Metropolitan School of Professional Studies

Program Overview

The M.S.M. program focuses on the concepts, principles, and issues experienced by managers in all types of organizations -- commercial, governmental, educational, community, and nonprofit. The program combines a strong academic foundation with practical knowledge and skills in management.

The M.S.M. degree differs significantly from an M.B.A. Whereas the M.B.A. traditionally emphasizes course work in the theoretical and functional areas of business, such as economics, marketing, accounting, and corporate finance, the M.S.M. focuses specifically on the discipline of management to help students enhance their ability to manage organizational resources more effectively. Because the degree provides a focus on management, it is of potential relevance to anyone who maintains, or is assuming, managerial responsibilities.
For those who earn it, the degree should provide significant marketability. Within the D.C. metropolitan area, "management, business, and financial" occupations represent 22.5% of employment -- more than double the share for the U.S. economy as a whole.
With an average of 2,357 annual openings anticipated each year between 2002 and 2012, "management, business, and financial" occupations are among those leading the way for job growth in D.C. In fact, many of the fastest growing jobs in D.C. involve areas for which an M.S.M. would provide an excellent academic background.

Track Options

The Master of Science in Management (M.S.M.) program provides the ideal background for those pursuing managerial careers. Four tracks are offered to allow students to customize the program to their particular interests, needs and career goals. (Click on the program name to learn more about that program.)

• Federal Acquisition & Contract Management
• Human Resource Management
• Leadership
• Professional Communication

Details

The M.S.M. program consists of a total of 12 courses, or 36 semester credits, and requires approximately 22 months to complete (part-time). Participants typically take two courses per term, with each course meeting one evening per week, from 6:10 - 8:40 p.m. (or 6:10 - 9:35 p.m. in the shorter summer sessions). The schedule is particularly tailored to students pursuing the program on a year-round, part-time basis, although the program enrolls full-time students as well.Students must earn at least a 'B' (3.0) grade point average -- both overall and on final projects completed as part of the capstone course, "Master's Capstone: Research, Synthesis, Applications."

Admissions requirements and procedures for master's degree programs are outlined here.