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MSM

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At The American College of Financial Services, we’re reimagining what leadership education looks like. With the MSM, take your business skills to the next level and put yourself in a position to become an indispensable asset to your organization.


Program at a Glance

Tuition

$3,300/course or $36,300/program (tuition may vary)

Timing

Complete in approximately 18 months

Format

Hybrid, cohort-based (mix of online and live classes)

Learning Outcomes
  • Reinforce interpersonal and leadership communication.

  • Integrate research skills with practical leadership applications.

  • Reinforce contemporary leadership in dynamic team environment.

  • Improve performance with organization's core competencies.

  • Model ethical leadership decision making.

About the MSM

The Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree prepares and equips professionals to theorize the practice of developing strategies in the workplace. The MSM program focuses on: (1) management concepts, tools, techniques, and processes; (2) how financial organizations use human, financial, data, and risk management instruments to develop a competitive advantage and effect change; and (3) current issues facing organizations and managers. Graduates of the MSM program are prepared to assume management roles across functional areas in a wide range of non-profit, for-profit, and private organizations.

 

Why Choose The MSM?

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1-2 years of master’s education can lead to above-average salary

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The program covers essential industry management and leadership skills

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Competitive tuition and highest degree of program accreditation

 

PROGRAM DETAILS

Educational Requirements

Applicants to the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School are selected on the basis of academic and professional criteria. To be admitted into the MSM program, a prospective student must hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or appropriate professional/educational requirements and submit the following to The College: 

  1. A completed admission application
  2. A current resume
  3. An unofficial transcript from the accredited institution that awarded your Bachelor’s degree (official transcript due at the end of your first course)
  4. $100 application fee

Students admitted to the MSM graduate program have seven years from date of admission to complete degree requirements. Acceptance of courses completed prior to admission will be determined by the Program Director.

The Office of the Registrar determines and certifies that students have completed all degree requirements. Once certified, students are considered to have graduated with all the rights, privileges, and obligations pertaining thereto.

TUITION & FEES

Tuition: $3,300/course or $36,300/program (tuition may vary)

Tuition includes all required materials, access to convenient online learning tools, and all ebooks.

The MSM is 11-12 courses, cohort-based program featuring a mix of online and in-person class meetings, with new cohorts launching on a quarterly basis. Upon admission to the MSM program, applicants who either do not have a BS in business or the appropriate professional experience will be required to complete MSMT 502—Foundations of Management at no extra cost.

Course materials include:

  • Faculty-led Live Online sessions
  • In-depth case studies
  • Detailed course outlines
  • Real-time discussion forums
  • Synchronous sessions are recorded

The MSM program is typically conducted over an 18-month time frame, consisting of 5-week courses, with breaks in between each course. Online students engage in a blended learning experience consisting of both synchronous live learning with their cohort and asynchronous learning through Brightspace, our cloud-based learning management system (LMS) that facilitates further interaction with their instructor and classmates.

Apply Online Today

FAQs

The MSM program is typically conducted over an 18 month time frame, consisting of 5-week courses, with breaks in between each course.

Upon enrolling in the MSM program, students have seven (7) years to complete full degree requirements, including 11-12 full courses. 

Upon admission to the MSM program, applicants who either do not have a BS in business or the appropriate professional experience will be required to complete MSMT 502—Foundations of Management at no extra cost.

Tuition for each course and the total program includes all course materials, but does not include the program’s initial $100 application fee. For a complete listing, view the Tuition & Fees section.

Program tuition can be paid on a per-course basis or as one full installment. To see our current tuition rate and options, view the Tuition & Fees section. Check with your company for tuition reimbursement benefits.

We are proud to offer scholarship opportunities for qualifying active-duty military personnel, veterans, and spouses. For more information, visit our Center for Military and Veterans Affairs.  

Students admitted to the program are required to have an undergraduate or graduate degree in an appropriate area of professional study. See our Graduate Admissions Policy for Non-Business Backgrounds for additional details.

