MS Management, Strategy & Leadership - Strategic Management

Organizations across the globe – of all sizes and in all industries – will always have a need for high-level decision makers who specialize in strategy development and implementation. The online Master of Science in Management, Strategy & Leadership concentration in Strategic Management from Michigan State University can help students develop these skills to boost their career progression and understanding of strategic management.

Strategic Management focuses on the long-term objectives of a business and how to achieve them. This involves identifying needs and formulating action plans, implementing procedures and protocols to overcome challenges and managing the performance and effectiveness of the strategy to meet goals. This also requires responding to changes and disruptions to strategies effectively and making agile decisions that won’t negatively impact daily operations.

The Master of Science in Management, Strategy & Leadership concentration in Strategic Management from MSU addresses the need for highly trained professionals in this field by offering a specialized curriculum to help you create innovative solutions for overseeing an organization’s competitive strategy.

Who Should Enroll

The Master of Science in Management, Strategy & Leadership concentration in Strategic Management is catered toward:

• Managers who seek to work effectively with corporate decision makers.
• Individuals who lead or are looking to lead an organization.
• Those tasked with strategy development and/or strategy implementation as a high-level executive.
• Members of a dedicated business or corporate strategy department.
• Entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their own company.

About MSU's Broad College of Business

Founded in 1855 on the ideals of democratization of knowledge, Michigan State University (MSU) is an inclusive, internationally recognized university with a mission of advancing knowledge and transforming lives. Michigan State University Online is the home to online programs from MSU's Eli Broad College of Business. These flexible programs are offered in a variety of structures and formats and designed for working professionals. Through the convenience of online, video-based e-learning with the added value of face-to-face networking in select programs, you can gain applicable industry knowledge and learn from the faculty thought leaders at one of the top research universities in the world.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for MSU’s online MS in Management, Strategy and Leadership program, you should have:

• 3 years (minimum) full-time managerial experience in a supervisory role and a high degree of potential for advancement to an organizational leadership role
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college
• 3.0 minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA)
  
  

Application Checklist

Start Your MSU Application

• Complete your online application with a $100 application fee (one-time, nonrefundable)
  
  

Order Transcripts 

• Official transcripts from all college/university programs or courses of study attended prior to applying to Michigan State University
• Official military transcript (if denoting servicemember or military veteran status in application)
  
  

Provide Professional Resume, Essay & Recommendations

• Applicants’ resumes must include up to 20 years of work experience (if applicable).
• Applicants’ resumes must explicitly list supervisory vs. non-supervisory for each role within their work experience. If the role was supervisory, the applicant must include a range of direct reports.
• Applicants with military service must denote rank (and associated pay grade) for every position listed on their resume (military roles).
• 3 letters of recommendation from professional, work-related references, preferably supervisors. Letters should speak to your ability to work within and lead teams, and your contribution to a professional business environment are strongly recommended.
• Statement of intention essay (2 pages), detailing your direct supervisory and/or management experience, and stating how you see the degree furthering your career and organizational goals.

Required Courses

The online Master of Science in Management, Strategy & Leadership features 10 core courses that explore topics in business strategy, leadership, negotiations and conflict resolution, international management, ethics and more.

In addition, students opting for a concentration in Strategic Management must complete the following four electives (each carrying 2 credit hours) as well as an elective of their choice from the Human Resources Management concentration:

• MGT 828 – Strategic Control
  Learn to design strategic management control systems and use managerial accounting data to support strategy implementation and performance monitoring.

• MGT 843 – Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  Develop the knowledge and capabilities to lead product development and manage successful new business ventures.

• MGT 856 – Corporate Strategy
  Discover the management strategy behind multi-business firms, conglomerates and business groups. Topics will focus on mergers and acquisitions, firm scope, strategic alliances, corporate governance and leadership.

• MGT 873 – Strategic Decision Making
  Understand the process of strategic decision making by identifying issues that impede and improve success and examining a range of contextual factors that influence the decision process.

The full program curriculum covers a range of additional topics essential for success in today’s business world, including strategic planning, competitive analysis, global strategy and change management.

What You'll Learn

The full program curriculum covers a range of additional topics essential for success in today’s business world, including strategic planning, competitive analysis, global strategy and change management.

When you enroll in an online course at MSU, you can expect to receive a high-quality education that is convenient and flexible. You’ll be able to access your courses 24/7 from any computer with an internet connection, and you can complete your assignments on your own schedule. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with your professors and fellow students through online discussion boards and meetings. And because MSU is a world-renowned university, you can be confident that you’re receiving a quality education. So, if you’re looking for an online learning experience that is both challenging and rewarding, MSU may be the right choice for you.

Projected Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment for management occupations is projected to increase 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the median rate for most other occupations.

For more information on other management occupations, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/home.htm

Potential Outcomes

Graduates of the MSL Strategic Management concentration may qualify for a wide range of positions, including:*

• Product manager
• Program manager
• Controller
• Director of product management
• Marketing product manager
• Director of payment innovation
• Director of software engineering
• Finance manager
• Digital product manager
• Marketing manager

* Source: EMSI/Burning Glass Job Postings – Occupations: Mgmt. Occupations (11-0000); Education: Master’s; Skills: Strategic Mgmt., Innovation, Corporate Strategy, Strategic Decision Making; Timeframe: Apr ‘21 – Mar ‘22