MBA in Strategy & Strategic Management

Featured Online MBA Programs in Strategy and Strategic Management

The online MBA program at Ohio University’s College of Business offers a concentration in strategic selling and sales leadership for prospective students seeking to advance their careers into leadership positions. Students complete the program with a capstone course and have the opportunity to learn from experienced faculty members with practical experience in the industry.

The online MBA consists of 35 credits: 26 core credits and nine electives. The elective courses in the strategic selling and sales leadership concentration include building and developing customer relationships; sales analytics; and sales leadership.

Professionals with two or more years of work experience are encouraged to apply, as this program helps equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in leadership roles within the sales field. Ohio University also offers a graduate certificate in strategic sales and sales leadership.

William Paterson University offers a fully online MBA in sales strategy, comprising core courses such as accounting for strategic business decision-making; financial and economic global strategy; innovation, strategy, and corporate sustainability; influence, persuasion, and negotiation strategy; and an integrated learning capstone experience.

The sales strategy concentration adds courses in data-driven decision-making and sales analytics; strategic sales leadership; strategic sales process, planning, and design; and marketing strategy.

Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business offers a fully online MBA program with an emphasis in strategic human resource management. The 12-course degree program features eight-week programs, while the emphasis areas include 14 courses. The emphasis adds one semester to the completion timeline and includes courses in acquiring, developing, and leveraging human capital and designing human resources for competitive advantage. GCU emphasizes business concepts taught through a Christian worldview.

To be eligible, prospective students must have a minimum GPA of 2.8 or higher in undergraduate coursework, or be eligible for admission through GMAT or GRE test scores. GCU’s Colangelo College of Business offers a variety of networking and career-building opportunities, as well as scholarship options for qualified students.

UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School’s online master of business administration program specializing in strategy and consulting prepares students for careers in corporate strategy and consulting. Focusing on experiential learning, students in this program develop specialized and foundational skills in strategic management and leadership, team collaboration and problem-solving, fact-based analysis, and action-oriented communication.

Consisting of 62 credits, the program includes courses such as analytical tools for decision-making, business strategy, strategic economics, business communication, corporate strategy, information for product and customer strategy, global supply chain management, and managerial decision-making.

Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university along with at least two years of professional experience, a completed online application, a current resume, transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, two letters of recommendation, two essays, GMAT or GRE scores for applicants who have less than five years of professional experience, and TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores for non-native English speakers.
Graduates of this program will be well-equipped to take up roles such as generalist consultants, directors of corporate strategy, specialist consultants, boutique consulting firm owners, and freelance consultants.

Capella University provides an online doctor of business administration (DBA) program with three specializations: general management, organizational leadership and development, and strategy and innovation. To apply, candidates must submit proof of a completed master’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or higher).

These online DBA programs comprise 18 courses, including instruction in proposal writing; data analysis practice and IRB approval, project results, and units for the final reviews and presentation. Specialization courses for the DBA in strategy and innovation include strategy and innovation – theorizing, crafting, executing; strategic digital transformation; managing Innovation, design, and creativity; seminar: strategy and innovation topic development; and seminar: strategy and innovation literature review.

Winthrop University offers its online MBA degree in two concentrations, including strategic leadership, and lauds its rigorous curriculum for preparing graduates for the business world with confidence, problem-solving skills, and leadership abilities. Students in this program will develop the confidence and capabilities to solve today’s toughest business challenges.

Winthrop requires MBA candidates to complete 36 credits, with 27 coming from core courses and nine from the strategic leadership concentration. The curriculum includes core courses such as Managerial Economics, Financial Policy Management, Sustainable Operations, and Marketing Management. Courses from the concentration include advanced human resources management and labor relations, leadership dynamics, and international business culture. The program emphasizes the support of the faculty and career guidance counselors available to on-campus MBA students.