To enroll in the MSM program, you will need to fill our online application and submit it with your $100 application fee, as well as an initial unofficial undergraduate transcript and a current resume. Our admissions advisors will contact you if you are accepted to the program.

Having a master’s degree expands your career options. A graduate degree opens doors to jobs you may not otherwise be considered for. A master’s degree can be beneficial as you take your career to the next level. 

The Master of Science in Management (MSM) is a degree that grants business education to students, as well as work experience they can put to use in their career. It is a cost-effective degree offered to both business and non-business majors. The degree is ideal for working professionals.

With the Master of Science in Management, you will be able to pursue several career paths. The degree will showcase your management potential, developing personnel management and leadership skills, and could open doors for many management posts. This degree will also open doors to entrepreneurship for those who are interested. The possibilities are endless! 

 

If you have GI Bill® benefits available and interested in our Master's Degrees, please email sco@theamericancollege.edu for additional information prior to enrollment.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Program Faculty

Barbara Alston
Barbara A. Alston

Adjunct Professor, Master of Science in Management-Leadership

Daralee Barbera

Program Director, Master of Science in Management-Leadership 

Veronica Paz
Dr. Veronica Paz

Accounting Professor

Alfonso Cobb headshot
Alfonso Cobb

Adjunct Professor

Jose Perez

Adjunct Professor of Organizational Leadership & Human Resource Development

Dr. Jim Peterson, Adjunct Professor of Ethics at The American College
Jim Petersen

Roger Hull/James S. Bingay Chair of Leadership

Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF) Program Director

David Rendall

Adjunct Professor of Management

Keynote Speaker and Author

Debra Touhey

Adjunct Professor of Finance

James Vernon
Dr. James B. Vernon

Adjunct Professor of Leadership and Management

Natasha M. Webster

Adjunct Professor of Organizational Leadership

MSM Curriculum & Details

MSMT 500 Graduate Orientation

In this online orientation, students are introduced to the courses within the MSM program, the faculty, and fellow students. Students are also oriented to The College and the educational resources available to them. This course is 0 credits.

MSMT 502 Foundations of Management

This introductory course includes nine online learning modules designed to equip students for success in the MS in Management program. The modules are: Foundations of Communication; Foundations of Business Integration & Strategic Management; Foundations of Organizational Behavior; Foundations of Human Resource Management; Foundations of Finance; Foundations of Marketing; Foundations of Statistics; Foundations of Ethics; and Foundations of Academic Writing.

The online Foundations course is largely self-paced. An instructor provides assistance as needed. Students complete a pre-test for each module to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Our learning management system Brightspace then produces a customized learning module appropriate for their individual needs. Students use the module to master key concepts and skills. They then demonstrate mastery through post-tests. Students may repeat each post-test an unlimited number of times during the 5-week session to earn a passing grade. Students must pass every assigned module in the Foundation courses with a score of 70% in order to proceed to later courses in the MSM program. This course is only for those students who do not have a bachelor degree in business, or do not have any business experience. The course is 3 credits.

MSLS 510 Leadership Development Experience

This course examines two tracks. The first track is a foundational understanding of leadership and provides the student with information to begin their journey into leadership. The second track is a review of the challenges of graduate student work and studies which includes graduate work versus undergraduate work, time management, research challenges and basics, technology skills for the graduate student, and a discussion of academic integrity/plagiarism.

MSLS 511 Dynamic Organizational Leadership

This course is designed to help leaders understand and influence human behavior on an individual, interpersonal, and institutional level. The foundation is a knowledge of individual differences and how those unique characteristics affect each person’s thoughts, actions, and motivations. However, it is not enough to simply understand people on their own, separate from others and their environment. Teams and groups have a powerful impact on their members, and people behave differently around others than they do alone. Similarly, organizational structures, systems, and cultures have a strong, but seemingly invisible, effect on what people believe, what people say, and what people do. Effective leaders know how to analyze and manage all these complex factors in order to achieve the organization’s objectives

MSLS 512 Ethics in Leadership

Ethics in Leadership explores the following four topics: ethical awareness, ethical analysis/ethical decision-making, current ethical issues in the financial services industry, and ethical management in an organization. Throughout the course, you will learn the skills required to make reasoned responses to ethical dilemmas, navigate daily and long-term ethical challenges, and build an ethical culture in an organization. This course also explores the emotional influence on behavior and decisions and explains how you can learn from success and failure.

