Management Science MBA (STEM-designated)
Management Science MBA Program Overview
The Carlson School’s Management Science MBA (STEM-designated) is a Full-Time MBA degree that covers traditional management topics across business disciplines while developing students’ capabilities in a specific set of skills, including statistical modeling, analytics, programming, forecasting, and operations research. The Management Science MBA allows students to better understand business organizational performance by developing data-driven decision-making skills grounded in the foundational business topics of the Full-time MBA curriculum.
- Management Science MBA students will complete the existing Full-time MBA core curriculum and Enterprise programs alongside traditional Full-time MBA students and have access to the same student advising, career coaching, and clubs.
- Students considering careers in finance, consulting, analytics or technology may consider pursuing the Management Science MBA to demonstrate proficiency in quantitative skills and subjects to employers.
- International students may consider the Management Science MBA as they could qualify for a 24-month STEM optional practical training extension if their post-MBA employment meets specific STEM requirements outlined by the government. Learn more about the 24-month STEM Extension on the ISSS website.
Program Structure
The Management Science MBA curriculum requires two business analytics courses and a minimum of 12 elective credits to be completed from a pool of STEM-designated courses across disciplines, offering flexibility to align learning with individual interests.
Summer Before Year 1
Online Pre-work (July-August)
- Accounting
- Survey
- Career Assessment
- Webinars
Orientation (Late August)
Academics
Fall Semester
Core Classes (20 credits)
- Strategic Management
- Data Analysis
- Financial Accounting
- Operations Management
- Financial Management
- Marketing Management
- Economics
Spring Semester
Core Classes (5 credits)
- Competing in a Data Driven Digital Age
- Leading Others
- Leadership and Personal Development
STEM-Designated Required Courses (4 credits)
- Business Analytics for Managers I
- Business Analytics for Managers II (or in Spring of 2nd year)
STEM-Designated or other Elective Classes (10 credits)
Enterprise (4 credits)
Experiential Learning: Brand, Consulting, Funds or Ventures Enterprise.
Academics
Fall Semester
STEM-Designated or other Elective Classes (4 credits)
Enterprise (4 credits)
Experiential Learning: Brand, Consulting, Funds or Ventures Enterprise.
Global Enrichment (4-10 credits)
Students must fulfill the international requirement through on of the following:
- Global Enrichment (2 week experience)
- Global Immersion (semester abroad)
- Global Course (experiential domestic course)
Spring Semester
Business Ethics (2 credits)
STEM-Designated or other Elective Classes (10-14 credits)
Leading Organizations (1 credit)
STEM-Designated Elective Requirements
Choose a minimum of 12 elective credits from the following pool of STEM-designated courses to build your skills and hone your interests. Take the remainder of your electives from the broader pool of Full-time MBA electives or take additional STEM-designated electives as outlined below. In addition to the courses listed here, students may petition to take courses from the Masters in Applied Business Analytics or Masters in Finance curriculum to satisfy their STEM-designated credit requirements.
- ACCT 6606 Financial Data Analytics
- IDSC 6423 Enterprise Systems
- FINA 6321 Portfolio Analysis and Management
- FINA 6121 Debt Markets, Interest Rates, and Hedging
- FINA 6322 Introductory Financial Modeling
- FINA 6323 Advanced Financial Modeling
- FINA 6522 Intro to Derivatives and Financial Risk Management
- MKTG 6050 Marketing Analytics – Managerial Decisions
- MKTG 6051 Marketing Research
- MKTG 6086 Digital Marketing
- MKTG 6075 Pricing Strategy
- MKTG 6083 Customer Analytics
- SCO 6191 Big Data Analytics In Supply Chain
- SCO 6051 Service Management
- SCO 6090 Sales, Inventory, & Operations Planning
- SCO 6072 Managing Technology in Supply Chains
- SCO 6048 Logistics and Transportation
- SCO 6096 Supply Chain Management in the Health Care & Medical Devices Sector
- SCO 6098 Operations Excellence via Lean Thinking
- SCO 6041 Project Management
- SCO 6091 Process Improvement Methods
- MILI 6963 Healthcare Market Analytics
- HRIR60XX People/HR Analytics
*Students may petition to complete STEM-designated electives from the Master of Applied Business Analytics or Master of Science in Finance programs. Students will work with their academic advisor to gain approval from those programs
Specializations
The Management Science MBA allows students to complete the following specializations, similar to a traditional Full-time MBA student. Additional specializations may be available outside of those listed below - students should work closely with their academic advisor to ensure they are meeting credit requirements for the Management Science MBA in addition to completing coursework in their desired area of specialization:
- Finance
- Medical Industry
- Marketing
- Supply Chain
- Other Specialized Masters Courses*
*Students may petition to complete STEM-designated electives from the Master of Applied Business Analytics or Master of Science in Finance programs. Students will work with their academic advisor to gain approval from those programs
Career Support
Prospective students considering careers in finance, consulting, analytics or technology may consider pursuing the Management Science MBA program to demonstrate proficiency in quantitative skills to employers.
