MBA in Strategic Management
Program Overview
The Chestnut Hill College Master’s in Business Administration degree is offered 100% online, and can be completed in less than one year for those with an undergraduate or graduate business degree. The asynchronous, self-study design allows professionals to complete their MBA in as little as 1 year, with a recommended schedule of 6 credits per 8-week term.
An MBA in Strategic Management is a powerful tool for those seeking to make their mark in the business world. Individuals equipped with an MBA acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in leadership roles and make informed decisions that drive organizational success. The MBA in Strategic Management centers around formulating strategies, a deep understanding of strategic planning, honing analytical capabilities, and developing sound decision-making techniques. These are just some of the skills students in Chestnut Hill College’s brand new, fully online MBA in Strategic Management will acquire, all while having access to real-world professionals and entreprenuers in the classroom and the plethora of connections the Philadelphia market has to offer.
Our MBA in Strategic Management is designed for students from any background looking to advance their career in our ever-changing business world. With courses delivered through Chestnut Hill College’s accelerated online platform that offers adults flexibility to curate innovative business knowledge, students will advance their strategic mindset and become leaders within high performing teams and organizations.
Non-Business Majors
For those returning to school without an undergraduate business degree (for example, Nurses, Lab Technicians, Human Service professionals, etc.) CHC offers a self-study pre-requisite program with four, 5-week modules to prepare students to take a final Assessment Exam. Once students pass this Exam, they may move forward with the MBA. Pre-requisite modules include:
- Foundations of Accounting: the objectives of this course are to help students: 1) understand what is in financial statements and what the statements say about a business, 2) identify the business activities that caused the amounts that appear in the statements, and 3) understand how, when, and at what amount the effects of manager and employee actions will appear in the statements.
- Foundations of Finance: this course discusses the management of the financial affairs of the industrial enterprise. Emphasis is placed on working capital management, current asset management, capital budgeting, stock and bond valuation, and capital structure decisions. It serves as an introduction to the principles of financial management and the impact of the financial markets and institutions on that managerial function. Major topics include the environment of financial management, time value of money, capital and cash budgeting, the relationship of risk to return, cost of capital, leverage, and evaluation of alternative methods of financing.
- Foundations of Statistics: this course enables students to develop the capacity to undertake independent statistical investigations, including the assumptions and limitations of their application. The course will provide practical skills to allow students to meaningfully interpret the results of various hypothesis tests, and to understand probability distributions and sampling methods commonly applied when collecting data.
- Foundations of Economics: this course introduces basic economic concepts and institutions and their application in the American economy. The course focuses on economic decision-making processes on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and the impact it has on the consumer, businesses, and the government.
Learning Objectives and Course Curriculum
CHC’s MBA in Strategic Management program offers a comprehensive understanding of the field, preparing students for strategic decision-making and leadership roles. The program combines core courses, specialization options, and practical application through case studies.Students will gain complete understanding of, and proficiency in, fundamental concepts of management theory and practice in the following areas:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Information systems
- Data analytics and information literacy
- Artificial Intelligence
- Organizational behavior
- Problem solving and decision making
The core courses provide the foundation of the program, delving into principles and theories of strategic management. Specialization options cater to a variety of interests and career goals, allowing students to focus on specific areas within strategic management, such as global marketing or supply chain management. Real-world case studies and practical application bolster theoretical learning, providing hands-on experience that enhances learning and industry readiness. The curriculum can be found below:
- Ethical and Legal Perspectives in Business
- Strategic Management (AI component)
- Global Marketing (AI Component)
- Data Analytics
- Supply Chain Management (AI Component)
- Human Resources for Leadership
- Financial Analysis
- Project Management
- Entrepreneurial Economics
- Capstone
STMG 610 – Ethical & Legal Perspectives in Business
Credits: 3
This course develops skills for inquiry into the business environment from a legal and ethical perspective. It will explore the relationships between the ethical perspectives and the modern business environment. Relevant topics include contracts, commercial law, business organizations, employment law, bankruptcy, negligence and strict liability concepts. The goal of the course will be to examine difficult and complex problems and to be familiar with the dynamics of ethical business practices.
STMG 620 – Strategic Management with AI Component
Credits: 3
This course introduces the key concepts, tools, and principles of strategy formulation and competitive advantage. It reviews managerial decisions and actions that affect the performance and survival of business enterprises. The course takes a general management perspective that views the business as a whole and examines policies in each functional area as they are integrated into an overall competitive strategy. Additionally, this course will provide the student with a set of strategy and management frameworks that firms utilize when assessing how to implement AI in their own organizations, how to use AI as a competitive tool in the marketplace, and how to interact with government regulators and other stakeholders.
