M.Sc. in Management (Strategy)

Course details

The MSc in Management (Strategy) is intended to enhance the knowledge, skills, and competencies of students who already have an undergraduate degree in business, but who wish to develop a deeper competency in business strategy and management at masters level. This broadly-based programme will provide you with highly sought-after skills and competencies to assess and contribute to strategic thinking, analysis, decision-making, strategy formulation, and strategy execution in organizations, as well as evaluation of their effectiveness. The drivers and enablers of strategic options are examined in the context of a complex, networked context, and the programme has a particular focus on how technology can enable strategic change.

The programme involves a high level of student interaction, and is extensively interlinked with other modules. It is a busy and intensive programme which runs for 12 months full-time.

Aims and Objectives:

• Develop an advanced knowledge of the main concepts, models, and perspectives in general business and specifically in strategic management as well as an ability to adapt and apply them appropriately to a wide range of complex and uncertain situations
• Develop a holistic view of the interrelationships between different aspects of strategy-related issues and be able to identify and critically assess those issues from a number of different perspectives
• Develop an ability to assess and contribute to strategic thinking, analysis, decision-making, strategy formulation, and strategy execution in organisations, as well as evaluation of their effectiveness
• Acquire, develop and be able to select appropriately from among a wide range of analytical, conceptual and practical tools necessary for strategy analysis, formulation, and effective implementation
• Assess the range and nature of their skills and competencies and systematically develop the skills and competencies which are necessary to lead and operate successfully in complex and ambiguous business contexts, including analytical, technical, emotional intelligence, teamworking, communication, mentoring, presentation, global awareness, report writing and communication skills

Programme Structure:

This programme enables your learning through a combination of lectures, self-assessment exercises, seminars, workshops, and a wide range of practical assignments - often for real-world clients. A core design element of this masters programme is that you will be given many opportunities to test and apply your knowledge on industry projects.

Modules Include:

• Strategy and Leadership
• Marketing Strategies
• Strategy and Competition
• Business Process Innovation
• Organisation & Management in the Networked Era
• Technology Management
• Consulting Skills

The M.Sc. in Management (Strategy) is part of DCU Business School's Next Generation Managementinitiative. This starts with a pre-semester, week-long immersion course to provide students with the opportunity to develop the competencies required for successful management careers. It focuses on four key themes: personal and career development; leadership, teamwork and corporate accountability; global and societal awareness; and research, media and communication. Particular emphasis is placed on reflective and critical thinking, collaborating with people, creating and sharing knowledge and dealing with complexity.

You will complete an applied learning portfolio based upon these themes through activities that you choose. Students have the flexibility to develop skills and knowledge in areas and industries they are interested in. The Next Generation Management learning portfolio has proven to be an excellent talking point for students in interviews and is highly regarded by our graduate employers.

The Practicum module is taken over the summer months, where you will work with a client organisation to solve a real-world problem or to exploit a real world opportunity. Projects are sourced from DCU's research centres, corporate clients, or may be based on students' own insights and ideas. Previous companies include Microsoft, Enterprise-Rent-A-Car, 11890, and Blue Insurances. This is a great opportunity to apply all the learning that you will do over the year to a real-world case and will be a great asset on your CV upon graduation.

Why DCU:

DCU is Ireland's University of Enterprise with an industry engagement strategy which benefits our students in many ways including:

• Learning from academic experts with high level industry relevant experience ensuring you graduate with the most up-to-date knowledge to theory and practice
• Exposure to leading international experts and thought leaders during the programme, along with additional workshops, seminars and mini-conferences relevant to business and management
• Working on real-world industry client projects, applying theory and giving you the practical skills and experience demanded by employers today
• Heavy emphasis on applied learning
• Strong exposure and critical analysis of existing, new and emerging technologies which enable strategic change
• Leading lectures in strategic thinking and organisational development strategy

Career Prospects:

Graduates are expected to be strong strategic thinkers and formulators of high level directional plans and thus are attractive to large organisations seeking strategy management or consultancy. Coupled with their primary degree, graduates of the M.Sc. in Management (Strategy) will part of a specialised and valuable select group of graduates with a strategic comprehension and knowledge skill set specializing in strategy.

The career path of a graduate of the programme would ideally be suited to senior management at a strategic level within an organisation or independently at a consultancy firm or as an entrepreneur.

Entry Requirements:

The minimum entry requirements for the programme are:

A second class honours grade 1 honours degree in a Business discipline, or an equivalent international qualification.

If you have achieved a second class honours grade 2 honours degree in a Business discipline, you may still obtain a place. This will depend on the availability of places. You may be invited for interview.

If, as is normally the case, demand from qualified applicants exceeds available places, applicants will be ranked for admission purposes on the basis of prior academic performance and, where relevant, performance at interview. Candidates who have not received their degree results by the application closing date may receive conditional offers.

This programme accepts students who have successfully completed the DCU Pre-Masters International Foundation Programme (IFP).

All courses are delivered through the English language but applicants should have sufficient language competency to enable them to pursue their studies in their chosen host countries where English is not the native language. Evidence of an acceptable TOEFL score, or equivalent standard, is required.