When it comes to earning a Master of Science in Business degree, you have plenty of options at the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. You can choose an MS degree focused on accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing science, or supply chain management.
With so many choices, how do you decide which is right for you? Here are four questions to ask yourself to help you find the right degree:
Do you want to develop advanced analytical skills in a particular area of business?
At Katz, which is among the 5% of business schools with AACSB accreditation, we offer STEM-designated programs that bundle business analytics with the critical business fields listed above. The additional technical skills provide the up-to-date skills that are needed in today’s workforce.
Yi-Ting Chen (MS ‘23) points out other benefits of enrolling in our MS programs: “Katz has a great reputation as a business school, and it offers small classes that allow students to interact with professors and classmates. The experience-based learning component allowed me to cultivate a variety of skills, such as honing my critical thinking capabilities in real-world scenarios.”
Do you plan to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)?
Whether your undergraduate degree is in accounting or not, we’ll help you fulfill the requirements for the MS in Accounting while preparing you to pass the CPA Exam or start the process of becoming a CFA.
Nikki Hartman (MS ’15) is using her degree as manager of Capital Markets Advisory in EY’s London office.
“My Katz MS in Accounting degree taught me the skills I needed and also the networking opportunities to be successful within the Big Four,” Hartman says. “In the international accounting course, I learned not only accounting differences, but also key cultural differences in business, that allow me to work with teams from across the globe. Currently, my team has over 41 countries represented.”
Do you aspire to manage technology projects?
If you answered yes, consider our STEM-designated program in management information systems specializing in IT project management. Explore the many options available to further enhance your technical skills such as a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics. or an advanced certificate from the School of Computing and Information.
All MS in Business degrees are available for both our full-time and part-time graduate students, which was good news for Emily Ann Yarish (MS ’22).
“Being a part-time student while working as a full-time security analyst at UPMC, I was able to take courses that would directly impact my day-to-day work,” Yarish says. “This degree has expanded my understanding of how to manage IT systems in a large organization like UPMC, and how to stay on top of the new technologies I will meet throughout my career.”
Do you dream of starting or running a business?
Our programs provide a comprehensive foundation in business management along with concentrations in such areas as entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, international business, operations, project management, marketing, sustainability, and more. You can customize the program to suit your needs and professional goals.
Our MS graduates are being hired by top companies, embarking on successful careers in technical areas of business, and starting their own ventures.
Why the Katz MS degree is worth the investment:
At Katz, most of our MS programs can be completed in 9-18 months of full-time classes. Part-time students can attend classes online or on campus and complete their degree in approximately two years. Katz earns praise from students for:
- World-class faculty that is supportive and available
- Diverse student body with a culture of collaboration and support
- Opportunities to gain real-world experience outside the classroom
- Access to members of the Pittsburgh business community
- Individualized career management and academic advising services
Ready to Learn More?
Watch a video on this page to hear what faculty and students say about the MS programs, then scroll down that page to read the details of each program.
If you are interested in admissions information, have your questions answered by reading this page or write admissions@katz.pitt.edu.
Application Deadlines
We review applications on a rolling basis. The application deadlines for full-time students wishing to start in the fall are November 1, January 1, March 1 (recommended for scholarship consideration), May 1 (final deadline for international applicants), and July 1 (deadline for domestic applicants).
For working professionals interested in enrolling in a part-time Master of Science program, the deadlines are July 1 for starting in August, November 1 for starting in January, and March 1 for starting in May.
