What Can You Do With an MS in Management Degree?

An MS in Management degree prepares students for successful careers as managers or leaders in a wide variety of industries. Through condensed but impactful curricula, these programs provide early-career professionals without a business degree with vital management skills and foundational business knowledge. At California Lutheran University, students can earn a Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree fully online, on campus or in a hybrid format in just one year.

If you’re considering a Master’s in Management degree, it’s important to evaluate how it can prepare you for your career, the factors that lead individuals to pursue an MSM, and the future of the business landscape. To help you understand the benefits of earning this highly applicable degree, we’ll discuss the reasons one might pursue management education, career opportunities and non-traditional career paths for master’s in management graduates, and why this degree is worth the investment.

Why Pursue Management Education?

For those looking to take advantage of the many opportunities in the realm of business and organizational management, a master’s degree with a management and leadership focus can be crucial for developing skills and meeting job requirements. The demand for master’s degrees among managers and leaders has been steadily rising over time, with many organizations now preferring or requiring a master’s degree. With this demand in mind, having a master’s in management can help you stay competitive when applying for management jobs or climbing the corporate ladder.

While each role, organization and industry will require different skills, management education provides the foundational skills and knowledge that are key to success in any career. Many foundational skills, which encompass both technical prowess and interpersonal abilities, are the core of strong leadership capabilities. Skills and knowledge in these areas allow leaders to not only make data-driven decisions that improve business outcomes, but also to foster respectful, inclusive team culture. Some of the foundational skills and knowledge you can gain in an MSM include:

• Communication and conflict management
• Strategic planning
• Leadership, team-building and delegation
• Analytical thinking, critical thinking and decision-making
• Organization and time management
• Basic finance, such as cash flow management, budgeting and financial planning

In addition to foundational business skills, which are important for every professional, a Master of Science in Management degree’s curriculum will focus on building leadership skills that empower you to become a successful manager. For example, you’ll learn various management techniques and leadership styles so that you can be prepared to effectively lead your team.

Career Opportunities With an MS in Management

If you’ve considered graduate management education, you’re likely asking yourself what you can do with a master’s in management. While a degree does not guarantee you a specific role, there are a number of paths that MS in Management graduates might pursue.

Job Title	Average Salary (Payscale 2024)
Operations Manager	$73,538
Human Resources Manager	$75,106
Project Manager	$80,519
Marketing Manager	$73,840

Operations Manager

Average Annual Salary: $73,538

For many organizations, the operations team is critical to success. Operations managers are often a key piece of the puzzle, allowing businesses to ensure that they’re meeting operational goals and the needs of the organization. This can involve working with key stakeholders; establishing schedules, deadlines and procedures; and mediating between teams to ensure efficient business operations.

Human Resources Manager

Average Annual Salary: $75,106

Human resources is a broad field that can involve everything in the area of human capital management, from hiring and recruiting to compliance and employee benefits. HR teams can be responsible for helping organizations retain talent, helping employees navigate their benefits, dealing with internal disputes and much more. HR managers set the stage for their teams and coordinate the important tasks and responsibilities of their department.

Project Manager

Average Annual Salary: $80,519

Project managers fulfill an important role in operations. They’re responsible for ensuring that project goals are met, and they may act as a point of contact between teams and stakeholders. Their responsibilities can vary, and may involve budgeting, managing communications, establishing project parameters and strategizing based on organizational needs.

Marketing Manager

Average Annual Salary: $73,840

Marketing managers are responsible for supervising the creation of the various advertising and marketing campaigns for a business or organization. These professionals may create a wide array of multimedia campaigns themselves, or supervise a team of marketing specialists who work on projects. These roles are highly collaborative, as successful marketing campaigns will require input from creative, research, advertising and/or sales teams.

Other Opportunities for MSM Graduates

Not all MS in Management students will follow the same path after graduation. For those who are less interested in traditional business and corporate management, there are many non-traditional career paths that make fantastic use of the skills earned in a master’s in management program. Two such paths include entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility. For those interested in the entrepreneurial path, a solid foundational education in management is a helpful starting point since entrepreneurs and small business owners face issues such as financial management and talent retention. An education in core business concepts such as leadership, finance and marketing can help entrepreneurs attain the knowledge they need to meet these challenges head on.

In the realm of corporate social responsibility, management professionals can help ensure that companies are meeting goals related to sustainability, environmentalism and social good. Corporate social responsibility managers might be tasked with establishing short and long-term strategies and working with teams to adhere their workflows to the company’s broader mission.

Is a Master’s in Management Worth It?

The management environment has changed dramatically over the years, with many businesses prioritizing data solutions and analytics that enable them to make decisions with more assurance and less risk. In this data-driven environment, it has become increasingly important for leaders and managers to gain the foundational knowledge that empowers strong critical thinking skills. A master’s in management program provides you with these key foundational skills and core business knowledge, as well as a valuable credential that can propel you into management and leadership roles.

When you pursue a graduate education in management, you can feel more prepared for the job market — and confident that you’ll stand out to potential employers. Comprehensive business and management education is an important part of an individual’s qualifications when searching for a new job or trying to earn a promotion. The return on investment is clear: Data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers showed that those with a master’s degree in business administration/management earned just over 50% more than individuals with only a bachelor’s in the same area.

Earn Your MS in Management from the Cal Lutheran School of Management

Cal Lutheran’s MS in Management degree is designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field. You can complete this 10-course program online, on campus or through a hybrid option in as little as a year while benefiting from small class sizes and a diverse, passionate faculty. By the time you graduate from the MS in Management, you’ll be able to start enhancing your career immediately and advance into management positions.

The School of Management at Cal Lutheran is dedicated to producing graduates who are well prepared to succeed in their personal and professional lives — who lead, think, communicate and follow through with sustained excellence. As a Cal Lutheran School of Management student, you’ll learn from experienced faculty and benefit from personalized attention in small class sizes.

Download a program brochure or start your application for the Master of Science in Management.