Program Overview
Every organization needs strong leaders at the helm. Are you ready to take on the challenge? Management jobs are expected to grow 8 percent over the next several years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A master’s degree in management will provide a strong foundation for your professional future.
Our Management Master’s Degree Program provides a well-rounded curriculum that covers a variety of essential topics. Explore economic theory, corporate responsibility, and business communications with expert faculty. You’ll gain insight into the latest management theories and practices through case studies, group projects, and active learning experiences.
Program Benefits
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Customizable path, stackable certificates, & experiential learning
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Instructors who are academics and industry professionals at the top of their fields
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Personalized academic & career advising
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Entrepreneurial opportunities through the Harvard Innovation Labs
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Paid research options
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Harvard Alumni Association membership upon graduation
Customizable Course Curriculum
Our curriculum is flexible in pace and customizable by design. You can study part time, choosing courses that fit your schedule and align with your career goals. In the program, you’ll experience the convenience of online learning and the immersive benefits of learning in person.
As you work your way through the program’s core courses, you’ll deepen your knowledge of essential management concepts, tools, and strategies. Then, you’ll build on that foundation by selecting elective courses to tailor your experience, focusing on the areas that are most important to you.
11 Online Courses
Synchronous and asynchronous options are available, in the fall, spring, January, and summer terms.
Sample Courses:
- Microeconomic Theory
- Managerial Accounting
- Organizational Behavior
- Applied Corporate Responsibility
- Marketing Management
- Strategic Management
On-Campus Experience
Join faculty and peers in person at Harvard, for 2 weekend courses in the fall or spring or a 3-week summer course.
Sample Weekend Courses:
- Emotional Intelligence for Impact
- Optimizing Leadership: Applied Strategies
- Investing in Real Estate
Admissions
The path to your degree begins before you apply to the program.
You first register for and complete 3 degree courses, earning at least a B in each. These foundational courses are investments in your studies. They count toward your degree and help ensure success in the program.
As an alternative, you may choose to earn one of the following credentials as part of your admissions path: HBS Online CORe Admissions Pathway or the MITx MicroMasters® Program Pathway.
Next Start Term: Spring 2025
Enroll for your first admission course this spring. Course registration is open November 4, 2024–January 23, 2025.
To get started, explore degree requirements, confirm your initial eligibility, and learn more about our unique “earn your way in” admissions process.
Earning a Stackable Certificate
As you work toward your master’s degree, you can take courses that also count — or “stack” — toward a graduate certificate. It’s a cost-effective, time-saving opportunity to build specialized skills and earn more professional credentials.
For each certificate, you can choose courses that best fit your goals.
Some of the stackable graduate certificates include:
- Corporate Sustainability and Innovation
- Organizational Behavior
- Marketing Management and Digital Strategy
For a full list of stackable graduate certificates, visit the Management Degree Requirements page.
A Faculty of Management Experts
Studying at Harvard Extension School means learning from the world’s best. Our instructors are renowned experts in management practices, organizational behavior, finance, marketing, and more — and bring a genuine passion for teaching, with students giving our faculty an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.
Featured Faculty
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![Laura Wilcox]()
Laura Wilcox
Director of Business and Management Programs
Teaches Emotional Intelligence for Impact
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![Henrik Totterman]()
Henrik Totterman
Professor of Practice, Entrepreneurship and Management, Hult International Business School
Teaches Strategic Management
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Margaret Andrews
Founder, The MYLO Center and Managing Director, Higher Ed Associates
Teaches It Depends: Unpacking the Paradoxes of Leadership, Managing Yourself and Leading Others, Understanding and Evolving Organizational Culture
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![Nicholas Coburn-Palo]()
Nicholas Coburn-Palo
Preceptor in Public Speaking, Harvard University
Teaches Negotiation and Organizational Conflict Resolution
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Lee Bolman
Professor and Marion Bloch/Missouri Chair in Leadership Emeritus, Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri - Kansas City
Teaches Organizational Behavior, Leadership in Teams and Organizations
Our Community at a Glance
Join a network of talented peers who are committed to building innovative, creative, and diverse workplaces.
