Skip to main content
  • About
  • Library
  • News
  • Events
  • Directory
Apply Give
WSU Logo against a transparent background
  • Academics
      Solving real-world challenges.
      Academics
    • Program Finder
    • Schools & Departments
    • Provost’s Office
    • Continuing Education
    • Graduate School
    • Additional Learning Opportunities
    • Academic Resources
    • Centers & Institutes
    • Research
    • Grants
    • Academic Convocation
  • Admissions & Aid
      Innovative real world solutions.
      Admissions & Aid
    • Apply to Worcester State
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • International Applicants
    • Graduate Admissions
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Visit
    • Request Information
  • Campus Life
      Discover #WooLife
      Campus Life
    • Athletics
    • Bookstore
    • Commuter Services
    • Diversity Inclusion & Equal Opportunity
    • Housing & Dining
    • Information Technology
    • Leadership Opportunities
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Student Involvement
    • Student Services
    • Sustainability
    • Title IX
    • University Events
    • University Police
    • Discover Worcester
  • Community Impact
      Make an impact in the community.
      Community Impact
    • Global Outreach
    • Local Resources
    • For Business
    • Binienda Center for Civic Engagement
    • Urban Action Institute
    • Latino Education Institute
    • Speech-Language-Hearing Center
    • Worcester Art Museum Partnership
    • Worcester Center for Crafts
  • Alumni & Giving
      How will you take the lead?
      Alumni & Giving
    • Alumni News
    • Giving to Worcester State
    • Scholarships
    • Meet Our Donors
    • Alumni Events
    • Worcester State Magazine
    • Request a Transcript
    • Get Involved
  • Academic Calendar
  • OneCard
  • Registrar
  • Bookstore
  • Housing
  • Tuition
  • Financial Aid
  • Transcript
  • FAFSA
  • Counseling Services
  • Academics
      Solving real-world challenges.
      Academics
    • Program Finder
    • Schools & Departments
    • Provost’s Office
    • Continuing Education
    • Graduate School
    • Additional Learning Opportunities
    • Academic Resources
    • Centers & Institutes
    • Research
    • Grants
    • Academic Convocation
  • Admissions & Aid
      Innovative real world solutions.
      Admissions & Aid
    • Apply to Worcester State
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • International Applicants
    • Graduate Admissions
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Visit
    • Request Information
  • Campus Life
      Discover #WooLife
      Campus Life
    • Athletics
    • Bookstore
    • Commuter Services
    • Diversity Inclusion & Equal Opportunity
    • Housing & Dining
    • Information Technology
    • Leadership Opportunities
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Student Involvement
    • Student Services
    • Sustainability
    • Title IX
    • University Events
    • University Police
    • Discover Worcester
  • Community Impact
      Make an impact in the community.
      Community Impact
    • Global Outreach
    • Local Resources
    • For Business
    • Binienda Center for Civic Engagement
    • Urban Action Institute
    • Latino Education Institute
    • Speech-Language-Hearing Center
    • Worcester Art Museum Partnership
    • Worcester Center for Crafts
  • Alumni & Giving
      How will you take the lead?
      Alumni & Giving
    • Alumni News
    • Giving to Worcester State
    • Scholarships
    • Meet Our Donors
    • Alumni Events
    • Worcester State Magazine
    • Request a Transcript
    • Get Involved
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Parents & Families
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Academics
    • Program Finder
    • Schools & Departments
    • Provost’s Office
    • Continuing Education
    • Graduate School
    • Additional Learning Opportunities
    • Academic Resources
    • Centers & Institutes
    • Research
    • Grants
    • Academic Convocation
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Apply to Worcester State
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • International Applicants
    • Graduate Admissions
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Visit
    • Request Information
  • Campus Life
    • Athletics
    • Bookstore
    • Commuter Services
    • Diversity Inclusion & Equal Opportunity
    • Housing & Dining
    • Information Technology
    • Leadership Opportunities
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Student Involvement
    • Student Services
    • Sustainability
    • Title IX
    • University Events
    • University Police
    • Discover Worcester
  • Community Impact
    • Global Outreach
    • Local Resources
    • For Business
    • Binienda Center for Civic Engagement
    • Urban Action Institute
    • Latino Education Institute
    • Speech-Language-Hearing Center
    • Worcester Art Museum Partnership
    • Worcester Center for Crafts
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Alumni News
    • Giving to Worcester State
    • Scholarships
    • Meet Our Donors
    • Alumni Events
    • Worcester State Magazine
    • Request a Transcript
    • Get Involved
  • About
  • Library
  • News
  • Events
  • Directory
  • MyWooState
    • Blackboard
    • Gmail
    • Web Advisor
    • Self-Service
Apply Give
WSU Logo against a transparent background WSU Logo in white text against a transparent background
Master of Science in Management

