Curriculum

In as few as 10 months, you’ll learn business fundamentals like budgeting, management, marketing, finance and strategic planning, adding muscle to your resume.

The future is yours to create.

Cox gives you the tools to do it, starting with a fast-paced curriculum led by the same nationally renowned faculty that teaches MBA students. The Cox MSM program requires 32-credit hours, which can be earned in full-time, part-time in-person or part-time online formats. 

In the program, you'll learn business fundamentals like budgeting, management, marketing, finance and strategic planning. And if you want to push further after earning your MSM at Cox, you may be able to apply some credits toward a Cox Professional or One-Year MBA.* 

*Please note that you must have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience before pursuing your MBA. Applicants without the required two years of work experience will not meet the minimum qualifications for admission.

Master of Science in Management Curriculum: The Foundation for your Success in Business

The curriculum of the Master of Science in Management is designed for recent non-business graduates who want to gain experience in the fundamentals of business and for business graduates who seek to gain a more strategic comprehension of the core building blocks of business. 

The curriculum focuses on Finance, Statistics, Marketing, Accounting, Operations, and Strategic Management and allows for students to gain real world experience through the Management in Action Project.

MSM Courses/Curriculum

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT
Total Credit Hours: 32




This is a representative curriculum for this program. Please consult with Admissions or your Enrollment Advisor for the most updated version.

Module A Courses

  • Financial Accounting I
  • Business Communications and Presentations
  • Data Analytics
  • Organizational Behavior: Managing & Leading People
  • Managing Your Career

Module B Courses

  • Managerial Finance
  • Management Decision Analysis
  • Data Analytics (continued)
  • Managerial Economics
  • Complex Problem Solving

Module A Courses

Module B Courses

  • Leading Teams and Organizations
  • Management in Action Project (continued)
  • Strategic Management
  • One Elective

Credit Hours in MS in Management Program Summary

  • 30 credit hours of required courses
  • 2 credit hours of elective courses

(Curriculum subject to change. See course details for more information.)

Beyond The Classroom

The best way to gain leadership experience and confidence is by connecting with people in leadership positions and immersing yourself in real world business environments. At SMU Cox, we bring opportunities for hands-on experience to life outside the typical classroom setting, tapping our strong ties with business leaders in Dallas and beyond. Among your experiential learning opportunities at SMU Cox:

  • Thanks to our global connections, the Business Leadership Center is able to schedule a robust seminar series led by Fortune 500 executives and forward-thinking entrepreneurs.
  • MSM students can take advantage of the Management in Action Project, which brings top companies with students to develop your experiential learning skills while priming you for your next career move.
  • Applied leadership opportunities include the Nonprofit Consulting Program, which gives you the option to join a team of peers in addressing the challenges of a local not-for-profit organization.

See Centers and Institutes


Faculty: Learn From The Best

We don't just teach business — we're immersed in it. The Economist magazine ranks SMU Cox #7 in the world for faculty quality. When they’re not honing your management skills, your professors are consulting for Fortune 500s, publishing books and research, running their own businesses and serving in government. An intimate learning environment and a calendar full of networking events make it easy for you to build one-on-one relationships with the academics and professionals who are invested in your future.

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Meet the Faculty

marcus butts

Marcus Butts

Associate Professor of Management and Organizations, Marilyn and Leo Corrigan Endowed Research Professor

Organizational behavior is where psychology and management meet. Learn this vital science from Marcus Butts.

Marcus’ research expertise includes the work-life interface, leadership, and analytical methods focused on experience sampling, multilevel statistics, and latent variable modeling. He has published in top academic outlets including Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, and Personnel Psychology.



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Photo of professor Maribeth Kuenzi

Maribeth Kuenzi

Associate Professor of Management and Organizations, Albert W. Niemi Center for Economic Growth and Leadership Development, Merriman Foundation Endowed Professor of American Capitalism

Besides teaching courses on management, Dr. Kuenzi is the director of the Niemi Center and a member of the Advisory Council of the Human Freedom Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute. Her research focuses on ethical leadership and corporate culture, and she has published widely in scholarly journals.


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robin pinkley

Robin Pinkley

Faculty Director, Master's in Management Program

The recipient of SMU's Golden Mustang Award for innovative teaching, Robin is a recognized authority on strategic negotiation and conflict management. She's the author of the book "Get Paid What You’re Worth: The Expert Negotiators’ Guide to Salary and Compensation," and she has consulted with numerous corporate and government organizations.




View Pinkley's Bio