Averaging 12 years of work experience, our management students are established professionals looking to deepen their expertise, discover new tools and strategies, and expand their networks.
In the Management Master’s Degree Program, you’ll learn alongside career-driven leaders from around the world who bring diverse knowledge and points of view into class discussions and projects.
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36
Average Age
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1-2
Courses Taken Each Semester
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90%
Work Full Time
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98%
Would Recommend the Program
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76%
Professional Experience in the Field
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Most
Pursued for Career Advancement
Careers & Alumni Outcomes
Our management graduates work in a range of industries, including banking, consumer goods, financial services, energy, nonprofit management, and management consulting. They have also gone on to pursue further studies at such schools as Columbia University, Georgetown University, and Harvard Kennedy School.
Roles held by recent graduates include:
- Account Director
- Director of Asset Management
- Brand Manager
- Business Development Director
- Senior R&D Manager
- Director of Diversity and Inclusion
- Senior Manager, Data and Analytics
Alumni work at a variety of organizations, including:
- Accenture
- Apple
- Cisco
- Ernst & Young
- Fannie Mae
- Intel
- Pearson
- World Economic Forum
Career Advising and Mentorship
Whatever your career goals, we’re here to support you. Harvard’s Mignone Center for Career Success offers career advising, employment opportunities, Harvard alumni mentor connections, and career fairs like the annual Business and Consulting Fair and Harvard Startup Career Fair.
Your Harvard University Degree
Upon successful completion of the required curriculum, you will receive a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Management.
Expand Your Connections: the Harvard Alumni Network
As a graduate, you’ll become a member of the worldwide Harvard Alumni Association (400,000+ members) and Harvard Extension Alumni Association (29,000+ members).
Now, having graduated, all my hard work has paid off — my company promoted me to an expanded strategic management position. This is not because of a credential on paper, but rather because I show up at work in a new way, applying what I learned at Harvard.
Cost and Financial Aid
Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.
| Our Tuition (2024–25 rate) | $3,340 per course |
|---|---|
| Average Tuition of Peer Institutions | $4,330 per course |
| Average Total Cost | $40,080 |
After admission, you may qualify for financial aid. Typically, eligible students receive grant funds to cover a portion of tuition costs each term, in addition to federal financial aid options.
Learn more about the cost of attendance.
Coffee Chat: All About Management Programs at HES
Are you interested in learning more about management graduate degree programs at Harvard Extension School? Hear directly from our program directors, faculty, academic advisors, and alumni about their experiences.
FAQs
What is the difference between a management master’s degree and an MBA?
These two master’s programs differ primarily in program length, price, cohort structure, and flexibility/accessibility. Our management master’s degree program offers many, if not all, of the same topics you would find in a traditional MBA program. However, we require fewer courses, a more flexible curriculum and schedule, as well as a much more affordable price tag.
To learn more about the difference from our program director, Laura Wilcox, read Master’s in Management vs. MBA?
How long does it take to complete the management graduate program?
Program length is ordinarily anywhere between 2 and 5 years. It depends on your preferred pace and the number of courses you want to take each semester.
For an accelerated journey, we offer year round study, where you can take courses in fall, January, spring, and summer.
While we don’t require you to register for a certain number of courses each semester, you cannot take longer than 5 years to complete the degree.
What skills do you need prior to applying for the management master’s degree program?
There are no prerequisite skills required for admission to the management program. Most of our students come to us with more than 5 years of professional experience, and 75% have professional experience in management. If you complete the courses for admissions successfully and meet additional eligibility requirements, you will be admitted.
What can you do with a master’s degree in management?
Earning a master’s degree in management can prepare you for a range of career opportunities across diverse industries. Some of the common career paths include management consultant, human resource manager, operations manager, financial analyst, and entrepreneur.