Master of Science in Management


IN THIS SECTION
  • Business Administration
    • Business Administration Major
    • Business Administration Minor
  • Economics
    • Economics Major
    • Economics Minor
  • Management
    • Master of Science in Management

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, this flexible program can be completed part time. Current undergraduate business administration majors may enroll in a 4-Plus option that enables 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 the program offers you in-depth study in your area of specialization that reflects current thinking for the real marketplace.

In small classes, 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 will not only master your chosen content area but 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, graduates of this program 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.

View the Catalog

Concentrations

  • The accounting concentration not only helps you advance your career but also prepares you to sit for the certified public accountant exam.

    Classes in taxation, accounting, auditing, financial theory, and international finance will expand your knowledge of the important role accountants play in the business world and how they 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)

    • AC-910 Taxation of Individuals and Proprietors
    • AC-911 Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders
    • AC-912 Advanced Accounting Theory
    • AC-913 Advanced Auditing Theory and Practice

    Accounting Elective Courses

    • AC-920 Advanced Problems in Accounting
    • AC-930 Advanced Financial Theory
    • AC-932 International Finance and Economics
    • AC-950 Seminar Topics in Taxation
    • AC-951 Seminar in Issues in Accounting Ethics
  • The leadership concentration gives you the skills essential to effectively manage organizations of all types and sizes in today’s highly competitive environments.

    Through courses in leadership theory, organizational development and change, and ethics and social responsibility, you will gain insights critical to developing processes and plans to position your organization for future growth. Elective courses give you flexibility to explore leadership in small businesses or international organizations, motivation of teams, negotiation skills, and human resource issues.

    An important element of this concentration is the 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)

    • BA-960 Leadership Theory and Skills
    • BA-961 Organizational Development and Change
    • BA-962 Ethics and Social Responsibility of Leadership
    • BA-963 Action Learning Professional Leadership Project

    Leadership Elective Courses

    • BA-970 Seminar in Leadership
    • BA-971 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
    • BA-972 Motivation and Leadership of Teams
    • BA-973 Leading in the International Business Environment
    • BA-974 Negotiations
    • BA-975 Leadership Perspectives of Human Resources and the Legal Environment
    • BA-976 Selected Topics in Leadership
  • The marketing concentration provides you with the analytical, technical, 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 and 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

    • BA-920 Global Marketing Management
    • BA-921 Consumer Behavior
    • BA-922 Research Methods for Marketing Decisions
    • BA-923 Integrated Marketing Communications