Management Science MBA students will have full access to individual career coaching, workshops, and resources offered by the Graduate Business Career Center (GBCC). Further, the GBCC will host programming specifically tailored to Management Science MBA students, including topics like telling your “STEM” story to employers, the hiring timeline for STEM-oriented roles, and developing critical networking skills. The International Student Services team will also host a workshop for Management Science MBA students to share insights about the STEM OPT process.
Learn more about the resources available to Management Science MBA students and career outcomes from the latest Full-time MBA Employment Report by visiting the Career page.
Admissions
The admissions process and application deadlines for the Management Science MBA are the same as for the Full-time MBA program. The only additional item Management Science MBA students will complete as part of the application is a statement describing their quantitative abilities. The rest of the application process is identical to the Full-time MBA program.
Management Science MBA students are eligible to apply for the GMAT/GRE waiver, similar to Full-time MBA applicants, but should consider the overall strength of their application and intended career before submitting a waiver request. Click here to review the Application Checklist for the Full-time MBA and Management Science MBA program.
Management Science MBA applicants are considered for the same merit-based scholarships as traditional Full-time MBA candidates. All applicants are reviewed for eligible scholarships as part of the Admissions Committee review process.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Management Science MBA is built upon the business foundation of the Full-time MBA curriculum. The Management Science MBA is 64 credits (same as the Full-time MBA program) and requires completion of two business analytics courses and a minimum of 12 elective credits from a pool of STEM-designated courses.
Prospective students considering careers in finance, consulting, analytics or technology may consider pursuing the Management Science MBA program to demonstrate proficiency in quantitative skills to employers. International students may consider the Management Science MBA as they could qualify for a 24-month STEM optional practical training extension if their post-MBA employment meets specific STEM requirements outlined by the government.
Candidates will select the Management Science MBA at the time of application. When opening the online application, applicants will choose Management Science MBA instead of Full-time MBA as their program of interest. The application round deadlines and admissions decision release dates are the same as those for the Full-time MBA program. Click here to review application deadlines.
The only additional item Management Science MBA students will complete as part of the application process is a statement describing their quantitative abilities. The rest of the application process is the same as for traditional Full-time MBA applicants. Management Science MBA students are eligible to apply for the GMAT/GRE waiver, similar to Full-time MBA applicants, but should consider the overall strength of their application and intended career before submitting a waiver request. Click here to review the Application Checklist for the Full-time MBA and Management Science MBA program.
Management Science MBA applicants are considered for the same merit-based scholarships as traditional Full-time MBA candidates. All applicants are reviewed for eligible scholarships as part of the Admissions Committee review process. If you are awarded a merit-based scholarship, information about your award will be issued in conjunction with your admissions decision.
Students must choose between the Management Science MBA or Full-time MBA program at time of application and should not submit applications for both programs. Transferring back and forth between programs is not permitted.
If a Full-time MBA student completes all of the STEM-designated coursework required for the Management Science MBA, they will not receive a Management Science MBA degree. Students are awarded a degree for the program in which they are enrolled - while the Full-time MBA and Management Science MBA program have overlapping content, they are separate degrees.
No, this option is not available for dual degree students. Dual degree students have the benefit of shared elective credits between the MBA program and their other degree. Due to the required number of the STEM-Designated classes, the Management Science MBA will be unable to be a dual degree option.