MSLS 513 Law, Compliance, Benefits, and Social Responsibility

This course investigates the basic legal and socio-ethical framework within which companies operate today. The course topics include (1) Ethical frameworks relating to business management and organizational effectiveness, (2) Corporate governance and stakeholder theory, (3) Government regulation of business including constitutional law, product liability, and employer/employee relations and (4) Social issues impacting corporate strategy, such as consumer protections and internet law The course enables students to place their developing leadership skills within the practical context of business law, compliance and ethics.

MSLS 514 Communications and Leadership

This course is designed to help leaders communicate effectively by developing the credibility necessary to persuade and influence others. Successful managers need to demonstrate competence in verbal communication in a variety of situations, such as individual conversations, small group meetings, and large presentations, both face-to-face and virtually, as well as written communication using text, instant messaging, email, social media, letters, proposals, and formal reports. They also must have emotional intelligence, a willingness to listen, and the courage to tackle crises and difficult conversations.

MSLS 515 Personal and Interpersonal Leadership Skills

Teamwork is an essential element of effective leadership. However, it is rarely taught and frequently overlooked in both academic and professional training for leaders. This course focuses on leading and managing teams, thereby creating teamwork throughout the organization. There are several dysfunctions of a team to include absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability and inattention to results. Through various exercises, students learn to plan, prepare, practice, review, analyze, assess, and strategize for expected and unexpected events as a team.

MSLS 516 Management by Leadership

Students prepare and execute a project demonstrating in a real-world context the techniques learned within the program through leadership crisis management. The capstone course introduces tools and a framework to guide the leader, organization and protect the core assets of the business through a crisis. Topics include but are not limited to exploration of crisis communication techniques, research-based methods to assist in preparing, prevention of and recovery from crises. Students are equipped with a range of tools to increase competencies and confidence in an organizational crisis context. Prerequisites: All other courses in the program are prerequisites for GS 995 Leadership Capstone Experience

MSLS 517 Classic and Contemporary Leadership Studies

This course examines a wide range of leadership research and theories using a practical perspective. Students apply and practice different approaches of leadership using case studies and questionnaires to gain knowledge and measure the individual’s leadership style. Students are then challenged from their prospective as the leader, to determine how the theory contribute or fail to contribute to the leadership process or organization

MSLS 518 Leading Strategy Development

This course approaches strategic management from a practical perspective. Students develop an understanding of business strategies, formulation and implementation of major goals to better identify organizational initiatives. Real world examples communicate important stages, components and major roles of exceptional managers to gain and sustain a competitive advantage.

MSLS 519 Decision Making Leadership Skills

The ability to gather and analyze data to form a strategy is essential in management. This course examines two levels of analytics from a descriptive and predictive viewpoint. Using spreadsheets, visualizations and research, students develop a working knowledge of analytics as it applies to business decisions within the field of management. Topics include database analytics, data visualization, forecasting techniques and data mining.

MSLS 520 Leadership Capstone Experience  

Students prepare and execute a project demonstrating in a real-world context the techniques learned within the program through leadership crisis management. The capstone course introduces tools and a framework to guide the leader, organization and protect the core assets of the business through a crisis. Topics include but are not limited to exploration of crisis communication techniques, research-based methods to assist in preparing, prevention of and recovery from crises. Students are equipped with a range of tools to increase competencies and confidence in an organizational crisis context.

See the Student Resources and Policies page for comprehensive details on refunds, learning policies, guidelines, and more.