Online Master of Science in Management Studies
Online Master of Science in Management Studies
Why Earn an Online Master of Science in Management Studies at the Smith School?
Build the Business Skills to Lead Across Industries
The Online Master of Science in Management Studies prepares students to lead teams, make data-informed decisions, and solve complex business challenges. Whether you're launching your career, changing fields or interested in developing stronger business acumen, you'll gain foundational business knowledge, consulting experience and AI skills that prepare you to lead across industries.
Why Smith?
- Develop foundational business knowledge through a comprehensive graduate curriculum.
- Apply what you learn through experiential consulting projects with organizations.
- Learn from faculty and advisory council members with experience across multiple industries.
- Collaborate with peers through team-based projects, live sessions, and applied learning experiences.
Who Is the Master of Science in Management Studies For?
Early-Career Professionals Ready to Strengthen Their Business Foundation
The Online Master of Science in Management Studies is designed for those seeking foundational business expertise. Whether you're a recent graduate looking to complement your current abilities with business skills or a working professional seeking broad business knowledge, the degree helps you build practical skills that apply across industries.
Ideal Candidates Include:
- Working professionals and recent graduates seeking foundational business skills to expand their career opportunities across industries.
- Student-athletes using their additional year of eligibility to earn a graduate degree.
- New entrepreneurs who want stronger knowledge of marketing, accounting and business management.
Students Bring Transferable Skills Such As:
- Communication and presentation
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Organizational and time management
- Adaptability
If you're looking to add business expertise to your existing education or experience, this degree is designed to help you do exactly that.
What Will You Learn in the Master of Science in Management Studies Program?
How to Make Informed Decisions and Lead with Confidence
Graduates of the Online Master of Science in Management Studies develop practical business knowledge they can apply across organizations and industries. You’ll gain a broad understanding of management, strategy, and business decision-making. We will position you to put classroom knowledge into practice by working with organizations on real consulting projects.
With an Online Master of Science in Management Studies, you'll be able to:
- Lead teams and manage collaboration effectively.
- Develop marketing strategies and understand brand management.
- Apply business strategy to organizational challenges.
- Navigate negotiations and conflict management.
- Address business decisions through an ethical lens.
- Understand organizational change and leadership.
- Strengthen consulting skills through experiential learning projects.
- Explore specialized topics through electives, including sports management.
You'll graduate with practical business knowledge that can support leadership and decision-making across a wide range of careers.
How Is AI Integrated Throughout the Curriculum?
Supporting Stronger Business Decisions
AI is introduced through electives and through experiential learning opportunities that expose students to emerging technologies. These experiences help you understand how emerging technologies can support business strategy and decision-making while reinforcing the importance of human leadership, communication and critical thinking.
Apply What You Learn
Experiential learning is woven throughout the Online Master of Science in Management Studies curriculum. You’ll first gain insights from members of the Management Studies Advisory Council, who bring experience from a range of industries including analytics, sports management, health care, hospitality and nonprofit management. You'll then apply those lessons by completing a hands-on consulting project for an organization, tackling real business challenges while building practical management experience.
Students in the Online Master of Science in Management Studies have worked on real business challenges for organizations such as:
- MLB
- Fannie Mae
- myma.ai
- New Zealand Story Group
- ServiceNow
- TIC Security
These experiential learning projects provide exposure to AI in real-world business contexts, helping you strengthen your business judgment and decision-making skills.
Career Outcomes
Solve Business Challenges, Lead Teams and Drive Results
The Online Master of Science in Management Studies prepares graduates to apply business fundamentals across multiple industries. The curriculum emphasizes management, strategy, analytics, leadership and consulting skills that support a variety of career paths.
Career Paths
Graduates may pursue opportunities in:
- Consulting
- Marketing management
- Strategy and innovation management
- Education
- Sports management
- Health management
- Arts management
Employer Value
Graduates bring:
- Broad business knowledge
- Data-informed decision-making skills
- Leadership and teamwork experience
- Strategic thinking
- Consulting experience through applied projects
- Communication and collaboration skills
Learn From Faculty Shaping the Future of Management
Faculty Supporting Your Career Growth
You’ll learn from management faculty who teach across core business disciplines.
Roy Thomason is the academic director of the program.
Roy Thomason
Organizational Effectiveness Expert
Leadership
Organizational Behavior
Strategic Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Online Master of Science in Management Studies is designed for students and professionals who want to build foundational business knowledge that can support long-term career growth. The curriculum covers a wide range of business disciplines supported by experiences, giving you a unique advantage for any field you’re in.
The degree is for recent graduates and working professionals, particularly those who want to strengthen their business skills across a range of areas. It is also a great option for entrepreneurs and professionals seeking broader management knowledge.
Graduates develop skills applicable to careers in consulting, marketing management, education, sports management, health management, arts management and several other fields.
Students gain exposure to AI concepts and tools through experiential learning opportunities and electives.
The degree combines foundational business education with collaborative learning, industry engagement and hands-on consulting projects. Students also learn from faculty and advisory council members representing a variety of industries.
No. The Master of Science in Management Studies is specifically designed for students and professionals who do not have an undergraduate business degree and want to build business acumen.
Advisory council members offer mentorship opportunities and share their career insights and professional experiences with students. Later, students complete a consulting project with an organization, applying classroom learning to real business challenges.
Have More Questions?
The Smith School's Graduate Admissions Office is here to help. Whether you have questions about the curriculum, admissions requirements, application process or student experience, our team can help you determine if the Online Master of Science in Management Studies is the right fit for your goals.
Graduate Admissions
2303 Van Munching Hall
College Park, MD 20742-1815
Phone: 301-405-2559
Email: smithmasters@umd.edu
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.