Master of Science in Business Management and Leadership

Format: Online
Application Deadlines
  • Fall 2025 Priority Extended Deadline: April 17, 2025
  • Fall 2025 Regular Deadline: May 22, 2025

Please note there is no application fee for graduate applications submitted by the Priority Deadline.

The MS in Business Management and Leadership online degree program inspires working professionals to become innovators, influencers, and decision-makers across all areas of business. With an emphasis on maintaining corporate ethical practices in a global environment, the program examines case studies and organizational models to help students solve timely issues related to diversity, sustainability, and consumer trust. Unlike the MBA, the MS degree provides versatility and flexibility to all students as they learn the core business functions in addition to the emerging industry areas. The program grounds itself in the ability to help students analyze numerical and non-numerical data alike so they can become better at explaining and justifying their decisions.

The MS in Business Management and Leadership program includes core and elective courses such as Finance, Accounting, Economics, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, and Human Resource Management.

Studying closely with an experienced network of supportive faculty, industry experts, and peers from around the country and the world, students in the program enhance their abilities to leverage managerial skills, effectively execute business strategies, and remain competitive. Additionally, students have the opportunity to take advantage of the CUNY School of Professional Studies Entrepreneurship Network, which connects students and their business aspirations to the many activities supported by CUNY.

Career and Academic Prospects

The MS in Business Management and Leadership program is designed as a vehicle for promotion, entry into a new field at the management level, or the groundwork for further study. Students and graduates can pursue careers as a strategy director, payroll manager, public relations director, business resiliency analyst, operations risk manager, data analyst, paid search campaign manager, e-business specialist, and human resources generalist.

Admissions Criteria

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Applicants are required to write a personal statement, upload a resume, and provide two letters of recommendation which speaks to their academic and professional abilities. Letters of recommendation may be submitted before or after submitting an application. Please note that an individual interview may be necessary.

Students may need to take up to four (4) prerequisite courses in order to be ready for graduate level work. These are undergraduate courses in financial accounting, statistics, micro- or macroeconomics, and spreadsheets. Courses that fulfill the prerequisites must have been completed with an earned grade of C or better. Some of the core courses are without prerequisites and can be taken as early as the first semester in parallel with these undergraduate courses if required.

Transcripts from all institutions attended, both undergraduate and graduate, must be submitted. Work experience relevant to graduate study is strongly preferred.

Applicants not meeting the criteria will be denied admission to the Master of Science in Business Management and Leadership (MSBML) but may be offered admission to the Advanced Certificate in Management (ACM)-MSBML Bridge Program. This option consists of 3 graduate-level CUNY SPS Online Business Programs courses taught by professors in the Master's program and culminates in receiving the ACM. Upon successful completion of all 3 ACM courses with a grade of "B" or better in each course, students will again be reviewed for admission to the MSBML. Upon admission to the MSBML, 2 of the 3 ACM courses will automatically transfer over for credit to the MSBML. Students enrolled in the Advanced Certificate in Management do not qualify for financial aid. To be considered for the ACM-MSBML Bridge Program, you must first apply to the MSBML program.

Read more about the Advanced Certificate in Management.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall 2025 Priority Extended Deadline: April 17, 2025
  • Fall 2025 Regular Deadline: May 22, 2025
Apply Now

Student/Alumni Profiles

Elaine Montilla

MS Business Management and Leadership 2015

"As an alumna, I continue to be involved and try to give back as much as I can to this community."

Kristen Clonan

MS in Business Management and Leadership 2013

"The curriculum gave me the bravery to be a solutions-oriented thinker. It also taught me about the importance of both stakeholders and shareholders, and the idea of maximizing value across sectors...”

Tara Santos

MS in Business Management and Leadership 2020

“The best piece of advice I would give would be to get involved! This will enrich your college experience. You will see how much support there is and gain the opportunity to network within the CUNY SPS community.”

Rishi Maharaj

MS in Business Management and Leadership / BS in Business 2021/2020

"It is never too late. Regardless of where you are in life, there is no better time like the present and achieve your goals, and remember to never stop learning."

Recent news about Master of Science in Business Management and Leadership

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March 12, 2025

USA Today

​In a recent USA Today article, CUNY SPS Professor Dr. Diane Merians Penaloza analyzes the consumer response to Target's rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, highlighted by a 40-day boycott led by Rev. Jamal Bryant. Dr. Penaloza notes that companies scaling back DEI efforts risk damaging their brand reputation and alienating key customer segments, potentially impacting long-term profitability. ​

40-day Boycott of Target Is Under Way: Here's What to Know About the Target Fast

March 10, 2025

USA Today

CUNY SPS Professor Dr. Merians Penaloza, from the online Business programs, spoke with USA Today, about the implications of Target's 40-day boycott initiated in response to the company's rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. She highlights that such consumer-led protests underscore the growing demand for corporate accountability in social justice matters.

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CUNY SPS BS Business student Corey Pettway won first place in the NYC regional competition NYBPC (New York Business Plan Competition) for his business plan to engineer a technology-based educational tool called ‘Good Job.’ Dr. Diane Merians Penaloza mentored Pettway as he developed his business idea and pitch. Pettway will now advance to the NYBPC finals competition.

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23rd Annual CUNY IT Conference

November 25, 2024

City University of New York

CUNY SPS will be well represented at the 23rd Annual CUNY IT Conference: Advancing CUNY: Intentional Connections & Smart Collaborations, to be held on December 5 and 6, 2024. Presenters include faculty Joseph Foy (Business); Lilly Mathew, Olga Kagan, and Mary Joy Garcia (Nursing); and Lianna Scull (Sociology and Human Relations); as well as nine staff members from the School's Offices of Faculty Development and Instructional Technology, Student Financial Services, Institutional Research, and Academic Advisement.