time student to participate in an internship that is business related.

Students who earn an MBA are some of the most sought after employees by both domestic and global corporations. In addition to its value as an educational stepping stone, an MBA is also prized because of the prestige that it brings to its recipient.

Getting an MBA is not easy. In a full time program, the time and study commitments required are equivalent to those one would encounter in law school. On top of classroom hours, the student will need to devote a large number of hours per week to studying outside of class, working on projects, etc. Even in part time programs, the work load can be quite daunting, especially if a person is employed full time on a job in addition to school.

As a prerequisite to studying in an MBA program, students are required have earned a bachelor's degree, and typically have a grade point average of at least 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale. Students who have a lower grade point average are usually handled on a case-by-case basis by the admitting college or university. Prospective students must also show related work experience in the field of business, which may amount to 5 years or more, depending upon the college or university's admissions policy. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary entrance exam required for a student's admission into a school's MBA program.

Construction Management

The construction management (CM) degree is for students and professionals interested in a career in construction management or expanding their knowledge base of the built environment. Construction management learning is handled through a combination of business administration management, project-specific management, and construction-related courses that cover broad topics of business, project planning, cost estimating, materials analysis, and construction methodologies.

Employment opportunities range from a construction manager who has the responsibility for overall construction coordination to more specialized fields, such as cost estimator, construction supervisor, computer-aided designer, building materials specialist, quality control coordinator, and field engineer. Students interested in pursuing architectural design also use the construction management major as a complementary education to satisfy the requirements of a 4-year bachelor's program in order to advance into a master's-level program for architecture.

Depending upon the college or university program, students are commonly advised to tailor a construction management curriculum that matches their particular interests and professional goals. This may include an emphasis and focus on either the business aspect or the engineering and design of construction. Students normally supplement their classroom curriculum with an independent project that is designed to combine textbook learning with real-world practical experience in construction management. Curriculum courses include an introduction into management that offers a broad overview of the business environment, which is coupled to project-specific management. Students are exposed to the various procurement methods that are regularly used in securing construction projects including, design/bid/build, design/build, and construction manager at risk. Project scheduling using the critical path method (CPM) is taught alongside project cost estimating. Courses in construction methods and in material design properties of wood, steel, and concrete are addressed in classroom studies.

A construction management diploma is available on the bachelor's level that generally requires 4 years of full-time study; a master's level degree requires an additional 30 graduate credit hours that usually span another 2 years of full-time schooling.

A bachelor's degree is required before admittance into master's degree program. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), and the American College Testing (ACT) are the assessment exams for admittance into bachelor-level programs. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary assessment exam used by a college or university for acceptance into a master's program.

Financial Management

The degree in financial management places an educational emphasis on the issues relating to financial matters. This may include the financial workings of a business organization or the financial planning services that are commonly tailored for retirement and investment plans for individuals. It is a specialized degree with a focus on strategic business planning, business services, systems integration, technology, and human resources. Depending upon the college or university program, students are encouraged to tailor their financial curriculum through the elective courses that match their interests and professional goals.

The individual courses of study within a financial management program are designed for the application of critical thinking in solving issues related to finances. This is an education that highlights the changing relationships in business services as companies rapidly move into the global marketplace.

Students who earn a degree in financial management generally go on to become corporate financial officers, finance controllers, or financial business managers. Courses of study include advanced accounting, advanced mathematics such as calculus and algebra, macro- and microeconomics, statistical analysis, international finance, foreign currency exchange, and human resource management. College and university programs commonly combine financial classroom courses with the behavioral sciences of psychology, sociology, and anthropology as a way to achieve a broad foundation of learning. Advanced computer skills play a key role in developing and understanding new methods of financial modeling and algorithms.

A financial management bachelor's degree is available that generally requires 4 years of full time study and a master's level that requires an additional 30 graduate credit hours and 2 years of full time schooling. A bachelor's degree is required before a student is admitted to a master's degree program. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT) are the assessment exams for admittance into bachelor-level programs. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is typically the primary entrance exam required for a student's admission into a school's graduate program.

