Boston campus

The knowledge you need, the skills employers want

Flexibility is what sets our MS in Management (MS x) apart. When you study on our Boston campus, you'll benefit from an endlessly customizable curriculum that you can tailor to your specific career goals. You'll gain the core business skills employers seek—plus specialized expertise in an in-demand concentration—whether you want to build foundational knowledge or elevate your existing skill set.

The MS x program in Boston offers options at every step—even the core courses are flexible. They range from foundational to upper level, allowing you to build knowledge from your own unique starting point. These courses cover four critical areas: Managing Organizations, Data-Driven Management, Strategy & Growth, and Finance & Operations.

You'll deepen your expertise further by choosing one of 14 market-aligned concentrations in your area of interest, and fine-tune your learning with elective courses that allow you to build the exact skills and knowledge you need to pursue your goals.

You may even take one interdisciplinary elective at another Northeastern University graduate school—expanding your perspective, building a specialized knowledge base, and differentiating yourself in a crowded job market.

Choose your format:

Full-Time

As a full-time student, you'll take three to four courses per semester in the evening, leaving your days free to explore and experience the vibrant city of Boston. You'll choose between 5:20 pm and 7:20 pm class times, with limited daytime class options available. You'll complete your degree in as few as 12 months—or extend your studies to 16 months and take advantage of a summer vacation.

Full-time study is F-1 visa compliant for international students, who may also become eligible to apply to work in the United States for up to 12 months after graduation via Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Typical program timeline

Full-time MS in Management Timeline Graphic

Part-time  

As a part-time student, you'll build skills that you can apply in real time at work—and complete your degree on your own schedule (typically in less than two years). You'll study on weekday evenings, choosing between 5:20 pm and 7:20 pm class times.

Typical program timeline

Part-time MS in Management Timeline Graphic
*May be completed at a flexible pace but is usually completed in less than two years.

Meet our students

“One amazing aspect of this program is the flexibility and personalization opportunities. I built a schedule that works for me each term and I can both work and take classes. I love that I can select classes I am interested in and make this program my own. I've really been able to personalize my time in the program and pick a concentration that I am passionate about.” says Sandrine Vachon, MS x'23

Core requirements

Choose one course from each of the following market-aligned competency areas

Managing Organizations

Examines today's evolving environment, in which effective utilization of human resources is a source of competitive advantage. To maximize the contribution of organizational members, managers must be able to understand, diagnose, and influence workplace behavior in the context of change. Topics include management of cross-functional teams and boundaryless organizations. Emphasis is on the role of corporate culture and distributed leadership.

HRMG 6200 | 3 Hours

Examines the actions that managers must take to stimulate innovation and direct it in ways that allow the organization to accomplish its goals. Topics include what organization forms are most conducive to innovation, what factors hinder innovativeness and how can they be overcome, and what role managers play in bringing about innovation. Focuses on the actions that companies and their managers can take to design their organizations and systems effectively in order to foster innovativeness. Elements of an organization's infrastructure include design, reward mechanisms, communication patterns, boundary spanning, control systems, leadership at all levels, and the organization's culture.

HRMG 6212 | 3 Hours

Offers students an opportunity to obtain the insights, frameworks, and tools to effectively manage and develop talent in teams and organizations. Also explores promotion and cross-functional systems that strengthen the organization as well as retention strategies to promote and reward high-quality talent. Managing and developing talent is one of the top three issues on the minds of CEOs from around the world. In fact, CEOs cite managing and developing their leadership talent as the issue that is most important to the future success of their business but that their organizations are least capable of addressing effectively. Offers students an opportunity to engage in various activities intended to illustrate and practice the skills involved in implementing talent management systems.

HRMG 6223 | 3 Hours

Seeks to help students build the cross-cultural skills necessary to comfortably and effectively work in different cultures and with people from different cultures. Discusses the alignment between the firm's business strategy and the leader's responses in a multicultural environment along with the methods for leadership effectiveness in multicultural teams and virtual environments. Using online, experiential, and discussion-based methods, offers students an opportunity to gain the self-awareness needed to generate a plan for their own global leadership development.