STMG 630 – Global Marketing with AI Component
Credits: 3
This course will highlight how global marketing can reach and impact customers around the globe. The course will examine how global marketing concepts support marketing decision making through artificial intelligence. Students will learn the importance of marketing strategies and plans that include advertising, social media marketing, digital marketing and digital robotic technologies. Upon completion of this course students will understand how marketing research can affect global marketing decision making and strategic plans.
STMG 640 – Data Analytics
Credits: 3
This course discusses the fundamental techniques of data analysis, emphasizing complex and/or large data sets. Students learn to gather, analyze, and interpret data to drive strategic and operational success in technology-based companies. Upon completion of this course students will have the ability to apply data and analytic principles to real-world problems and understand the data analytics lifecycle from problem definition to solution development.
STMG 650 – Supply Chain Management with AI Component
Credits: 3
Students will learn the components of supply chain management while examining the importance of artificial intelligence. This course discusses the importance of managing operations efficiently and effectively through LEAN Manufacturing and Six Sigma. Supply Chain management looks to provide students with tools to manage highly effective operations divisions while maintaining quality management oversight and driving performance metrics.
STMG 660 – Human Resources for Leadership
Credits: 3
This course develops skills for an understanding of how human resource decisions contribute to organizational effectiveness and a firm’s competitive advantage. This knowledge can be applied in small, medium, and large firms, as well as non-profits. It examines the techniques, policies, processes, strategies, and practices used by companies and managers to leverage their human capital effectively and efficiently.
STMG 670 – Financial Analysis
Credits: 3
Within this course, students will learn how to analyze financial documents and information for evaluating companies within a real-world perspective. This course will also cover an analysis of operating budgets, an introduction to capital budgeting, capital structure analysis, and financial statement analysis. Students will understand the importance of evaluating short- and long-term financial strategies.
STMG 680 – Project Management
Credits: 3
This course examines strategies used to effectively complete projects through people and stakeholder groups and the role of the project manager as leader in the agile and predictive approaches. Students will develop strategies to address and manage the project team’s expectations and other stakeholder groups.
STMG 690 – Entrepreneurial Economics
Credits: 3
This course discusses the application of economic theory to practice managing new businesses by combining elements of strategy, marketing, and entrepreneurial finance courses. Includes an examination of both strategic decisions of entrepreneurs (pricing, advertising, deterring entry) and the practical issues (funding, business plans, patents).
STMG 698 – Capstone
Credits: 3
Students must complete a pre-approved original project focusing on a specific problem within an organization. The capstone project involves identifying and investigating a problem or innovation, researching, and identifying “best practices” and other strategies and innovations, preferably in their current or intended area of practice. The capstone is an integrative project that draws on core learning outcomes of the program.
Sample Academic Course Plan for Full-time Students (Four Courses/Semester)
Note: This is a sample and for planning purposes only. The content below is only tentative, based on each semester’s schedule. Credits referenced are the credits taken per semester. The program is a total of 30 credits, taken over three terms.
| Fall I | Fall II | Spring I | Spring II | Summer |
| STMG 610 – Ethical & Legal Perspectives in Business (3) | STMG 630 – Global Marketing (AI component) (3) | STMG 650 – Supply Chain Management (AI component) (3) | STMG 670 – Financial Analysis (3) | STMG 690 – Entrepreneurial Economics (3) |
| STMG 620 – Strategic Management (AI component) (3) | STMG 640 – Data Analytics (3) | STMG 660 – Human Resources for Leadership (3) | STMG 680 – Project Management (3) | STMG 698 – Capstone (3) |
| 6 total credits | 6 total credits | 6 total credits | 6 total credits | 6 total credits |
If you have any questions, please contact your advisor.
A strategic management MBA opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates can explore roles in strategic planning, consulting, leadership positions, and entrepreneurship among other areas. Upon graduation, students will possess a comprehensive understanding of strategic management principles to empower them to lead organizations towards success, make informed decisions, and effectively manage teams. For those interested in entrepreneurship, a strategic management MBA provides a solid foundation to start a business or embark on entrepreneurial ventures.Job potential for MBA graduates of this program are wide-ranging and can include:
- Financial Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Computer and Information Systems Manager
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Medical and Health Services Manager
- Chief Executive Officer
- Human Resources Manager
- General and Operations Manager