Health Care Management

The degree in health care management is a specialized education for students and professionals headed for a career in health care. Some colleges and universities have made health care management a specialty within their master of business administration programs, which results in a healthcare management MBA. In addition to business administration classroom courses, the curriculum is heavily designed around the guidelines set by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Management Education, which focuses learning on the issues of health care as it is affected by finances, policy, and law. Career placement includes executive managers, planners, administrators, and financial officers with those organizations that serve the health care industry.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment within the health care field is expected to grow at a pace of well over 16 percent within the next 6 years. With the baby boomer population now entering retirement, the need increases yearly for dedicated and skilled health care managers to work with the elderly. Students are taught using a problem-based learning curriculum that emphasizes a process of critical thinking, clear communications, and creative solutions to health care issues that range from ethical patient care to managing a health care organization.

Depending upon the college or university program, students are advised to focus their health care management curriculum through selecting elective courses that match their particular interests and professional goals. Students normally supplement their classroom learning with an independent project that is designed to combine their textbook knowledge with real-world practical experience in health care management.

A prerequisite to studying for an MBA graduate-level program is that a student must have first earned a bachelor's degree. Also required for admission are a resume of professional experience and a letter of recommendation. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary standard assessment exam that is used by a college or university for a student's acceptance into their master's degree program.

Hospitality Management

A hospitality management degree is an education that serves the needs of those students and professionals planning or expanding a career within the hospitality industry. This specialized education combines the fundamentals of business administration management with the unique qualities required for a field involving making guests feel at home. The hospitality industry encompasses tourism, hotels, restaurants, and just about everything in between for the traveling and entertainment of the public.

A hospitality management program takes into account the general overview of business management, but adds specialty courses dedicated to hospitality concerns, including hotel lodging, restaurant food service, transportation, and entertainment.

A career in hospitality management can include positions in hotel management, food and beverage management, marketing, public relations, human resources, communications, travel, and entertainment. Hospitality degree programs use a collection of classroom courses that embody a multifaceted approach to an education that deals with the public at large. Classroom courses draw upon the humanities, social sciences, and general business management. Students are especially encouraged to tailor their own hospitality curriculum from elective class selections that benefit their professional interests and goals.

A degree in hospitality management is typically available from colleges and universities at the associate, bachelor, and master levels. A certificate of hospitality is also available from selected schools as a way for students to show that they have received a basic level of classroom education in the hospitality field. An associate's degree in hospitality management usually takes 2 years of full- time study to complete. A bachelor's in hospitality management requires 4 years of full-time study, and a master's degree adds another 2 years of study.

Many entry-level hospitality management positions today require, at minimum, an associate's degree, making an associate's in hospitality management a better investment than working up from the bottom in establishing a career. A bachelor's degree in hospitality management can be a stepping stone for a more advance education that leads to a master of business administration (MBA), the norm for positions of executive management and leadership in the hospitality field.

Human Resource Management

The degree in Human Resource Management (HRM) is an education that is dedicated to the word “human” in human resources. Earners of this degree go on to work in corporations and organizations to deal with a business's most important resource—their people.

The HRM generally takes 2 years of full-time study where a student becomes educated in areas of human resources and employment relations, with an emphasis on employee recruitment and retention, employee benefit plans, program administration, and labor law.

The individual courses of study within a human resource management program are designed to spotlight the changing relationships in human resources and company practices as they relate to the shifting global economy, and the growing diversity and trends of the labor workforce.

Students who earn an HRM are sought after by both domestic and global corporations because they bring a new knowledge base to increasing complexities that have resulted from the labor force shifting from baby boomers to younger generations. HRM graduates are taught not only domestic labor laws, but are also educated in international laws that affect labor other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and South America. Historical topics on labor struggles and current labor issues are also examined and analyzed in detail as they apply to dealing with global business markets.

An HRM program balances practical knowledge of the workforce with theory. Students are generally required to specialize and focus their interest in human resources in areas such as employee benefits and compensation, labor and collective bargaining, relations and employment labor law, and employee training and development.