The major admission requirements for the program include a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, five years or more of professional work experience, official transcripts from all institutions attended, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants. For those applicants with a non-business undergraduate degree, a series of prerequisite business courses must be completed before starting the online MBA program. Though the GMAT is required, an exam waiver is available for qualified applicants based on past work experience.

Wake Forest University offers a 45-credit online MBA program that can be completed in a little over two years. There’s a general track and three concentrations available, including one in strategy and leadership. This specialization’s instruction imparts skills in negotiation, contemporary leadership topics, and implementing strategy. Students generally take two to three courses every semester.

Courses last seven weeks, with two terms per semester. Students can start in the fall, spring, or summer.

To apply for this program, students must submit proof of a bachelor’s degree, GRE or GMAT scores (waiver available for qualified applicants), a resume, contact information for two references, and transcripts. Prospective students must also prepare for an interview if invited. Please note that candidates with at least two years of professional experience are preferred. The WFU online MBA currently accepts students from Florida, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia.

Wake Forest University also offers a graduate certificate for integrated marketing strategy and planning that helps marketing professionals utilize data-driven insights to enhance communication strategies and maximize distribution channels.

Located in New York, New York, Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business offers an online master of science (MS) in strategic marketing communications. Courses are offered in 10-week terms in the evenings in a live online format. The MS in strategic marketing communications includes 33 credits and a three-day residency in New York City. This program offers live, online classes once a week, with the flexibility to complete the degree in as little as 12 months.

Courses in this emphasis area include persuasive corporate communications; crisis communication and leadership strategies; social and digital media; and advanced business communication. Students in this program will learn how to create effective communications that build lasting relationships with consumers, using real-world scenarios and a final hands-on project. Applicants are required to have three years of relevant work experience before applying.

The W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University offers prospective MBA students the opportunity to further their education through the school’s online master of science (MS) in digital audience strategy. Students in this program can specialize in strategic marketing communications or digital audience strategy, allowing them to expand their skillset and become leaders in their field.

The MS program in digital audience strategy teaches students how to measure and analyze consumer behavior online, which they can then use to develop targeted growth strategies for various clients. Undergraduate students can complete a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in marketing in five years via the accelerated program.

Through hands-on learning experiences, students will gain valuable real-world experience as they work towards achieving their degree. Global opportunities are available with summer exchange programs. Graduates from this program are prepared to pursue careers as marketing associates, marketing managers, market research analysts, and SEO specialists. Overall, ASU’s online MBA MS in marketing programs provide prospective students with the opportunity to enhance their professional success through specialized knowledge and experience.

Villanova University’s online MBA shares a curriculum and highly accomplished faculty with its on-campus equivalent. The school connects its students with industry thought-leaders and leading companies and organizations. The MBA in strategic management (one of five concentration options) prepares students to assume greater leadership roles by teaching them the tools for making sound business decisions.

This requires the completion of 21 courses (48 credits) taken for six semesters, including the summer semester. Students may finish their degree in as little as two years. Some of the courses in the curriculum are analytical methods for data mining, corporate governance, building brands via promotion & other means, corporate restructuring, business intelligence, and international business management.

The program emphasizes instilling a global perspective in its graduates and immersing students in real-world business experiences. GRE or GMAT scores are required. To get accepted into the program, applicants must submit a completed online application, a current resume, Two essays, official transcripts from all institutions attended, two letters of recommendation, and TOEFL scores for international applicants.

Graduates of this program can take on roles such as financial manager, financial analyst, chief financial officer, project IT manager, marketing manager, and general manager.

The Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics offers an online MBA degree with a concentration in strategic leadership which can be completed entirely online. This program was ranked among the top 50 online MBA programs in the country by the US News & World Report in 2022.

Through this concentration, students will develop the required knowledge and skills to influence others, manage change, set strategic direction, build teams, and navigate the complex human and analytical dimensions inherent in any leadership role.

UD requires the completion of 16 courses, 11 from the core MBA curriculum and five from the strategic leadership concentration, for a combined total of 44 credits. For those looking to obtain a degree quickly, this strategic leadership MBA can be completed in as little as 16 months, with students determining their own pace.

