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Specializations

At the Carlson School of Management, our specializations offer an exciting avenue for students to hone their expertise in specific career sectors. From theory to practical strategy, you'll immerse yourself in fundamental business knowledge, spanning all management functions and diverse industries. With over 70 elective courses across six specializations, you have the power to tailor your MBA to suit your unique aspirations.

MBA Specialization Options

Please note specializations are optional to pursue and will not appear on academic transcripts or diplomas.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation 

The Carlson MBA program, with a specialization in entrepreneurship, prepares students for success in consulting, new ventures, or career advancement by providing essential skills in competition analysis, leadership, opportunity identification, and innovation management.

  • The New Venture Track
  • The Corporate Innovation Track
Food & Agribusiness 

The Food & Agribusiness specialization offers students unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in the thriving food and agribusiness ecosystem of the Twin Cities, learning from world-class faculty and engaging with global food companies and startups to prepare for impactful careers in sustainable food systems.
Information Systems 

The Information Systems specialization empowers students to excel in the digital era by exploring the profound impact of technology on business and society, equipping them with skills in IT utilization for process optimization, data integration, compliance, security, and innovation, preparing graduates for roles spanning IT consulting, business analytics, project management, and strategic leadership.
Marketing 

In the Marketing specialization, students develop coveted skills essential for roles in Marketing, Product Management, and Consulting, mastering strategic consumer analysis, product development, pricing, promotions, and distribution strategies to thrive in this dynamic field.
Medical Industry Leadership Institute 

Students pursuing the medical industry specialization at Carlson gain MILI Affiliate status, preparing for leadership roles in finance, marketing, consulting, operations, and IT through tailored coursework and experiential learning.
Supply Chain & Operations 

The Supply Chain & Operations specialization prepares students to manage integrated value chains globally, fostering operational excellence and competitive advantage through tailored coursework and experiential learning.
students in classroom

Sustainable Environmental, Social, and Governance Management

The SESG Management specialization prepares students to tackle climate, environmental, and social justice challenges through a multidisciplinary curriculum emphasizing sustainability science, organizational change, and entrepreneurship.

Read more

 

Finance Specializations

A finance specialization equips students with essential knowledge for careers in corporate finance, investment banking, risk management, and more, enhancing decision-making skills across various business functions, making it suitable for roles in general management, consulting, and entrepreneurship.

Banking 

The Finance, Banking specialization equips students for diverse roles in the banking sector, covering interest rates, credit risk, liquidity, regulatory requirements, securitization, risk management, and bank capital, with career paths including credit analysis, lending, private banking, foreign exchange, and risk management.
Corporate Finance 

The Corporate Finance specialization provides students with a rigorous framework to analyze financial decisions, covering investment evaluation, capital structure optimization, and payout policies, preparing graduates for roles in investment banking, corporate development, private equity, consulting, and financial leadership across industries.
Security Analysis & Portfolio Management 

The Security Analysis & Portfolio Management specialization prepares students for investment roles with advanced analytics and practical applications, leading to careers like analyst, portfolio manager, and risk analyst in financial institutions.

Management Specializations

A management emphasis provides students with essential skills to analyze competition, lead with advantage, foster entrepreneurship, manage innovation and diversity, and navigate organizational dynamics amid globalization and technological change, with faculty actively sharing cutting-edge knowledge through courses.

General Management 

Management offers dynamic career opportunities in consulting, general management, new business development, or as a dual specialization alongside functional paths like marketing, finance, operations, information technology, or human resources, amidst global shifts and evolving organizational landscapes.
Organizational Management 

The Organizational Management specialization offers students a comprehensive pathway to develop leadership capabilities and effectively manage teams, innovation, and diverse workforces.
Strategic Management 

The Strategic Management specialization provides students with a pathway to enhance their skills in analyzing the external environment of firms and developing and implementing strategic initiatives.

Customize Your Program

Chart your course to success with a personalized educational journey that sets you apart in the competitive business world. You have the flexibility to create a specialization beyond the ones listed above that will meet your unique academic and career goals. Please note that MBA students are not eligible to complete official minors.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Specializations are optional to pursue and are not required for graduation from the MBA Program. There is not a process to declare a specialization. Instead, students interested in pursuing a specialization will follow course recommendations provided by Carlson School's academic departments.

Generally, specializations require students to complete a track of 12-13 credits of courses within a specified subject area. Course recommendations for each specialization are outlined on the documents posted on the Specialization webpage.

Historically, roughly 50% of MBA students will pursue a specialization and 50% of students will not.

A great place to begin is to schedule an academic advising appointment with an MBA academic advisor to discuss academic interests and program goals. During that meeting, an advisor will help you assess if pursuing a specialization may be in line with your objectives. Meeting with a career coach in the Carlson Business Career Center may also be beneficial to learn more about career implications. Networking with MBA alumni, work colleagues, mentors, and faculty can also help students decide if a particular specialization may be a good fit.

No. All degree verification checks are completed by the central University Registrar in One Stop Student Services. Carlson School MBA Program specializations are not displayed on student transcripts nor are they verifiable by the University. The only information that is verifiable by the University is the degree plan (Master of Business Administration). With this, One Stop Student Services will not be able to verify specialization information.

Question on specializations?

If you have questions about specializations, please contact us at mbaandms@umn.edu.