There’s a common misconception that becoming a manager takes years of experience, plus an MBA degree, plus extensive professional development in management principles. However, advancing to a management career doesn’t have to take 10 years.
Master of Science in Management degree, or MIM, is a graduate degree program designed for individuals who have recently graduated with their bachelor’s and want to jump right into management. An MIM is also good for anyone who wants to learn foundational management skills to level up their career in a short period of time.
This broad program will equip you with foundational skills for a number of management careers in a variety of industries. With such a wide range of opportunities available to MIM grads, it may be tough to nail down exactly what you want to do. In this article, we’ll discuss:
- What a master’s in management actually is
- Some of the career paths you might pursue
- Why this degree supports career advancement
- The difference between an MIM and similar degrees (like MBAs)
What Is a Master’s in Management?
A master’s in management is an advanced business degree designed to prepare students for leadership and management roles across departments, organizations, and industries. Your MIM courses will help you develop foundational skills like:
- Financial management
- Data analytics
- Managing in complex or volatile environments
- Organizational planning and strategy
- Global leadership
MS in Management programs are specifically designed to teach you concepts in the context of business and organizational management. So, you won’t learn data analytics to become a data analyst: you’ll learn how managers can use data analytics to address business challenges.
7 High-Paying Careers With a Master’s in Management
While some of these roles may require some additional professional development and experience to be fully prepared for them, all of the following roles are fantastic opportunities to pursue after you earn your master’s in management.
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Management Consultant | $111,000 |
| Marketing Manager | $115,000 |
| Investment Manager | $133,000 |
| Human Resources Manager | $140,030 |
| Operations Manager | $101,280 |
| Project Manager | $100,200 |
| Training and Development Manager | $127,090 |
Source: Lightcast and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
1. Management Consultant
Median Annual Salary: $111,000 (Lightcast)
Management consulting is an often misunderstood role, as many people are unsure how it differs from business consulting and traditional management. Management consultants, rather than leading teams or supporting organizational growth, help managers and leaders within companies to grow and improve their management style.
These professionals may have some similar duties to business consultants, such as auditing company processes, reviewing finances, identifying challenges, and creating solutions. However, the goal of a management consultant is to support positive organizational culture and develop strong managers.
2. Marketing Manager
Median Annual Salary: $115,100 (Lightcast)
Marketing managers are responsible for leading marketing teams, which means leveraging skills in leadership alongside marketing strategy. While they may develop some marketing campaigns, especially for high-priority clients or projects, marketing managers are primarily responsible for using their knowledge to help develop big-picture strategies and plans.
Some typical responsibilities of a marketing manager include:
- Conducting marketing research
- Strategizing for multi-channel marketing campaigns
- Creating plans
- Managing the department or team budget
- Negotiating with potential clients
- Supporting the marketing team
3. Investment Manager
Median Annual Salary: $133,000 (Lightcast)
Investment management is considered to be a very exciting career path, and it is great for those who work well under pressure. These professionals handle the daily buying and selling of stocks, assets, and securities in order to maximize the financial wellbeing of their clients. Maximizing client portfolios requires investment managers to closely monitor market activity and research, including changes that can happen on an hourly basis.
Investment managers leverage their knowledge of finance to perform most of their work, but this role is also suitable for MIM graduates because it requires incredibly strong communication, collaboration, analytical thinking and negotiation skills. In addition to an MIM, investment managers may need some finance education and professional certification.
4. Human Resources Manager
Median Annual Salary: $140,030 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Human resources (HR) is a key team in every organization, handling important functions like:
- Benefits and compensation
- Conflict resolution
- Recruiting and hiring
- Onboarding
- Training
- Regulatory compliance
Human resources managers are responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing the administrative functions of these teams. They oversee the strategic planning and development of all the functions listed above, and they support junior-level staff as they implement the policies. HR managers also help employees to feel motivated and supported by being a key stakeholder in company culture.
