Management Science MBA
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.
Before the start of your first year, you'll engage in a comprehensive online pre-work program to lay a solid groundwork for the curriculum ahead. This preparatory coursework will cover essential topics such as accounting principles, career assessments, and introductory webinars. Details will be shared with incoming students several months before the program begins.
To kick off the academic year, an orientation session will take place in late August, providing an opportunity to meet your cohort and get acquainted with the campus environment.
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA 6301 | Strategic Management | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6121 | Data Analysis and Statistics for Managers | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6031 | Financial Accounting | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6221 | Supply Chain & Operations | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6231 | Financial Management | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6211 | Marketing Management | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6141 | Managerial Economics | Required | 2 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA 6111 | Organizational Behavior | Required | 2 |
| MBA 6241 | Competing in a Data-Driven Digital Age | Required | 2 |
| Various | Experiential Learning Options Choose one of the following enterprises:
| Required | 4 |
| Additional 2-10 Credits from: | |||
| IDSC 6446 | Business Analytics for Managers II | Required | 2 |
| MGMT 6465 | Leadership and Personal Development | Required | 2 |
| MBA 6315 | Business Ethics | Required | 2 |
| Various | International Experience Requirement Students must fulfill the international requirement through on of the following:
| Required | 4 |
| N/A | By graduation must complete:
| Elective | Credits Vary |
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | Experiential Learning Choose one of the following enterprises:
| Required | 4 |
| Additional 8-14 Credits fro | |||
| Various | International Experience Students must fulfill the international requirement through on of the following:
| Required | 4 |
| MGMT 6465 | Leadership and Personal Development | Required | 2 |
| MBA 6315 | Business Ethics | Required | 2 |
| N/A | By graduation must complete:
| Elective | Credits Vary |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-18 Credits from: | |||
| Various | International Experience Students must fulfill the international requirement through on of the following:
| Required | 4 |
| MGMT 6465 | Leadership and Personal Development | Required | 2 |
| MBA 6315 | Business Ethics | Required | 2 |
| N/A | By graduation must complete:
| Elective | Credits Vary |
Before the start of your first year, you'll engage in a comprehensive online pre-work program to lay a solid groundwork for the curriculum ahead. This preparatory coursework will cover essential topics such as accounting principles, career assessments, and introductory webinars. Details will be shared with incoming students several months before the program begins.
To kick off the academic year, an orientation session will take place in late August, providing an opportunity to meet your cohort and get acquainted with the campus environment.
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA 6301 | Strategic Management | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6121 | Data Analysis and Statistics for Managers | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6031 | Financial Accounting | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6221 | Supply Chain & Operations | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6231 | Financial Management | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6211 | Marketing Management | Required | 3 |
| MBA 6141 | Managerial Economics | Required | 2 |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA 6111 | Organizational Behavior | Required | 2 |
| MBA 6241 | Competing in a Data-Driven Digital Age | Required | 2 |
| Various | Experiential Learning Options Choose one of the following enterprises:
| Required | 4 |
| Additional 2-10 Credits from: | |||
| IDSC 6446 | Business Analytics for Managers II | Required | 2 |
| MGMT 6465 | Leadership and Personal Development | Required | 2 |
| MBA 6315 | Business Ethics | Required | 2 |
| Various | International Experience Requirement Students must fulfill the international requirement through on of the following:
| Required | 4 |
| N/A | By graduation must complete:
| Elective | Credits Vary |
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various | Experiential Learning Choose one of the following enterprises:
| Required | 4 |
| Additional 8-14 Credits fro | |||
| Various | International Experience Students must fulfill the international requirement through on of the following:
| Required | 4 |
| MGMT 6465 | Leadership and Personal Development | Required | 2 |
| MBA 6315 | Business Ethics | Required | 2 |
| N/A | By graduation must complete:
| Elective | Credits Vary |
Spring Semester
| Course Number | Title | Required or Elective | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-18 Credits from: | |||
| Various | International Experience Students must fulfill the international requirement through on of the following:
| Required | 4 |
| MGMT 6465 | Leadership and Personal Development | Required | 2 |
| MBA 6315 | Business Ethics | Required | 2 |
| N/A | By graduation must complete:
| Elective | Credits Vary |
STEM-Designated Elective Requirements
Choose a minimum of 12 elective credits from the pool of STEM-designated courses to build your skills and hone your interests. Take your remaining 8 elective credits from the broader pool of Full-Time MBA electives or take additional STEM-designated electives.
Specializations
The Management Science MBA program offers different specializations just like the regular Full-Time MBA program does. While there may be more options available, you should talk with your advisor to make sure you're taking the right classes. This helps ensure you'll complete both your Management Science MBA requirements and your chosen specialization coursework.
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 Carlson Business Career Center (CBCC). Further, the CBCC 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.
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. Review the application deadlines.
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. 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 programs 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.