INTB 6226 | 3 Hours

Seeks to stimulate creative individual and group thinking and learning for working professionals while offering practical guidance for improved decision making in both common and novel ethical business situations. Recent and historical executive and managerial criminal conduct and ethical lapses have destroyed careers and shareholder value in addition to severely eroding employee and public trust. Uses a series of case studies, readings, and field study experiences to actively engage students in a timely, relevant, and challenging fashion.

MGMT 6213 | 2 Hours

Designed to improve students' understanding of the negotiations process and their ability to plan and conduct negotiations effectively. Includes such class activities as readings, lectures, and discussions as well as case discussions and role-playing negotiation exercises.

MGMT 6214 | 2,3 Hours

Examines how organizational leaders influence decisions to advance an environmental agenda. Studies the scientific knowledge that organizational leaders must have to make effective sustainability decisions. Analyzes how a variety of organizations, including businesses, governments, government-sponsored enterprises, and nongovernment organizations, interact on environmental issues.

MGMT 6225 | 3 Hours

Examines how the environment affects corporate strategy, public policy, and individual decision making. Exposes students to the skills and knowledge needed to help organizations understand and act upon the principles of sustainability. Examines a variety of environmental problems, including global warming, use and disposal of toxic substances, and depletion of natural resources. Also studies how companies solve these problems by reducing their impact on the environment through solutions such as zero emissions, green design, and corporate environmental reporting.

MGMT 6226 | 3 Hours

Data-Driven Management

Offers the first of a two-course sequence that focuses on the acquisition, measurement, and management of firm resources. Business managers make strategic decisions about the acquisition and use of a variety of firm resources. Helps enable students to understand and utilize critical information in corporate financial reports to improve business decision making. Offers students the opportunity to learn contemporary methods of financial reporting and analysis used by internal decision makers and external capital providers. Required course for co-op MBA/part-time MBA.

ACCT 6200 | 3 Hours

Provides a comprehensive approach to understanding how business analytics enable companies to become more competitive. Offers students an opportunity to learn how to apply value chain analysis and other strategic perspectives to determine how business analytics can be integrated effectively into a firm's operations. Interactive activities such as simulations and case studies allow students to explore how insights from data can improve business decisions. Examines real-world examples of how companies have used business analytics perspectives and tools to enhance different types of business processes, such as inventory prediction, customer service quality, and resolution of ethical dilemmas.

MISM 6200 | 3 Hours

Covers basic principles and techniques of descriptive and predictive analytics. What are the essential data analysis concepts underlying business analytics? Topics include descriptive statistics, data visualization, probability and modeling uncertainty, sampling, estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, simple and multiple regression analysis, time-series analysis, and forecasting. Emphasizes an understanding of how these tools can support decision making and analytics initiatives in a business context with real-world examples and case studies. Uses various software packages for analyzing data sets and creating visualizations.

MISM 6202 | 3 Hours

Introduces key analytics methods for using data through the perspectives of applied statistics and operations analysis. Covers application of these methods to business areas including marketing, supply chain management, and finance. Topics include business-analytic thinking; application of business analytics solutions to business problems; data mining, supervised and unsupervised machine learning; methods for detecting co-occurrences and associations; and achieving and sustaining competitive advantage by using business analytics methods.

MISM 6203 | 3 Hours

Introduces design principles for creating meaningful displays of information to support effective business decision making. Studies how to collect and process data; create interactive visualizations; and use them to demonstrate or provide insight into a problem, situation, or phenomenon. Introduces methods to critique visualizations along with ways to identify design principles that make good visualizations effective. Discusses the challenges of making data understandable across a wide range of audiences. Provides an overview of data visualization, key design principles and techniques for visualizing data, and the fundamentals of communication that are required for effective data presentation. Other topics may include ethical uses of information displays, storytelling, infographics, immersive visualizations, and information dashboard design. Offers students an opportunity to use one or more software tools.

MISM 6210 | 3 Hours

Examines data mining perspectives and methods in a business context. Introduces the theoretical foundations for major data mining methods and studies how to select and use the appropriate data mining method and the major advantages for each. Students use contemporary data mining software applications and practice basic programming skills. Focuses on solving real-world problems, which require data cleaning, data transformation, and data modeling.