A human resource management bachelor's degree is available, which generally requires 4 years of full time study, and a master's requires an additional 30 graduate credit hours, usually over 2 years of full time study. A bachelor's degree is required before admittance is allowed in a master's degree program. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT) are the assessment exams for admittance into bachelor-level programs. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is typically the primary entrance exam that is required for a student's admission into a school's HRM program.

Information Technology Management

The information technology management (ITM) degree is designed for students and professionals that are looking to gain a better understanding of information technologies as it relates to decision-making for solving issues related to global problems. An information technology degree focuses on the role of using information that is gathered from sources through the implementation of technology.

An ITM degree on the master's level is generally divided into two paths of specialization or study. A student generally chooses to follow an information assurance program or a software development program. Each program is unique in its emphasis on the understanding of how the role of information technology is applied in the business or government environment.

An information assurance path will tend to focus a student's education on areas of information analysis, cyber security of information, and decision-making support. Graduates from these programs can go on to careers with the National Security Agency (NSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), or any of the specialized Department of Justice's bureaus of law enforcement, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

A software development path focuses the student into areas that deal directly with software analysis, software development, and software implementation. Graduates are highly regarded as employees with federal and state governments and private business for their expertise in writing, managing, and developing software products and services.

The information technology management master's degree generally takes 2 years of full-time study, or a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours. The individual courses of study that place an emphasis on information assurance management can lead to professional development in the specialized areas of intelligence collection and analysis, digital forensics, and systems integration. When the ITM program places an emphasis on software development management, the courses of study include software design, software architecture, data movement, and network distribution.

A prerequisite to studying in an ITM graduate-level program is that a student must have first earned a bachelor's degree. Also required for admission are a resume of professional experience and a letter of recommendation. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary standard assessment exam used by a college or university for a student's admission into its master's degree program.

Marketing Management

A degree in marketing management places an emphasis on the word “marketing” for students and for those business professionals who want to expand their knowledge base and skills. This particular education teaches the fundamentals of business management with a strong orientation toward marketing. Students are exposed to marketing principles that cover the issues of sales, advertising, product development, and branding.

The learning environment requires that students become involved in learning both the creative and analytical sides of marketing. Critical thinking and communications are important skills practiced in both the classroom and through independent projects. Additional courses of study include the behavioral sciences of psychology and sociology, which help students gain an insight into human behavior. Students are encouraged to tailor their own marketing curriculum through elective class selections that benefit their professional interests and goals.

Graduates typically work as executive managers, directors, or administrators in sales, advertising, product development, public relations, and on the financial side of marketing.

A marketing management program is typically available on the bachelor's level, requiring 4 years of full- time study, but it is more often connected to a master's-level program (MBA) with a focus on marketing. Typically a master's-level program requires an additional 30 graduate credit hours that span 2 years of full-time study.

A bachelor's degree is required before admittance into a master's degree program. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT) are the assessment exams for admittance into bachelor-level programs. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary assessment exam used by a college or university for a student's acceptance into its master's program.

Nonprofit Management

A degree in nonprofit management is a unique education for students and professionals that combines the principles and practices of business with the specialized needs of a not-for-profit entity. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts careers in nonprofit organizations will increase by a rapid 14 percent by 2018. This is a faster rate of growth than profit-generating companies and organizations. In order to meet this expected demand, colleges and universities have begun establishing this management major as a cornerstone for employment.

Not-for-profit entities have their own special set of complexities compared with the traditional organizational model, ranging from financial differences stemming from the tax code to managerial responsibilities and organizational structure. Nonprofit entities deal with such issues as volunteer utilization and socially responsible mandates, and place a heavy emphasis on grant writing. A career in a nonprofit entity can include such job titles as a managing director, development director, marketing director, grant writer, report documentation specialist, human resource manager, and communications coordinator.

Nonprofit management programs use a collection of classroom courses that embody a multifaceted approach to an education. Courses draw upon the humanities, social sciences, business practice, and the sciences. Students are encouraged to tailor their own management curriculums from elective class selections that benefit their professional interests and goals.

