Master of Science in Management (MSM) - 100% Online

Affordable. Accredited. One year completion for full-time students.

The MSM degree at UTC will help you become a skilled manager of people within any industry through personal career coaching and instruction on organizational planning, leadership dynamics, decision-making, business ethics, communication, and other essential management skills.

The Master's in Management develops skills and knowledge within the areas of:

• Leadership
• Project management
• Human resource management
• Navigating individual differences
• Basic business knowledge

An MSM from UTC provides

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Masters of Science in Management (MSM) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA)?

For a concise overview of the differences, view the MBA vs. MSM Comparison Chart located at the top of the MSM Curriculum page.

What does it mean to be in the 100% Online MSM program? 

UTC’s Online Master's of Science in Management program is a fully online asynchronous program. There will not be an in-person option for any of the courses during this program, so admitted students must be prepared to take all courses online. Courses are delivered during set semester dates with weekly and sometimes mid-week deadlines. Students must meet all course deadlines that are set within the parameters of each semester and by each course professor. Deadlines will be laid out in the syllabus for each course.

How quickly can I complete the MSM program?

Time to completion is typically less than two years (five semesters) for part-time students working full-time.

Time to completion is typically three semesters or one year for full-time students who are not working full-time.

Do I need to register for MSM classes and how do I know my schedule?

The 10 core MSM courses are offered on a rotational basis and generally just one time each year. Because of this, the MSM advisor sends each student a detailed advising email prior to registration each semester and that email will have specific recommendations for the student based on the student’s planned course load and the courses they have remaining to complete the MSM program.

Does the UTC MSM program operate on semesters and how long are classes? How many MSM courses will I take per semester?

Courses are delivered in fall and spring semesters following a full semester schedule (15 weeks plus exam week). During full semesters, most part-time students will take two courses simultaneously. Some part time MSM students choose to take just one course per semester knowing it will take longer than two years to complete the degree. Full time students intending to finish in one year will take four courses each in fall and spring semesters. 

The Summer semester follows a "parts of term" schedule that includes two mini-terms:  Summer 1 and Summer 2.  Each summer term is six weeks long. Both part time and full-time MSM students take one class during each part of term for a total of two courses during the summer.  

Students may choose to sit out a semester, but should notify their advisor as soon as this is known.  Sitting out any semester could cause anywhere from one semester to a full year delay in finishing the degree.

To view current and upcoming semester dates, visit UTC's Academic Calendar.

Is the MSM a STEM-designated program for F-1 international students?

No, the MSM is not STEM-designated which means that the OPT period will be one year only. If you are an F-1 international student interested in a STEM-designated graduate business degree that qualifies for a two year OPT, check out our MS Data Analytics program.

What is the purpose of the graduate school?

The graduate school is responsible for collecting documents for admissions and final admission decisions, enforcing holds, enforcing academic probation and academic dismissal, maintaining official records and processing required forms (i.e. program of study and graduation audit forms, revisions to candidacy). All MSM advising and program curriculum and course delivery are handled by the Rollins College of Business.

Can I be admitted to UTC's MSM program if I don't have a bachelor's degree in business?

Yes, any undergraduate major is eligible for UTC's MSM program!  All applicants must meet the MSM admission criteria including completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or foreign equivalent prior to beginning the MSM program.

Interested but not quite finished with your bachelor's degree?  You are welcome to apply now.  When you finish your bachelor's degree, send your final transcripts with degree conferral to UTC as soon as possible to complete your MSM application and learn your admission decision.

Can I transfer credits into the UTC MSM program?

Yes, you can potentially transfer up to 6 credit hours from another AACSB accredited business masters program. In addition to the AACSB requirement, there are several other criteria that must be met including (but not limited to) age of coursework, content equivalent to a course in the UTC MSM program, and credit hours. Once official transcripts are submitted and you are admitted into the UTC MSM program, you may ask the Admissions Office staff to evaluate those past credits and determine if any classes/credits would be transferable into the UTC MSM program.  Detailed syllabi for each course being considered for transfer is required to determine whether credit can be transferred.

How is an applicant's GPA used in the MSM admission process?

The UTC Masters of Science in Management program requires applicants to have a minimum GPA of 2.70 for all undergraduate work taken for the baccalaureate degree. Because the UTC Graduate School will allow graduate programs to admit students who meet other GPA criteria, UTC's MSM program may consider for admission applicants who meet one or more of the following GPA requirements from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent:

• 3.00 GPA for the last two years of undergraduate academic coursework OR
• 3.00 GPA for 30 or more semester hours of undergraduate credit after earning the first bachelor's degree OR
• 2.70 GPA for the last two years of undergraduate academic coursework and a 3.00 GPA on fewer than 24 hours of graduate coursework OR
• 3.00 GPA for 24 or more graduate hours OR
• An earned master's degree or higher-level degree with at least a 3.00 GPA

Note: All GPAs are based on a 4.0 point scale; the last two years of undergraduate coursework are equivalent to approximately 60-70 semester hours or 90-100 quarter hours. All credit hours counted toward the degree are included in the calculation including credit transferred to the final conferring institution.

What happens if I do not meet the 2.70 MSM GPA requirements?

You may still be considered for the UTC MSM program. In this case, a formal admission by exception request and essay explaining why you should be considered for MBA admission is required in addition to the regular admission application requirements. Submitting the exception form and essay does not guarantee admission; however, the Admissions Office staff will review your application once complete and make an admission decision.

How is the minimum required 2.70 overall GPA determined?

All classes taken and grades received are included in the calculation of the overall undergraduate GPA, including any classes that were not passed but earned a letter grade. Additionally, grades are "leveled", dropping pluses and minuses in order to bring all university transcripts to the same grade standard as UTC. Questions concerning how the overall undergraduate GPA or any other applicant GPA is calculated should be directed to the UTC Graduate School at 423-425-4667.

Are graduate assistantships available to MSM students?

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to graduate students. To be considered for an assistantship, applicants must meet all GA requirements including full-time student status and the ability to travel to campus regularly.  You should submit all MSM program application materials to the UTC Graduate School following the instructions on the MSM Admissions page and then complete and submit the RCOB graduate assistant application to the RCOB Graduate Programs Office. GA applications may be turned in at any time, but priority application deadlines are the following dates:

• Fall Semester: April 1
• Spring Semester: October 15

You may also apply for assistantships outside of UTC's Rollins College of Business (RCOB). Non-RCOB assistantship information (e.g. eligibility requirements, application form, financial package) can be found on the Graduate School page.

Is there an MSM thesis or comprehensive exam?

No, there is no thesis or comprehensive examination required to complete the MSM program.

How much does an MSM cost? What is the cost for in-state vs. out-of-state tuition?

Visit the MSM tuition and fees page for more information.  Note: Textbooks and other MSM course materials are not included in the program tuition and fees. 

Are you interested in learning more about the MSM degree? Did we miss something in this MSM FAQ? At UTC, we’re here to help. Complete an inquiry form with your MSM program questions and our recruitment coordinator will be in touch. Hint: On the inquiry form, type “management” in the field to narrow down your options when asked for your program of interest. Then, choose “MS Management (Online).”