MISM 6212 | 3 Hours

Focuses on marketing analysis and planning. Emphasizes analysis of customer needs and company and competitor capabilities. This analysis forms the basis of a sound marketing strategy that provides value to customers in a way superior to competitors. Discusses how to deliver this strategy through the development of an intergrated marketing program covering product offerings, pricing, promotion, and distribution. Includes professional accounting students.

MKTG 6200 | 3 Hours

Offers students an opportunity to understand the importance of using an analytical approach to support marketing decision making in organizations and approaches to implementation practice. Focuses on identifying and acquiring the right data for addressing different marketing challenges; building skills necessary for conducting relevant quantitative analyses; and using insights to make better marketing decisions. Topics may include product innovation, market identification and segmentation, customer valuation, media attribution models, and assessment of digital and social media. Students are expected to apply statistical concepts and have the opportunity to use SPSS, Python, and/or R for analyzing marketing data sets.

MKTG 6234 | 3 Hours

Designed to develop strategic decision-making skills using the latest analytics capabilities and enabler. Examines the state of the art in analytics capabilities and how these drive supply chains, from marketing to sourcing. Also examines how organizations use analytics to meet their strategic objectives, provide value to the business, and make decisions. Focuses on industry best practices, including studying some of the leading companies.

SCHM 6215 | 3 Hours

Introduces how to measure and manage a workforce strategically, including (1) identifying the strategic work that is truly necessary to execute firm strategy; (2) investing in differentiated management systems that support that work; and (3) designing and implementing targeted measurement systems, such as human resources function and workforce scorecards, designed to help to hold line managers accountable for strategic talent. Emphasizes helping students move from a focus on levels associated with a particular workforce attribute (e.g., what is our cost per hire?) to understanding the impact of the workforce on business-level outcomes (e.g., how might an increase in the quality of our project managers affect new product cycle time?).

STRT 6210 | 3 Hours

Strategy and Growth

Explores the challenges and processes for harnessing technological innovation for new-business development. Integrates technology strategy, innovation in marketing, product development, and organization design for the purpose of enterprise growth. Through readings, cases, and exercises, studies how firms from different industries gain competitive advantage through distinctive products and services, and leverage their technologies and skills into new emerging markets. Also focuses on processes for conceiving, financing, and organizing new ventures.

INNO 6200 | 3 Hours

Reviews the key theories and tools needed to understand how technological change creates new markets and prompts new business models, how technology-based firms can outcompete rivals in fast-growing markets characterized by high uncertainty, and how the evolution of technology in an industry affects the type of firm capabilities needed to succeed over time.

ENTR 6222 | 3 Hours

Offers students an opportunity to analyze whether, why, and how multibusiness corporations expand their operations into new business areas by questioning decisions to grow globally through mechanisms such as acquisitions or alliances. Uses rigorous case-based discussions, expert readings, and major current events to discuss issues related to the choice of make, buy, or partner. Offers students an opportunity to evaluate how these different corporate entrepreneurial strategies are used to help firms be more competitive and innovative.

ENTR 6225 | 3 Hours

Focuses on the international business environment, and examines the influence on global decision making of such areas as the international economy and trade issues, legal and political context differences, governmental actions, cultural and ethical system differences, exchange rates and international currency markets, international institutions like the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund, and regional agreements like the European Union, NAFTA, and Mercosur. Also analyzes why firms internationalize their operations, how they can internationalize, and key areas such as international manufacturing, marketing, human resource management, and strategy.

INTB 6200 | 3 Hours

Offers an advanced course in defining and managing an organization's product-market strategy. Intended for marketing specialists and nonspecialists interested in incorporating a market focus from a general management or consulting perspective. Emphasizes using market information to choose and manage the company's relationships with customers and competitors in a complex, changing environment, as well as the practical concerns of implementing and evaluating marketing strategy.

MKTG 6216 | 3 Hours

Focuses on the managerial activities of those involved in supply chain management operations and planning for companies involved in international commerce. Analyzes contemporary issues that affect the design of international supply chain systems and strategies, including sourcing, logistics, transactions, risk, and ethical considerations. Examines the current status and future prospects of the modes of international logistics operations as well as international trade and development issues, not only from the corporate perspective but also in terms of government policy.

