Management: Career Guide to JMU Majors

Overview 

The Management major is one of eight academic majors offered within the College of Business. Since it is focused on working with others, it is the broadest and most generally applicable of all the business majors. Learn more about this major by watching the JMU Management promotional video.

Concentration

Human Resource Management (HRM)
Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ENT)
Management Consulting (MC)

Admission and Progression Standards

Visit the Management Major site to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major.

Students who have completed their lower-level business requirements must formally apply for admission to the College of Business. Students interested in pursuing a business major are encouraged to begin taking lower level business courses as early as possible. The Management major has no unique progression standards other than those of the College of Business (CoB). Any student who is in good standing and has been admitted to the CoB is welcome to declare a Management major.

Description of Major

The Management program offers a curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Management. Management majors are exposed to information, exercises, cases, and assignments designed to enhance leadership skills, critical thinking, and analytical decision-making abilities that will help them lead with integrity and consideration. Students gain a basic understanding of how to apply key managerial concepts and theories in the contemporary work environment, how to integrate the functional areas of an organization and understand and appreciate human resource policies and procedures used by organizations and managers. JMU's Management curriculum focuses on technical skills, the ability to work well with people, and the ability to analyze and solve complex problems. Because of its broad applicability, the major prepares graduates for entry‑level jobs in large, medium and small profit and non‑profit organizations, as well as government. Students who seek to go on to graduate school or help with a family business are also extremely well served by this major.

More About the Field 

Management is simply achieving accomplishment with others. It is the most broadly applicable skill set taught at the College of Business being useful in both the private and public sector and at all levels of organizations. After all, the common denominator of almost every job is interacting with other people! Management is a dynamic profession. Skills that are helpful to managers when interacting with employees and customers include communications, negotiations, and empathy. But it does not end there. Managers must be mindful of the broader economic, social, political and technological environment that influences their discretion and provides context for their action. In addition, managers are often well served by thinking in an ethical manner, realizing that who they are as a manager is inexorably tied to who they are as a person. Students in management study functions of management, human behavior, motivation, and related subjects such as human resource management, management of technology, and entrepreneurship. Understanding these areas is especially helpful with common tasks that managers perform in organizations such as: establishing organizational goals; developing long and short range strategies; using managerial tools to forecast future developments in the economy, the industry and the organization; and providing direction and coordination of the organizational workforce.

Specialization

While most students elect not to have a concentration, there are three ways to tailor your management studies to your specific interests: Human Resource Management (HRM), Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ENT), and Management Consulting (MC). The concentration in Human Resource Management is designed for management majors who want to focus on the human resource aspects of work force recruitment, selection, training, development, and evaluation of employees. This concentration fosters the development of knowledge and problem solving skills within the component areas of human resource management. It provides the clearest career guidance and path for you upon graduation. The concentration in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is designed for management majors who desire careers in technology related or entrepreneurial environments in small firms, as well as large, established corporations. Students are taught ways to distinguish "sounds good" from "is good" as well as the practical skills needed to work effectively with new technologies, manage the innovation process, and develop or contribute to an entrepreneurial venture.

Complementary Majors and Minors 

There are numerous combinations that could be beneficial to graduates. Especially useful combinations include, Computer Information Systems, Management Science, Psychology, and Public Policy and Administration. Other useful areas include: Anthropology, Art History, Communication Studies, Conflict Analysis and Intervention, Economics, Environmental Studies, Environmental Management, Gerontology, Health Communication, Human Science, Integrated Science and Technology, Kinesiology, Media Arts and Design, Military Leadership, Modern Foreign Language, Music Industry, Political Communication, Sport Communication or Urban and Regional Studies.

Characteristics of Successful Students

Since it involves getting work done through others, the most important characteristic for managers is empathy – understanding others. Successful managers also often possess the following characteristics: strong analytical and critical thinking skills; a high energy level; an enjoyment of variety rather than a desire for the routine; the ability to multitask and make effective decisions; an achievement orientation; excellent interpersonal skills (the ability to work with others cooperatively); and the ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing.

Careers

Because of its broad applicability, many diverse career paths can benefit from studying management. In fact, many entry level jobs quickly turn into "management" jobs! The listing below offers examples of possible career paths but is not meant to be comprehensive.

• Assistant Manager
• Benefit Consultant
• Budget Analyst
• Business Consultant
• Business Education Teacher
• Business Owner
• Business Reporter
• Chamber of Commerce Officer
• Claims Adjuster
• College Enrollment Services Coordinator
• College Recruiter
• Commercial Sales Representative
• Community Affairs Director
• Contract Administrator
• Convention Coordinator
• Corporate Trainer
• Customer Service Representative
• Development Officer
• Distribution Manager
• E-Services Marketing Specialist
• Entrepreneur
• Events Planner
• Executive Recruiter
• Facilities Manager
• Financial Aid Counselor
• Freight Broker
• Fundraiser
• Government Investigator
• Health Care Administrator
• Human Resource Administrator
• Human Resource Benefits Manager
• Insurance Agent
• Inventory Management Specialist
• Job Analyst
• Management Analyst
• Management Trainee
• Merchandise Manager
• Operations Manager
• Payroll Specialist
• Political Director
• Portfolio Manager
• Pro Team Operations Coordinator
• Product Line Manager
• Production Supervisor
• Project Finance Administrator
• Public Administrator
• Purchasing Agent
• Recruiting Coordinator
• Restaurant Manager
• Sports Agent
• Stadium Manager
• Store Manager
• Systems Analyst
• Systems Engineer Trainer
• Technical Recruiter
• Technical Support Specialist
• Training/Development Director
• Underwriter
• Warehouse Manager

Who Employs Graduates?

Over the years our majors have proven adept at securing positions with a wide range of employers. In the last few years we have had graduates join the following: Accenture, Anderson Windows, Apex Systems, Deloitte Consulting, Department of the Navy, Enterprise, Fox News Channel, GEICO, American Woodmark, Marriott, IBM, Chevron, BB&T, Nordstrom, Northrop Grumman, NVR/Ryan Homes, Pepsi Bottling, Bearing Point, State Farm, Target, the U.S. Army, and Wal-Mart among many others.

Internships and Experiential Opportunities 

To help identify and articulate their specific interests students are strongly encouraged to do an internship. We offer MGT 494, the Management Internship, or MGT 495, the Human Resource management Internship. All students seeking academic credit for the internship experience must submit an application to, and have the permission of, the Management Department Internship Coordinator.  Students also have the opportunity to become involved in client consulting through The Center for Entrepreneurship.  In addition, many classes such as MGT 472 Venture Creation and MGT 467 Human Resource Strategy, have applied projects that pair up students with business challenges such as starting a business or consulting on a project for an organization in the community.

Explore other opportunities for learning experiences and get involved in a major related student club.

View our list of internship coordinators for each major.

Career Profiles 

Administrative Services Managers
Financial Managers
Industrial Production Managers
Insurance Underwriters
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents