• Many students study for a master's in management degree instead of an MBA.students image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  While many students entering graduate business programs do so to earn their MBA, some choose a different route and study toward a master's degree in management. These students often perceive themselves as future managers of offices, departments and companies where they must use leadership and imagination to deal with differing personalities and the rigors of the business world. A number of colleges and universities offer graduate programs in management.
  
  

Harvard University

• Harvard University's Extension School allows students to study full-time or part-time in a classroom or through online classes. Students studying for their master's degree in management have two different curricula from which to choose: general management or finance. Each course load includes 12 classes for a total of 48 credits. Students must maintain at 3.0 grade point average and have five years to complete the program. Students must take a minimum of six classes in person. The program also requires students to complete three prerequisite courses including accounting, economics and principles of finance.
  
  Harvard University
  Extension School
  51 Brattle Street
  Cambridge, MA 02138
  617-495-4024
  harvard.edu
  
  

Aquinas College

• Students studying for their master's in management at Aquinas College have the option of five different specializations: communications, international management, marketing management, organization development and sustainable business. Although the program does not require its students to have earned a business-related bachelor's degree during their undergraduate studies, all applicants must have at least two years of professional experience to be considered.
  
  To earn their master's degree students must complete a total of 39 credit hours, which takes a minimum of 16 months. The program does accept part-time study, allowing students a total of seven years to finish the degree.
  
  Aquinas College
  1607 Robinson Road Southeast
  Grand Rapids, MI 49506
  616-632-8900
  aquinas.edu
  
  

Stanford University

• The Sloan Masters Program at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business offers full-time management study that students typically complete in just over 10 months. Upon graduation students receive a master's of science degree in management. To be a student in the program requires a minimum of eight years of professional experience, although the average among 2010 students sits at 11 years.
  
  Although the program requires no prerequisite classwork, it highly recommends students brush up on their knowledge of calculus, statistics, accounting and computer software such as Excel before beginning the program.
  
  Stanford University
  Stanford Graduate School of Business
  518 Memorial Way
  Stanford, CA 94305
  650-723-2149
  stanford.edu