5. Operation Manager
Median Annual Salary: $101,280 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Operations managers are key to the successful operations of an organization. This is a broad role, so specific responsibilities will vary between organizations. Generally, though, operations managers will oversee the daily activities of multiple departments and have responsibilities like:
- Manage workflows
- Ensure efficient resource allocation
- Support cross-functional coordination
- Monitor performance metrics
- Identify areas to improve processes
- Manage budgets across functions
Specifically, operations managers tend to focus on improving processes to improve efficiency, productivity, quality, and sustainability. Oftentimes, these professionals use communication, leadership, and analytical thinking to help streamline operations and support strategic planning.
6. Project Manager
Median Annual Salary: $100,200 (Lightcast)
Project managers play a key role in a variety of organizations, but are particularly necessary in the manufacturing and construction industries. These professionals are responsible for ensuring that projects are successful, especially in terms of due dates, goals, and budgets.
In addition to creating timelines and checking in to make sure everything is going according to plan, project managers ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to implement their tasks. Project managers also use strong leadership and communication skills to collaborate with leaders, stakeholders, and the implementation team.
7. Training and Development Manager
Median Annual Salary: $127,090 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
In order to get ahead of industry trends and keep businesses ahead of the game, strong training and development programs are key to keeping employees’ skills up to date. Training and development managers are responsible for overseeing this crucial function.
Their responsibilities include:
- Surveying and collecting data about what employees need training on
- Aligning training with organizational goals
- Monitoring professional development budgets
- Selecting training programs from vendors
- Developing bespoke training and development programs
- Evaluating the success of training
By supporting both employees’ goals and organizational needs, these professionals improve employee retention, organizational longevity, and company culture.
How Can a Master’s in Management Elevate Your Career?
Aspiring leaders and managers, especially those early in their careers, need to prioritize enhancing their skills and preparing for advanced opportunities. Master of Science in Management programs are designed for early-career professionals who need to gain core competencies and skills for leadership roles. Students will gain broadly applicable skills in:
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Business finance
- Ethical decision-making
- Strategic planning
This knowledge can both be utilized in a range of industries and are foundational to business leadership. With a master’s in management on your résumé, you’ll have a valuable credential that demonstrates your skills, preparedness for advanced roles, and deep management knowledge.
Master in Management vs. Master of Business Administration vs. MS in Accounting
If you’re a recent bachelor’s grad and know you want to become a manager or leader, you may be unsure which master’s degree is the best option for your career advancement. There are, after all, many master’s degrees on the market that can be applicable to those seeking management positions, such as Master of Business Administration (MBA) or MS in Accounting (MSA) programs.
Check out this guide to the difference between MIMs, MBAs, and MSAs:
| MIM | MBA | MSA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Emphasis | Broad, foundational education in business. Management education is infused into all courses, but also offers specific leadership courses. | Broad, advanced education in business administration. Management, leadership, and strategic-thinking development is infused throughout the curriculum. | Extensive accounting emphasis, little to no management or leadership training |
| Work Experience | Early-career professionals or recent bachelor’s grads — no experience required | Experienced professionals, anywhere from 2–6 years of work experience may be required | Early-career professionals or recent bachelor’s in accounting grads — some programs may require work experience but most do not |
| Career Outcomes | Entry- to mid-level management and leadership positions in any industry | Mid- to senior-level management and leadership positions in any industry | Mid- to senior-level positions in accounting, CPA certification |
About the Online MS in Management from the Masagung Graduate School of Management at the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco’s online Master of Science in Management (MIM) program is designed to prepare you to flourish as a leader who develops innovative solutions that support organizations, communities, and the world.
Through a curriculum that combines on-demand courses, live classes, and client-facing projects, you will learn foundational management skills and gain critical strategic thinking abilities. Students can choose from two concentration options to guide their skill development:
- Management and leadership: Become a respected manager who solves business challenges while upholding ethical standards and social responsibility.
- Sustainable business management: USF offers one of the only sustainable business concentrations in California. Learn to transform environmental challenges into business advantages that drive success.
Students benefit from the expertise of faculty who are industry leaders and gain practical experience through project-based learning opportunities with renowned companies.
The program provides personalized career support, networking opportunities, and access to a global job portal, extending beyond graduation. This program equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to become transformative leaders in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.
Learn more about the Master in Management by downloading a brochure, or start your application today.