SCHM 6213 | 3 Hours

Focuses on strategy development and implementation for a line of business and for the corporation as a whole by adopting a top management perspective. Beginning with developing a mission statement and goals for the firm, focuses on environmental scanning, incorporating economic, technological, sociopolitical, and legal trends in conducting industry analysis, thus assessing opportunities and threats and the firm's capabilities before formulating strategy that represents a fit between the environment and the firm. Discusses how to develop competitive advantage and assess competitive positioning, and studies how organizational structure and systems contribute to implementing strategy. Stresses the role of leadership and motivation before moving on to feedback mechanisms to assess success in strategy implementation, leading to revision of strategic plans as needed.

STRT 6200 | 3 Hours

Finance and Operations

Explores key principles of accounting, as presented in the principal financial statements. Using those principles, explores a number of accounting practices and issues. Develops tools of financial analysis and financial planning and applies the information gained to business decision making. Utilizing the principle of time value of money to compare inflows and outflows of funds occurring at different times, develops basic decision tools for managers to make sound financial choices and to understand the context in which they are made. At the end of the course, the successful student should have a sound basic understanding of accounting and financial matters and the ability to understand business decisions in context and to evaluate the choices that management faces in the normal course of business development.

FINA 6309 | 3,4 Hours

Introduces how to measure, analyze, and evaluate the profit impact of marketing actions (MAP) by bringing together marketing, strategy, and finance. Your organization is going to spend millions on a new marketing or strategic initiative, but how will you know if it is working? Marketing performance measurement and feedback systems enable managers to take smarter risks by assessing experimental projects and forecasting the profit potential of bigger, bolder initiatives. Offers students an opportunity to explore systems that summarize marketing productivity and suggest steps for performance improvement in marketing strategy and tactics.

MKTG 6230 | 3 Hours

Focuses on the integrative management of processes and activities involved in transformation and delivery of goods and services. Offers students an opportunity to obtain foundational knowledge on operations and supply chain management concepts, techniques, and functions. Topics covered include sourcing and procurement, manufacturing and service operations, process design and control, quality management, capacity planning, demand planning and forecasting, inventory management, transportation and distribution management, interfirm relationship management, and attendant information flows.

SCHM 6201 | 3 Hours

Addresses the strategic and operational role of sourcing and procurement and its impact on the supply chain as it relates to the entire organization. The selection, contracting, development, and monitoring/managing of the right supplier in the right location is more often a source of competitive advantage and a major contributor to a company's bottom line. Focuses on a variety of aspects of this function—strategy development, organization, procedures, supplier selection, negotiations, buyer-supplier relationship management, quantity, quality, timeliness, and cost/price considerations for the purchase of goods and services. Emphasizes the perspective of the sourcing and procurement manager. The key questions addressed in this course are: What does the manager need to know to be effective? How do they apply key concepts?.

SCHM 6214 | 3 Hours

Focuses on how to create sustainable supply chains that profitably yield high-quality, safe products without supply interruption while creating a net benefit for the employees, community, and the environment. Studies how companies measure environmental performance and use the data to motivate associates, suppliers, customers, policy makers, and the public. Also addresses the impacts of global sustainability frameworks and measures.

SCHM 6221 | 3 Hours

Examines concepts and topics related to the design and management of supply chain operations in the healthcare sector. Focuses on activities and functions such as inventory control, order fulfillment, logistics, procurement, managing processes, relationship management, and information technology systems. Introduces various tools and techniques that enhance effective supply chain operations in healthcare organizations.

SCHM 6223 | 3 Hours

Electives

Students may select elective courses in the following areas of study: Accounting, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Entrepreneurship Technological, Finance & Insurance, Human Resources Management, International Business, Managerial Economics, Marketing, Management, Supply Chain Management, Strategy. View the University's Catalog for up-to-date listings.

You also have the option to complete 3 graduate-level semester hours in a course offered in partnership with other Northeastern University colleges. Review interdisciplinary course options.

The following is a sample curriculum and is subject to change. Enrolled students should reference the academic catalog for current program requirements.

Concentrations: Choose one

Become a knowledgeable manager of assets for individuals or institutions, building your expertise in capital allocation, valuation, and risk management.

Develop keen business insight into how social factors affect human health to identify innovative ways to tackle complex public health challenges.

Questions?