Master of Science in Business Management and Leadership

Format: Online
Application Deadlines
  • Fall 2024 Regular Deadline: June 6, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Priority Deadline: Pending

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 2024 Regular Deadline: June 6, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Priority Deadline: Pending
Apply Now

Student/Alumni Profiles

Sara Yahia

MS in Business Management and Leadership 2019

"CUNY SPS provided me with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in my career, especially in the field of online learning. It instilled in me a commitment to continuous improvement and professional growth."

Lynne Alba

MS in Business Management and Leadership; BS in Business 2023 & 2017

"As the director of talent acquisition, one of the most rewarding facets of my role lies in the dynamic intersection of leadership, creativity, and strategic thinking."

Patrycja Golinska

MS in Business Management and Leadership 2020

"CUNY SPS has allowed me to make connections with others that have similar interests and goals as me. The students I met were from all different walks of life, which is what makes CUNY so amazing and diverse."

Kris Senior

MS in Business Management and Leadership 2020

“During my time at CUNY SPS, I worked alongside some of the most incredible minds I have come to know, all with intriguing inner-city constructed backgrounds. Watching these minds grow together with the strength of a community of similar backgrounds was the aspect of attending CUNY SPS that will stay with me for my lifetime."

Recent News About Master of Science in Business Management and Leadership

CUNY SPS Professor Dr. Joseph Foy at IRS training session for students

IRS Trains College Students to Fight Terrorism

June 06, 2024

NY1

CUNY SPS Online Business Programs Professor Dr. Joseph Foy organized and moderated a one-day training session focused on fighting terrorism through financial investigations. The event, held in May, was a partnership between the IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) and CUNY. Students from CUNY SPS, John Jay, and Brooklyn Colleges participated. Over 40 accounting and business students were sworn in as honorary Special Agents. Dr. Foy is quoted in this NY1 article describing the event.

Utilizing ChatGPT to Develop Career Building Skills

May 29, 2024

Transformation CUNY

On May 13, 2024, Dr. Joseph Foy, Assistant Professor/Associate Director, CUNY SPS Online Business Programs, presented to the Chancellor’s Office of Transformation, Career Success Fellows, “Utilizing ChatGPT to Develop Career Building Skills.” The presentation is part of his ongoing important research using AI to enhance pedagogy. The Office of Transformation accelerates and catalyzes transformation within the University to magnify the collective impact of CUNY’s 25 colleges and amplify CUNY’s position as the nation’s premier university for equitable social, economic, and civic impact. Dr. Foy was selected as a Career Success Fellow in the Spring 2023 semester.

The Effects of Message Quotes on Tax Compliance

April 05, 2024

Journal of Forensic Accounting Research

Dr. Joseph Foy, a professor in the CUNY SPS Business programs, recently co-published an article for the Journal of Forensic Accounting Research with J.V. Sampath, J. A. DiGabriele, and H. Abbu. The paper, "The Effects of Message Quotes on Tax Compliance," examines the effects of regulatory focus and regulatory fit theories on taxpayer compliance when taxpayers are exposed to predetermined quotes by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or other tax authority officials.
CUNY SPS alum Sarah Yahia named to 40 Under 40 list

Arab America Foundation Announces 40 Under 40 Awardees--Class of 2024

April 04, 2024

Arab America Foundation

CUNY SPS MS Business and Leadership alum Sara Yahia (2019) was recently named to the 40 Under 40 list compiled by the Arab America Foundation. Yahia, a member of the CUNY SPS Alumni Engagement Council, is an HR expert and has published several books exploring societal issues.