The internal and external environment of firms is changing in dramatic ways. The management challenges are exciting and endless. Globalization is a reality, technological change is sweeping over all sectors of the world economy, industries are consolidating, new industries are forming, organizational learning is imperative, a great deal of business development is occurring through alliances and acquisitions, workforce diversity is increasing, teams are critical to organizational success, and with the assistance of technology and movement toward a global workforce, the very nature of work in firms is changing. All of these challenges require strong management skills to navigate the changing competitive landscape and chart new ways to continually add value. Management is an exciting field; and one where a great deal of new knowledge is continually developed. The faculty in the Department of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship are actively involved in the discovery of knowledge in this field, and will share it with you through the courses offered in this emphasis.

An emphasis in management is an ideal choice for students who wish to launch their careers in consulting, general management, new business development or simply catapult their career to the next level. For students who seek to enter management careers through a functional path such as marketing, finance, operations, information technology or human resources, management is an excellent dual concentration.

The following is a partial list of placements of students with an emphasis in management.

Recommendations for an emphasis

It is recommended that 12 elective credits be completed for an emphasis in management.

The following courses are recommended.

Course Notes:

• To enter a Management emphasis a student must have completed or plan to complete the following core courses: MBA 6110 (Management & Organizational Behavior), MBA 6300 (Strategic Management); and MBA 6315 (The Ethical Environment of Business).

Recommendations for an emphasis specialization
For individuals interested is specializing in specific areas of management we have outlined the following tracks and course work. While the courses listed below align most closely with each specialization, they all serve to provide a more complete picture of the larger field of management.

Entrepreneurship Management
Students interested in developing their skills to identify and develop new business opportunities, or working in high-growth/high-potential ventures or areas that service these ventures (i.e., venture capital, investment banking, consulting, corporate venturing), may want to consider the following courses:

Organization Management
Students interested in developing their leadership capabilities to manage teams, manage innovation and change, and manage a diverse and global workforce may want to consider the following courses:

Strategic Management
Students interested in developing their skills to analyze the external environment of the firm and develop and implement strategic initiatives may want to consider the following courses:

Additionally, we recommend that students also consider incorporating interdisciplinary courses to obtain a well-rounded business foundation. The following courses are suggested as complementary to an emphasis in management. While they are not counted towards the emphasis credit we do believe they will be strong useful complements to your education.

Students should keep in mind that not all courses listed above are offered every semester. Students should check One Stop and/or the Class Schedule page to verify each semester's course offerings as well as the professors assigned to those courses.

Brief course descriptions and a tentative list of when the course is being offered can be found on the Courses page.

Department Advisor:

Paul Vaaler
Associate Professor
612-625-4951
vaal0001@umn.edu

MBA Student Affairs Advisor:

Christina Holdvogt
Associate Director of Student Affairs
612-625-7582
choldvog@umn.edu

MBA Admissions Advisor:

Peter Woxland
Associate Director of Admissions & Recruiting
612-626-0727
woxla005@umn.edu