Core courses include analytics fundamentals, economic analysis for business policy, marketing management, financial management, and corporate strategy. The strategic leadership concentration includes courses such as negotiation & conflict resolution, managing the global enterprise, strategic leadership & change, and advanced topics in leadership and teams.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree, a GPA of 2.8, and two years of work experience. GRE or GMAT scores are required for admissions, though exam waivers are available for applicants based on one’s undergraduate GPA, work experience, and math education history. In a nod to Delaware students, those who have obtained a bachelor’s from Lerner or a BA in economics from the University of Delaware may also qualify for an exam waiver.

The American University Kogod School of Business provides an innovative array of online MBA programs, including one with a focus in consulting. To apply for this program, students must submit a personal statement (two essay prompts), a resume, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts from a bachelor’s degree program.

This online MBA program in consulting has core coursework in business law, ethics, and governance; financial accounting; managerial economics; strategic thinking for decisions; marketing management; management information systems; financial management; strategic decision making; management of organization and human capital; managerial statistics; and managerial accounting and operations management.

Additionally, those in the consulting concentration take classes such as business intelligence; intercultural communications; management consulting practices and methodologies; business insights through analytics; and integrated marketing communication.

The Tepper School of Business, ranked the #1 online MBA by U.S. News & World Report, offers students a part-time program taught by the same renowned faculty that instructs on campus. This hybrid degree program focuses on both strategic analytics and leadership development (with one-on-one coaching available through the Accelerate Leadership Center).

Online students can sit in on live classes and participate in offline group projects during “Access Weekends,” which are held at various locations. Tepper claims that having leadership as part of its online and on-campus core curriculum is what separates it from other programs.

The curriculum explores topics such as probability and statistics, managing people and teams, ethics and leadership, marketing management, operations management, managerial economics, statistical decision-making, and corporate strategy.

For admission to the program, applicants require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in the U.S. or an equivalent degree from a foreign country, a completed online application form, a current resume, one professional recommendation, unofficial transcripts, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants. Please note that either the GMAT or GRE is required (though the GMAT is preferred), and applicants may also apply for generous loans or scholarships through Tepper’s Financial Aid Office.

The University of Houston in Victoria offers a cross-disciplinary, strategic MBA that educates students on stepping into leadership roles, developing business strategy, and refining decision-making skills. The program emphasizes simulations and case studies to prepare students for real-world business problem-solving, and students may combine on-campus and online classes in pursuing their degrees.

Instead of offering strategic management as a concentration, the University of Houston-Victoria program is a strategic MBA that offers concentrations within the strategic framework. The school requires 30 to 39 graduate semester credits, depending on undergraduate coursework, and students can complete the strategic MBA in as little as 18 months. The University of Houston-Victoria does offer GMAT exam waivers and one of the lower tuition rates among its peer schools.
The curriculum includes core courses such as strategic cost management, management information systems & data analytics, organizational leadership & ethics, strategic marketing management, financial management, and a seminar in strategic management.

Graduates of the program will be well-equipped to work as management consultants, investment fund managers, business analysts, marketing managers, human resources specialists, and entrepreneurs.

The University of North Texas offers an online master of business administration program in strategic management providing students the wide expo­sure to knowledge and skills required for managing organizations.

Made up of 36 credits, the curriculum includes courses such as accounting for management, financial management, marketing management, organizational behavior & analysis, strategic management, international management, and leadership research and development.

The major admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or its equivalent, a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0, official transcripts from every college or university attended, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants.

On successful completion of the program, graduates can take up roles such as chief executives, sales managers, general and operations managers, compliance managers, and business intelligence analysts.

Liberty University offers a 100 percent online master of business administration program in strategic management preparing students to effectively analyze operations, formulate strategies, and communicate it clearly to everyone in their organization. Students will learn how workforce management, bringing a product to market, and organizational design are all part of smart strategic management. The program will equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to set goals, analyze their current processes, and formulate a successful strategy that culminates in success.

