MA Management (Full Time)

This wide-ranging suite of programmes will equip you with the core management skills and applied focus required in modern business - whilst enabling you to pursue areas of personal interest.

Course overview 

The MA Management course at Southampton Solent University is part of our MA Management programme.  

Students with a range of business-related and non-business experience will benefit from this programme, as it develops a strong management focus irrespective of whether you choose MA Management or opt to follow a more specialised path in either Finance or International Business. 

All three courses enable you to appreciate the multidisciplinary and often complex nature of business and its management in a range of different contexts and situations, together with a more complete understanding of the role of management. 

You will gain critical insights into the increasingly complex requirements of management in a global context, whether you are looking to enter large international organisations or to explore how to sustain a micro-business amidst global competition. 

Moreover, you will develop academic knowledge within the business management arena to Master's level, and evaluate the application of this new knowledge to real-life, work-based scenarios. 

This course suits those looking for a flexible programme and those wanting to draw upon a wide range of management skills. 

Course content  

Core units

Operations Management
This unit considers a range of relevant and reliable operational management theories, processes and practices, enabling you to critically appraise and apply that knowledge to complex operational management decisions.

People in Organisations
This unit introduces the theories that have led to advances in the field of organisational behaviour by considering examples and cases that relate to theories and practices in exploiting and enhancing competitive advantage. It focuses on three areas of analysis - the individual, the group and the organisation - and considers these in terms of the 'micro' and 'macro' perspectives and their roots in behavioural and social sciences.

Financial Decision Making
This unit requires you to reflect upon a range of relevant and reliable financial decision-making theories, processes and practices, in order to critically appraise and apply that knowledge to complex financial management decisions.

Principles of Marketing
This unit develops your understanding of marketing principles in theory and practice, in order to critically evaluate their application in a range of organisational contexts: the nature of customers and markets, marketing mix decisions, and marketing planning and strategy.

Research Methods
This unit develops the skills of inquiry and research required primarily for the dissertation but also, to some extent, for all of these units. It covers the major theories and concepts associated with empirical and library-based research, as well as developing your ability to apply these concepts to practical research situations.

Dissertation
This is your opportunity to demonstrate personal research over an extended period, while developing a topic of personal interest or expertise. It is also an opportunity to ensure that all the learning outcomes you set are reached. While some students prefer to stay close to the University and its resources, others take advantage of our online learning material to study away from campus or to integrate their dissertation with employment.

Option units 

You can select four option units (subject to availability and student demand). Below is an indicative list of units which have been available on the course. Your final choice should be made in consultation with your course leader, who will, as far as possible, take your aspirations into account.

Application and Issues of Language

This unit consists of two parts. One focuses on applications of language that are important for postgraduate students who are preparing for a career as a manager in a business environment. The other examines issues that arise from considering the role of language in the 21st century. You study one of the following:

• Academic and Business English (for international students or native speakers)
• advanced French, German, Italian or Spanish
• a non-European language at beginners’ level.

 

Corporate Social Responsibility and the Ethical Company
This unit addresses the duties and liabilities of companies in respect of environmental law, employment law and human rights, and financial integrity, in addition to upstream and downstream stakeholders and employees.

Cross-Cultural Management Issues
This unit examines a range of relevant concepts, approaches, theories and practices in order to critically appraise and apply that knowledge to specific cross-cultural management issues.

Knowledge Theory and Management
This unit evaluates a variety of knowledge-based theories, approaches and practices from across the disciplines of economics, geography and management science, in order to critically appraise and appreciate their influence and applications within the context of organisational management.

Management of Change
This unit reflects upon a range of relevant and reliable change management theories and practices, in order to critically appraise and apply that knowledge to complex issues or organisational transformation.

Managing in the Legal Framework
This unit develops your awareness of the effect of relevant current national and international legal framework on the successful management of business ventures, and to critically appraise the influence that the law has on strategic and operational decisions. 

Risk Management
This unit examines the structures and processes necessary for any organisation to achieve an effective risk management process. It reflects upon the history of risk management and reviews current practices using a range of relevant and reliable sources. It also considers the possible consequences of poor risk management.

Entrepreneurial Marketing Management
This unit covers the nature of entrepreneurship and innovation and the characteristics of entrepreneurial behaviour. It aims to give you a better understanding of the factors that lead to success in entrepreneurial business and therefore demonstrates the ways in which marketing management techniques can be brought to bear on key issues in entrepreneurship.

Strategy
The term ‘strategy’ covers the tools and techniques that enable an organisation to adapt effectively in a changing environment. You will focus on using available academic literature to evaluate strategic issues requiring problem identification, evaluation and proposed solutions. You will have an opportunity to apply academic study to work-based or case study problems.

Key career skills

Critical Thinking, Marketing, Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Communication, Teamwork, Research, Economics, Innovation, Ethics, Creativity.

Projects/work experience

Echoing the university’s focus on Employability, units will apply class debate and assessments to `live topics’ and current cases, emphasising the need to apply academic learning. Students are encouraged to contribute issues & ideas from their previous experiences and personal interests.

Solent's special features

• This course has two intakes per year, September and January. Students starting in September will take 12 months to complete; those starting in January will take 16 months, with a four-month break between May and October.
• Flexible learning
  This course embraces the use of blended learning techniques to help you cope with fitting in around the many other demands on your time. Where appropriate, communication between the University and yourself can take place through the online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Here you will find suggested reading, journal articles and relevant business news as well as having the option to use the system to carry out group discussion on any related topic. This will not replace formal contact with tutors, and staff will still be available to support you through your studies.
• Unit teams are well experienced in their sectors, in integrating input from a wide range of student backgrounds and in the current focus of business;  whether that is of Trans-National Organisations, start-up companies or professional bodies – the online Portal enables this full-time programme to offer considerable flexibility to its students, globally.

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Fees

Fees for the 2011-2012 academic year are:

Full Time: UK and EU students - £4,100; Overseas students - £9,400 

 

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