So is a Master of Science in Management a "Business" Degree?

Hello all,

So is a Master of Science in Management a "Business" Degree?

I've noticed that the MSM (Master of Science in Management) is almost universally offered by a university's "business" school and was wondering if a degree in management is generally considered a "business" degree?

For instance, when an ad placed for employment states "must have education and experience equal to a BS in Business or related field of study" in your opinion, would Management as a discipline fit the bill?

 

I say yes. If for fed job announcement, yes ... it's all how you word the KSAs. If on resume, I say yes. I actually wrote a much longer reply, but it really is that plain and simple in my experience. Of course, that experience is limited to 10 years Fortune 50 and 5 years Fed.

 

I would say YES too because when you look at the Master of Science in Management and MBA in Management. They are almost the same; and I couldn't figure out why is that.

 

Master of Science in Entrpreneurial Studies

Would an MS in Entrepreneurial Studies be considered a business degree? I thought about an MBA, but my ultimate goal is to go into business for myself.

 

Re: Master of Science in Entrpreneurial Studies

I don't like that idea though. "Master of Science in Entrepreneurial" isn't it supposed to teach you how to run a business? Therefore, the term SCIENCE doesn't make scense. It seems like Northcentral University offers MBA, DBA, Ph.D in Applied Computer Science, Computer & Security Information. I am afraid when I apply for a job, and the employer asks me what the heck is MBA in Applied Computer Science.

I think Managment should be the only major for both MBA and MS.
MBA is more into business, and MS is more into technical site.

Does Master of Science in Accounting, does it sound weird to you? I am sure it does.

That is my opinion.!!!!!

 

Personally I think there are a lot of people capitalizing on the recognition an MBA provides. But some MBA's that just don't make sense are the MBA in Criminal Justice, MBA in Homeland Security, MBA in Public Admin. Because the specific missions and end result are either unrelated or conflicting.....so it appears that MBA is instead to demonstrate a hard skill set rather than a big picture focus when given those specializations.

Like an MBA in Criminal Justice to me means "I have the hard skills of an MBA but am focused towards criminal justice" therefore an MS in Criminal Justice Admin would make a butt load more sense.

As for an MS in Entrepreneurial Science, I could see an MBA applying to that because the MBA and Entrepreneur both want the same thing.......profit..........and the MBA gives you the skills to generate that thing and manage it once you have it.

But I'm no expert on the matter.


On a side note……..is it okay to list a Master of Science in Managerial Science as a Master of Science in Management? They are essentially the same degree but the MSM is much more recognizable.

 

Re: Re: Master of Science in Entrpreneurial Studies

This is really deceiving as it is not computer science and it is not business administration.

This concentration is not appealing to computer science majors as the courses are really mickey mouse and more at the lower undergraduate level so they are more for non-computer science graduates (C language for as a master degree course?").

However, you are getting a master degree level that contains undergraduate level courses so this deceives a potential employer that might think that you are getting a master degree in computer science when you are really getting an undergraduate level courses packaged as master's degree.
The MBAs in MIS or IS are more at the high level and not really programming related so this computer science in business makes no sense to me.

I think the idea was to give an open door for a master's degree in computer science for those without the required background.

 

It is "business related". Some Universities make the distinction for the management degree as being less quantitative and more managerial while the business degrees normally have more quantitative courses like stats, operations and finance.

Some Universities just have the management degree for those more interested in the management aspect and less in the math part of businesss.

 

Agreed 100%. I find an MBA in CJ to be downright bizarre. And an MBA in homeland security isn't far behind. I've never seen anything like it in the United States -- or the world for that matter.

I have been concerned about the perception of getting a DBA in CJ for the same reasons. Or how about a PhD in business administration with a specialization in CJ???

I wonder what the behind-the-scenes dynamics were that led to the creation of an MBA in CJ??? Why can't it simply be a MA, MS or MCJ? It probably has something to do with jumping through more accreditation hoops. Who knows?

 

It's only speculation, but maybe NCU's accreditor only approved them for a few degree titles, and the specialization is a back door to expanding their offerings?

A big reason why I decided against NCU was because it would be beyond deceiving for me to get a Ph.D. in Business Administration, since I've never had any formal business training whatsoever.

 

On a side note……..is it okay to list a Master of Science in Managerial Science as a Master of Science in Management?

 

Regarding accrediation, that's pretty much what I figured and I agree with you. And if I ever finish a DBA from NCU, then I'll have a helluva time explaining a DBA in CJ!!! I was tempted to get a second specialization in management just to justify the DBA title, but...

 

http://www.ncu.edu/info.asp?i=26

"The MBA degree is a 36-semester credit program that emphasizes the traditional business administration and management studies at the graduate level. The Department offers specializations in the MBA program: Applied Computer Science, Business Quantitative Methods, Computer and Information Security, Criminal Justice, Electronic Commerce, Financial Management, Health Care Administration, Homeland Security, Human Resources Management, International Business, Management, Management of Engineering and Technology, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, and Sports Management."

 

I think this all speaks to the fast-food nature of many (certainly not all) distance learning schools. Instead of creating a bona fide doctoral program in criminal justice, NCU just repackaged the DBA program to include a number of CJ courses. I'm sure this was easy for the school but probably doesn't help the students.

 

Although I have no idea with what is "Managerial Science", I believe if this is what the school awarded, it would be better to list it as "Master of Science in Managerial Science".

Note: The study of "Management Science" is rather different than that of "Management". I believe it is easily understood for a degree with "Master Science in Management Science", though I also think it is viable to have "MBA with management science concentration".

BTW, there are some "Master of Arts in Management" degree too, also offered by some business schools. I believe they are business degree too.

What do you think about <a href="http://www.extension.harvard.edu/management/">Harvard's ALM in Management</a>? Will you tell people that you have "a business degree from Harvard"?

 

Honestly..............probably................then elaborate is asked.

As for the MSMS check out http://www.amberton.edu/Graduate_2003_LISTING_OF_GRADUATE_DEGREE.htm#T15

 

IMO, an MBA is meant to be a generalist degree. My grad school does allow a concentration within the MBA program (generally using electives) but the degree as listed on transcripts and the sheepskin itself simply states "Master of Business Administration" without the concentration being listed. Students can also choose a general MBA with no concentration.

It drives me batty when:

1) Someone pursues an MBA in Criminal Justice or Public Adnimistration or whatever. If you want a grad degree in criminal justice, then get an MS or MA in the subject. If you want a grad program in public administration, get an MPA. "MBA" is not a general term for any old business-related master's degree.

I chose to do an M.S. in Management so that I could choose a concentrated area of study. I chose not to get an MBA right now because I have no desire or need for a generalist business degree. My husband's cousin is a police officer...instead of getting an MBA in Public Administration, he got an MPA. There are graduate business degrees besides an MBA which are of value.


2) I have seen on other websites that I frequent that an MBA from many schools will often require only 27-30 credits of coursework. My M.S. in Management is a 30 credit program, and my school's MBA is 60 credits (this is an AACSB-accredited business program). I hate to belittle, but surely in terms of coursework, my Master of Science is the rough equivalent of one of these "MBA lite" programs. It almost minimizes my accomplishment when one of these quickie MBA types trumpets their accomplishment as being superior to other graduate business degrees.

 

Duckie.....where did you get your MSM?

 

I'm getting my MSM from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

 

tcmak,

I was wondering the same thing about Harvards ALM.

Generally, I think it's more appropriate to list it as Masters in Liberal Arts - Management...since it is not directly affiliated with the business school (unless I am mistaken). That said, I'm sure some list it as a Masters in business or management arguing that it's more convenient to generalize.

Greg