To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a nationally or regionally accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or above, a completed admission application, official college transcripts, undergraduate business prerequisites, and proof of English proficiency.

With 45 credits, the program includes courses such as strategic marketing management, legal issues in business, business research methods, organizational design & structure, ethical leadership, workforce planning & employment, executive leadership & management, and policy & strategy in global competition.

Upon completion, graduates will be highly qualified to pursue executive and management-level positions such as business consultant, marketing manager, business strategy manager, recruitment specialist, chief executive officer, and training manager, among many such roles.

Bethel University offers an online MBA program that consists of a total of 42 credits, out of which 30 credits are from the core curriculum, and 12 are from any one of the eight concentrations. One such concentration is the strategy and execution concentration, where students will learn about creating an ongoing innovation environment, crafting advanced business strategies, and then executing on those strategies. They will also learn to bring a new product or service to the market. This program can be completed entirely online.

Applicants to the program must have a baccalaureate degree from an internationally or regionally accredited institution, a grade point average of 3.0 or better, two years of work experience, a completed online application, official college transcripts, a current resume, a statement of purpose, and two professional references.

As part of the program, students will delve into managerial accounting, finance, advanced competitive advantage, strategy execution, marketing management, managerial economics, strategic communication for leaders, and organizational diagnostics and health.

New England College offers an online master of business administration program with a concentration in strategic leadership which is designed for working professionals who operate in a rapidly changing and global environment. Students will address strategic opportunities produced by a global economy and entrepreneurial approaches to solve problems and capitalize on new business ventures.

The program comprises 40 credits, out of 28 credits are for MBA core requirements, and the remaining 12 are from the concentration. The core courses include Organizational Leadership and Change, managerial accounting, economics for decision-making, strategic marketing, and strategic planning and policy. The strategic leadership concentration includes courses such as organizational communication, negotiation & conflict resolution, relationship selling strategies, and project management.

Admissions Requirements – Online MBA Programs

Every MBA program in international business has different admission requirements. Some common requirements derived from the programs above include:

• A bachelor’s degree that includes a satisfactory GPA and a focus on business, finance, statistics, math, or economics
• A certain GMAT score, which can sometimes be waived if a candidate has other graduate-level or higher academic credentials
• Some professional experience in a business/financial field
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for non-native speakers of English
• Personal statement of goals and objectives
• Letters of recommendation
• Completion of certain pre-requisite business and finance courses or an abridged overview for candidates with non-business backgrounds

MBA Program & Business School Accreditation

An MBA from an accredited academic program means students are receiving an education that adheres to established standards for quality, vital subjects, and current knowledge areas.

For institutions or programs, the accreditation process may include campus visits or student and faculty surveys, as well as examinations of a school’s graduation rate, career placement (i.e., student outcomes), industry involvement, and alumni support. To keep accreditation current, each institution or program must engage in an intermittent renewal process. Accreditation for business programs is done by two major accrediting bodies.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) focuses on promoting and improving programs in business administration, management, and related courses such as operations, human resources, and real estate. The AACSB recognizes the importance of faculty research and provides students with solid knowledge foundations.

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) also works to accredit business programs in higher education. This newer organization focuses on tangible learning outcomes and quality improvement, especially as the workforce demands change.

MBA Salary & Career Outlook

In the United States, occupations within the management sector are expanding at a rate surpassing the national average between 2022 and 2023. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts that over the next ten years, 1.1 million new roles will be added across various industries.

In particular, the demand for financial managers is expected to surge by 16 percent, resulting in 126,600 new job opportunities from 2022 to 2032. These positions offer a median yearly salary of $139,790. However, as the BLS outlined in May 2023, actual salaries can vary significantly depending on one’s education and experience.

• 10th percentile: $82,870 per year
• 25th percentile: $110,190
• 50th percentile (median): $156,100
• 75th percentile: $210,830
• 90th percentile: more than $239,200