Selective colleges offer a nonprofit management diploma on the bachelor's level that generally requires 4 years of full-time study. A master's level degree that requires an additional 30 graduate credit hours that span 2 years of full-time study is common for nonprofit degrees. A bachelor's degree is required before admittance is allowed in a master's degree program. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT) are the assessment exams for admittance into bachelor-level programs. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary assessment exam used by a college or university for a student's acceptance into its master's program.

Office Management

The major in office management is an education for students and business professionals looking to learn, or expand their knowledge, about the issues that directly affect the day-to-day administration of a business. Office management learning is handled through course study on such broad-based topics as office administration, business communications, accounting principles, human resources, marketing, and information technology. Maintaining a business that operates smoothly is the primary responsibility of the administrative office manager, but an office management major can also benefit other specialized office clerical-related job titles such as the executive secretary, administrative support supervisor, and administrative services manager.

The basics of office management generally include computer literacy skills for word processing, spreadsheet development and business researching methods, and communications. More advanced curriculum courses include the principles of office administration, the basics of accounting and bookkeeping, information technology transfer flow through data storage and retrieval, business marketing and sales, human resources, and employee labor negotiations. The range of course material in office management degree programs runs from general introductory knowledge to more specialized knowledge, depending upon the level of business management study a student is pursuing.

A degree in office management is commonly available from colleges and universities at the associate, bachelor, and master levels. An associate's degree in business management usually takes 2 years of full- time study. A bachelor's in business management requires 4 years of full-time study, and a master's degree adds another 2 years of study.

Many entry-level office management positions require an associate's degree as the minimum, making an associate's in office management a very good educational investment for opportunities as an entry-level manager, market researcher, executive secretary, public relations representative, or financial analyst, to name just a few. A bachelor's degree in office management can be a stepping stone for an advanced business education that leads to a master's of business administration (MBA).

Operations Management

A major in operations management provides broad- based study for students and professionals who wish to learn or expand their knowledge about the operational side of managing a business. Operations management learning is handled through generalized and specialized management classes that cover strategic planning, financing, production control, human resources, and the governmental laws that affect a company's operations. The universal goal of operational management is to run a company as efficiently as possible while maintaining customer satisfaction. This includes understanding the basic fundamentals of company overhead costs versus company profits.

Depending upon the college or university program, students are generally advised to tailor an operations management curriculum that matches their particular interests and professional goals. Students normally supplement their classroom curriculum with an independent project designed to combine textbook learning with real-world practical experience in operations management. Curriculum courses include an introduction to management that offer an overview of the business environment. Operational financing is taught to provide insight into developing efficiency by controlling manufacturing operations, purchasing raw materials at low rates, and the controlling costs incurred by production labor. Students are also taught the importance of company strategic planning in terms of efficiency and to understand the benefits of managing labor negotiations in union and nonunion settings. Government law, in terms of market objectives, and labor relations are also addressed in classroom studies.

Students are generally allowed a great amount of freedom in defining their independent operational management projects. These projects are often real-time based, where a professional may already be an employee, or where a student will intern in a company during the length of the course project. Independent projects can range from studying plant efficiency to developing new ways of measuring client satisfaction.

An operations management diploma is available on the bachelor's level that generally requires 4 years of full-time study and a master's level that requires an additional 30 graduate credit hours that span 2 years of full-time study. These programs use a problem-based learning scenario, where students are given the opportunity to examine the issues from both a theory aspect and in real life day-to-day practice.

A bachelor's degree is required before admittance is allowed in a master's degree program. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT) are the assessment exams for admittance into bachelor-level programs. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary assessment exam used by a college or university for a student's acceptance into its master's program.

Production Management

The master of production management diploma is for students and professionals who wish to learn or expand their knowledge about issues that affect managing the production of products and services. Production management learning is handled through broad-based management topics that generally cover production planning, production financing, human resources, and laws that can affect production. Depending upon the college or university program, students are generally advised to tailor a production management curriculum that matches their interests and professional goals.

