Get an edge in your career
The Master of Science in Management program at Worcester State University provides you with the theoretical and applied knowledge you need to excel in a highly competitive, rapidly changing business environment. It offers a high-quality education at a competitive cost.
Geared toward working adults, our flexible program can be completed part-time. We also offer a 4-Plus option for our current undergraduate business administration majors that enable the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements to be completed in 5 years.
You have the option to concentrate in either accounting, leadership, or marketing—and we offer you in-depth study in your area of specialization that reflects current thinking for the real marketplace.
In small classes, our expert faculty use case studies, research projects, and analysis of management theories and concepts to ensure that you develop the competencies you need to advance your career. You’ll not only master your chosen content area, but you’ll also further develop your critical analysis abilities, creative problem-solving skills, ethical reasoning, technical proficiency, and global perspective.
With specialized knowledge in their field and applied learning experience, our graduates have a competitive edge in today’s job market. They go on to find success in such roles as accountants, senior managers, marketing managers, research analysts, and brand managers.
Concentrations
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The M.S. in Management’s accounting concentration will not only help you advance your career, but also prepare you to sit for the certified public accountant exam.
Our classes in taxation, accounting, auditing, and financial theory, and international finance will expand your knowledge of the important role accountants play in the business world and serve their communities. Completion of this concentration qualifies graduates to sit for the CPA exam—a valuable addition to a master’s degree from Worcester State University.
Accounting Concentration Required Courses (12 credits)
- AC910 – Taxation of Individuals and Proprietors
- AC911 – Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders
- AC912 – Advanced Accounting Theory
- AC913 – Advanced Auditing Theory and Practice
Accounting Elective Courses
- AC920 – Advanced Problems in Accounting
- AC930 – Advanced Financial Theory
- AC932 – International Finance and Economics
- AC950 – Seminar Topics in Taxation
- AC951 – Seminar in Issues in Accounting Ethics
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The M.S. in Management program’s leadership concentration will give you the skills essential to effectively managing organizations of all types and sizes in today’s highly competitive environments.
Through our courses in leadership theory, organizational development and change, and ethics and social responsibility, you’ll gain insights critical to developing processes and plans to position your organization for future growth. Our elective courses give you flexibility to explore leadership in small businesses or international organizations, motivation of teams, negotiating skills, and human resources issues.
An important element of this concentration is our emphasis on applied learning. With guidance from the program coordinator, you will create a customized Action Learning Professional Leadership Project that complements your coursework and career aspirations.
Leadership Required Courses (12 credits)
- BA960 – Leadership Theory and Skills
- BA961 – Organizational Development and Change
- BA962 – Ethics and Social Responsibility of Leadership
- BA963 – Action Learning Professional Leadership Project
Leadership Elective Courses
- BA970 – Seminar in Leadership
- BA971 – Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
- BA972 – Motivation and Leadership of Teams
- BA973 – Leading in the International Business Environment
- BA974 – Negotiations
- BA975 – Leadership Perspectives of Human Resources and the Legal Environment
- BA976 – Selected Topics in Leadership
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The M.S. in Management’s marketing concentration will provide you with the analytical, technical, and conceptual knowledge and applications demanded by organizations to improve their positioning in today’s highly competitive marketplace.
Companies now have access to a wide variety of data and want to use predictive analysis for marketing planning. An essential element in this concentration is the emphasis on developing a proficiency in quantitative skills needed to use databases as well as conduct market research and consumer behavior analysis.
Our classes in research methods, global marketing, consumer behavior, and more will arm you with the knowledge you need to develop, execute, and analyze marketing campaigns. You will distinguish yourself from the competition with a breadth of skills in market research, strategic planning, creative implementation, and campaign analysis.
Marketing Required Courses
- BA920 – Global Marketing Management
- BA921 – Consumer Behavior
- BA922 – Research Methods for Marketing Decisions
- BA923 – Integrated Marketing Communications
Marketing Elective Course
- BA924 – Sales Management
Core courses
The M.S. in Management degree requires the completion of 36 credit hours of graduate courses. Students with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a cumulative 3.0 GPA from an accredited U.S. college or university may waive 6 credit hours. A maximum of 2 of the following courses can be waived:
- BA910 – Information Technology
- BA912 – Marketing Management
- BA914 – Organizational Behavior
- BA915 – Corporate Finance
A minimum grade of a B in prior courses is required for all waived and transferred courses. All waivers require the approval of the program coordinator.
The curriculum is comprised of 8 core courses, 4 required courses in each concentration, and electives.
Core Courses
- BA910 – Information Technology1
- BA911 – Accounting for Managerial Decisions2
- BA912 – Marketing Management1 4
- BA913 – Managerial Economics
- BA914 – Organizational Behavior1
- BA915 – Corporate Finance1
- BA916 – Quantitative Analysis and Research Methods
- BA990 – Integrative Business Strategy
- AC923 – Advanced Government and Nonprofit Accounting3
1May be waived for students admitted with undergraduate GPA greater than 3.0 from an accredited U.S. college/university for students with business administration undergraduate majors. In consultation with the graduate coordinator, these students may choose to waive 2 of these 4 core classes.
2May be waived for students in the accounting concentration.
3May substitute for BA911 for students in the accounting concentration. However, AC923 is only offered if there is sufficient student demand for this course.
4Students in the marketing concentration cannot waive this course.
Admission requirements
In addition to the Graduate School’s general admission requirements, you must also:
- Take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and have the results sent to the Graduate School
- Submit 3 letters of recommendation from professors and/or supervisors
If you have a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a cumulative 3.0 GPA from an accredited U.S. college or university, we will waive your GMAT requirement.
Admission to this program is a rolling process, and applicants can take up to 6 credits prior to being accepted into the program.
Prerequisite Requirements
The following prerequisites apply to all students entering the program:
- Principles of Management or Organizational Behavior
- Undergraduate Accounting
- Business Law
- Computer Applications
- Statistics
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Communications
- College Mathematics (College Algebra or higher)
In addition to the above admissions prerequisites, students in the Accounting Concentration must also complete undergraduate Accounting I and II, Intermediate Accounting I and II, and an undergraduate Auditing (theory) course. Students in the Marketing Concentration, in addition to the above admissions prerequisites, must also complete an undergraduate Principles of Marketing and a Marketing Research course.
Note: All undergraduate prerequisites to the M.S. in Management program will follow WSU’s transfer policy, which accepts undergraduate transfer grades of C- or better.