The UNC Charlotte Belk College of Business announces the first Master of Science in Management (M.S. in Management) in the 17-school UNC System. With the support of corporate leaders in Charlotte, the M.S. in Management will provide business acumen to non-business students to meet the rising demand for well-rounded business professionals entering the workforce.
The first class of 50 students will kick off the M.S. in Management program one year from now, in July 2018. Taught at the university’s Center City Campus in Uptown Charlotte, students will earn their master’s degree after just 10.5 months of full-time study. This fast-track program delivers business fundamentals and develops graduates who are prepared to solve complex issues, evaluate and sell ideas, and lead teams across a wide variety of functions and industries.
UNC Charlotte’s M.S. in Management fills a critical gap for recent college graduates who desire a professional career, yet lack a business foundation. This new opportunity gives a unique alternative to students to add relevant business acumen to their resume before starting a career, versus an MBA which typically requires prior work experience.
“For students who majored in areas outside business, this program gives them an opportunity to achieve a master’s degree in less than a year, immediately following their undergraduate studies. It will improve their job prospects with the addition of sought-after business skills that are demanded in the professional arena,” said Dr. Dolly King, associate dean for graduate programs in the Belk College of Business. “In addition, they will receive personalized career coaching and professional development training to become more desirable in a highly competitive job market.”
The program requires a total of 30 credit hours and is delivered during the daytime five days per week. Students will be trained in the fundamentals of accounting, finance, marketing and management. They will develop an understanding of individual and group dynamics that affect and shape organizations and understand the role and effect that management decisions have on an organization.
“Employers see value in hiring graduates from liberal arts, sciences, and engineering,” said Dr. Steven Ott, dean of the Belk College of Business. “These degrees develop students with skills and perspectives that are valuable and in demand. The M.S. in Management degree will then add comprehensive business skills to the students’ current base of knowledge, while also adding an understanding of the role and structure of business so they are able to immediately contribute to and add value to any organization.
The M.S. in Management degree program is the only one of its kind offered in Charlotte, and the only program at a North Carolina public institution - providing a high-quality degree at an excellent value. In-state tuition for this program is approximately $31,000 less than similar programs at private institutions. Out-of-state tuition is lower than similar programs as well.
Students will cultivate relationships with regional employers at in-person recruitment events and will gain real-world experience through consulting projects with area corporations.
M.S. in Management students also will benefit from networking opportunities with Belk College alumni. More than 19,000 Belk College graduates are actively employed and living in Charlotte, in addition to thousands more around the world. In all, UNC Charlotte has more than 120,000 alumni.
“This unique master’s degree complements the wealth of graduate programs in the Belk College, including our nationally-ranked MBA, and master’s programs in mathematical finance, real estate, accounting, economics and data science and business analytics,” King added. “UNC Charlotte’s M.S. in Management students can leverage the Belk College's deep-rooted partnerships in the region, with industry-relevant curriculum and employment opportunities in one of the nation’s top 10 best cities for jobs.”
The Belk College M.S in Management is now accepting inquiries for the inaugural class starting in July 2018. Enrollment is limited, so students are encouraged to act early. Priority will be given to applications received by Jan. 15.
About the Belk College of Business
Accredited by AACSB International, the Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte offers outstanding business education programs at the undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and executive levels, including top-ranked MBA and Mathematical Finance programs offered at UNC Charlotte Center City. The Belk College is committed to building strong partnerships in the greater Charlotte region and beyond as a vital part of our mission as North Carolina's urban research business school. Find the Belk College of Business online at belkcollege.charlotte.edu.
The Belk College was the first in the Charlotte region to offer an MBA program, the first to attain the prestigious AACSB accreditation, and the first to offer courses in the heart of Uptown Charlotte to serve the needs of working professionals. The Belk College delivers the nation’s #20 part-time MBA and #18 M.S. in Mathematical Finance, the only Doctorate in Business Administration program in the Carolinas, and now the only M.S. in Management in the 17-campus UNC system.