Students supplement their textbook curriculum with an independent project that is designed to combine their classroom teachings with practical, real-world experience in production management. Curriculum courses include an introduction into management that focuses on core issues related to production and delivery. Production financing is taught to provide insight into the individual aspects that make up product and service production, such as raw material costs, labor costs, and transportation delivery costs. Students are also taught the importance of developing production schedules and to understand the benefits of managing human resources. Government law, which includes domestic and global law, and specific issues that relate to production are also addressed in classroom studies.

Students are generally allowed a great amount of freedom in defining their independent production management projects. Such independent projects are often real-time based, where a student may become a company intern who assists in defining the project's goal and execution. Independent projects can range from the management of bringing a new product or service to market to dealing with human resources more effectively within a company's daily operations.

A production management master's degree usually takes 30 graduate credit hours that span 2 years of full-time study. The program is built around problem-based learning, where students are given the opportunity to examine the management issues in terms of both theory and real life practice.

A student must first have earned a bachelor's degree before admittance is allowed in a production management graduate-level program. Also required for admission are a resume of professional experience and a letter of recommendation. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary standard assessment exam that is used by a college or university for a student's admission into its master's degree program.

Project Management

The degree in project management is for students and professionals looking to learn the skills of managing projects from various aspects. Broad-based management topics generally cover project planning, project cost control, deployment of human resources, and government law. Depending upon the college or university program, students are typically advised to tailor a curriculum that matches their professional interests and goals.

Students supplement their courses of study with an independent project designed to provide practical experience in managing a project. Common curriculum courses include an introduction into project management that focuses on the modern business environment. Cost management for project management will include practical analysis studies that are based on in-house resources versus outsourcing, and determining what value each solution can bring to a project. Students are also taught the basics of developing project schedules and managing human resources through manpower projections. Government law, both domestic and international, and specific project procurement issues are addressed with regard to their implications for managing a project.

Students are generally given wide latitude in defining their project management independent studies. These projects are often real-time based, where a student may intern with a company to assist in defining the project's goal and the issues. Independent projects can range from the management of bringing a new product or service to market, to dealing with human resources more effectively within a company's structure.

A project management major is available on the bachelor's level that generally requires 4 years of full- time study and a master's level that requires an additional 30 graduate credit hours that span 2 years of full-time study. The programs are built around problem-based learning, where students examine the interrelated issues of managing a project using both theory and real-life practice.

A bachelor's degree is required before admittance is allowed in a master's degree program. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing (ACT) are the assessment exams for admittance into bachelor-level programs. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary assessment exam that is used by a college or university for a student's acceptance into its master's program.

Supply Chain Management

The master of professional studies in supply chain management is a unique education that expands on the role of business, from both a practical and theoretical manner, in supplying products and services to market. Included in this process are the study of the planning, sourcing, manufacturing, delivery and the returning of products and services in the business industry.

The supply chain management master's degree generally takes 2 years of full-time study, or 30 graduate credit hours. The individual courses of study within a supply chain program provides for professional development toward an understanding of the complex requirements of supply chain economics, and how to effectively manage the chain to improve a business's efficiency. Problem-solving and leadership techniques are two of the underlying skills that are part of this specialized program.

The purpose of a supply chain management program is to provide students with an enhanced understanding into the business process, from the initial supplier to the end user. Each step of the supply chain is studied, reviewed, and analyzed to determine what changes are required to bring better value to the customer, and higher profit margins to a company. Certain semester courses require students to focus on transportation, and distribution in terms of managerial strategies, government polices of regulation, and other related issues that affect the delivery side of the supply chain. Supply chain project management is taught to identify the challenges that come with managing individuals and their affect on project collaboration. Creative problem solving in dealing with supply chain issues is another topic that teaches a student to understand how to identify value creation thorough outsourcing, marketplace forecasting, and technology adoption.

A prerequisite to studying in a graduate level program is that a student must have earned a bachelor's degree prior. Other items for admission include a resume of professional experience, and a letter of recommendation. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is the primary standard assessment exam that is used by a college or university for a student's admission into its master's degree program.