    Marketing Elective Course

    • BA-924 Sales Management
Explore sample courses in this program.
BA-910 Information Technology
This course takes a managerial perspective toward the use of information technology (IT) and analyzes how organizations use IT to improve organization efficiency and effectiveness and to achieve a competitive advantage. Case studies may be employed to understand how organizations have implemented IT to integrate processes across multiple business functions and to differentiate their organization from the competition.
3 credits
BA-911 Accounting for Managerial Decisions
This course focuses on the analysis of financial statements, benchmarking for liquidity, solvency, efficiency, profitability, analysis of risk and leverage, financial planning and control, cost analysis including activity based costing, budgeting systems, and an introduction to capital budgeting.
3 credits
BA-912 Marketing Management
This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of consumer and business marketing. Students develop an understanding of and apply marketing theories, models, and techniques through reading and analysis of current journal articles and cases. Particular focus is placed on developing managerial and decision-making skills.
3 credits
BA-913 Managerial Economics
This course presents those aspects of economics theory and analysis that are most relevant to students in business administration. The topics covered include demand analysis, estimation and forecasting, production theory, cost analysis and estimation, and pricing theory and application.
3 credits
BA-914 Organizational Behavior
This course introduces concepts, theories, and current research in the effective management of organizations employing the open-systems model and contingency approach as an overall framework. Individual differences, teamwork, organizational structure, and processes are all discussed. The role of perception and motivation in the behavior of the individual is addressed. Cases, workshops, and readings are integrated within the course.
3 credits
BA-915 Corporate Finance
This course reviews theories and cases in value maximization as the goal of a firm. The specific topics covered include EVA and MVA approaches, corporate governance and agency issues, valuation of corporate securities, cost of capital, and risk analysis and management. Other possible topics may include uses and valuation of derivatives, advanced issues in capital budgeting including embedded options, capital structure, dividend policy, lease analysis, mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcy, and international finance.
3 credits
BA-920 Global Marketing Management
Building on the core courses in marketing and international marketing, students examine the types of decisions that marketing managers make when expanding and developing foreign markets. Students relate the various economic, social, political, and legal dimensions of the world to the marketplace. Using primarily qualitative methodologies, the course assesses the impact and integration of global factors in marketing programs and strategies.
3 credits
BA-921 Consumer Behavior
The course focuses on and furthers the development of knowledge of consumer behavior in the consumer marketing perspective. Students investigate the inputs of consumer behavior into marketing by relevant analytical methods and research. In this course students learn about fundamental theories and concepts in consumer psychology and research of how and why people choose, use, and evaluate goods and services.
3 credits
BA-924 Sales Management
This course examines the elements of an effective sales force as an indispensable component of the organization's marketing effort. Students come to understand marketing’s reach and potential impact in achieving organizational goals. Students examine the sales process, the relationship between sales and marketing, sales force structure, and customer relationship management (CRM).
3 credits
BA-960 Leadership Theory and Skills
This course explores the past, present, and future of leadership and covers a variety of leadership paradigms and approaches. Attention is focused on cultural dynamics and diversity, including national, global, and ethical issues. Emphasis is placed on how leaders emerge, the ever changing nature of a leader’s skills portfolio, and how leadership roles are changing. Leadership of individuals, small teams, and organizations, as well as leadership in a virtual world are discussed. Assignments include case analyses, individual and group projects, and presentations.
3 credits
BA-961 Organizational Development and Change
This course focuses on improving organizational effectiveness and leading the change processes. It draws upon a variety of behavioral science approaches to planned development and change. Regaining control after unplanned changes are also discussed. Using an experiential approach, the course is designed to improve individual, team, and organizational performance though the design, implementation, and evaluation of system-wide changes.
3 credits
BA-962 Ethics and Social Responsibility of Leadership
This course examines ethical questions in the conduct of leadership. It considers the legal mandates and ethical and social responsibilities of leaders to all stakeholders. The influence of external and internal forces of the organizational environment are explored.
3 credits

Core Courses

The Master of Science in Management 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 US college or university may waive 6 credit hours. A maximum of 2 of the following courses can be waived:

  • BA-910 Information Technology
  • BA-912 Marketing Management
  • BA-914 Organizational Behavior
  • BA-915 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 comprises 8 core courses, 4 required courses in each concentration, and electives.

Core Courses

  • BA-910 Information Technology1
  • BA-911 Accounting for Managerial Decisions2
  • BA-912 Marketing Management1 4
  • BA-913 Managerial Economics
  • BA-914 Organizational Behavior1
  • BA-915 Corporate Finance1
  • BA-916 Quantitative Analysis and Research Methods
  • BA-990 Integrative Business Strategy
  • AC-923 Advanced Government and Nonprofit Accounting3

1May be waived for students admitted with undergraduate GPA greater than 3.0 from an accredited US 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 BA-911 for students in the accounting concentration. However, AC-923 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 and
  • 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 US college or university, we will waive your GMAT requirement.

Admission to this program is on a rolling basis, 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 MS in Management program will follow WSU’s transfer policy, which accepts undergraduate transfer grades of C- or better.

Take the next step

Apply
Request Information
Visit
WSU Logo in white text against a transparent background
486 Chandler St,
Worcester, MA 01602
508-929-8000
Quicklinks
  • Academics
  • Admissions & Aid
  • Campus Life
  • Community Impact
  • Alumni & Giving
Helpful Links
  • Bookstore
  • Careers
  • Directions
  • Emergency Info
  • Administrative Offices
  • Campus Map
  • Transcript Requests
Connect with us on Social Media
CONTACT US
Copyright © 2023 Worcester State University
  • Student Consumer Information
  • Campus Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Public Records Requests