Although specialized knowledge and technical skills are critical in landing an entry-level job, developing management and leadership skills can help you succeed at that job and give you the edge that will help you advance in your career. The aim of the management major is to build the skills that executives need to manage and lead others.

Management majors will be expected to have a second major or a minor in Risk Management and Insurance. The second major can be within, or outside of, the School of Business. Thus, students who major in management will graduate with a broad understanding of business (from the School of Business' core courses), specialized knowledge of a business discipline from their second major (accounting, marketing, finance, risk management, or MIS), and strong management skills from their management major. This is the best recipe to land a good first job and also progress rapidly in a successful management career.

The management major is focused on understanding the behavior of people and groups in organizations. The courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively motivate people, manage projects, solve problems, and make decisions. A special feature of the required coursework is participation in two skills-assessment centers. These are structured experiences in which you will practice and receive feedback in areas such as communication, leading groups, and problem solving. These centers are widely used in leading-edge corporations and use experiential exercises, video feedback, and personal coaching to understand your assets and limitations in leadership skills. Embedding these experiences in coursework will help you gain self-awareness and practice leadership skills with the opportunity and resources to attain your full leadership potential.