Discover what management science encompasses, and learn more about career options in this interdisciplinary field.
Management science, grounded in operations research, uses analytical and statistical methods, among other techniques, to address practical issues in areas like engineering, logistics, and forecasting. Essentially, the skills learned in management science are transferable to various industries.听
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Management science is the study of problem-solving and decision-making in organizations. You can think of it as applying the scientific method to management, enabling managers to make decisions for an organization and improve its performance. For example, health care facilities can use management science to determine the necessary information systems, while airlines can use it to schedule planes and crew.
Management science is important because it helps organizations identify issues they must solve, streamline management efforts, use resources more effectively, and develop roadmaps for achieving goals. Several assumptions or principles of management science guide professionals in this field, including:
Problem-solving is central to management.听
Managerial problems can be effectively quantified and described in mathematical terms.听
Mathematical tools, techniques, simulations, and models can enhance problem-solving.
Originating from operations research, management science is interdisciplinary, involving two or more academic or professional disciplines. Disciplines that management science intersects with include engineering, game theory, psychology, project management, data science, and supply chain management.
Did you know? Operations research, management science鈥檚 predecessor, came into being during World War II (WWII) when the Allied Forces (Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union) used mathematical models to improve military operations.
In your research into management science, you may come across similar terms like scientific management or business analytics. Note their distinctions in the table below:
Field | Definition |
---|---|
Management science | Using scientific and research-based approaches to help a business make decisions, improve performance, and meet goals |
Scientific management | Analyzing and synthesizing workflows, improving economic efficiency and labor productivity |
Business analytics | Using data and statistical methods to understand business performance and drive business planning |
With a degree in management science, you can work in a variety of fields, from marketing and branding to finance, human resources, and data science. According to job site Zippia, the average median US salary for management science graduates is $68,844, with the top 10 percent earning over $120,000 []. The most popular job titles include:
Business analyst: Studies the market, determines a business鈥檚 profitability, and identifies solutions to a business鈥檚 challenges
Data analyst: Gathers and interprets data, highlights important trends, and reports findings to an organization鈥檚 management
Actuarial analyst: Works in the insurance industry and uses data analysis and statistical modeling to calculate the probability and risk of events like death, accidents, and property damage
Finance analyst: Assesses the performance of stocks, bonds, and investments to advise businesses and individuals on their investment decisions
Programmer analyst: Tests, analyzes, and maintains software applications to help businesses achieve their goals
Risk analyst: Analyzes financial documents and economic conditions to determine the risk involved in business decisions and planned activities
Research analyst: Collects data from varied sources to help organizations determine target markets and ideal pricing for products and services
If you want to draw from multiple disciplines to solve business problems, take on a leadership role, and use analytical and critical thinking skills, management science could be an aligned career path for you.听
Start by considering the following steps:
Getting a degree in management science or a related field, such as business statistics or international marketing, can expose you to the important concepts, methods, skills, and techniques for pursuing a rewarding career. Depending on the degree program, you can expect to take courses in statistics, financial accounting, systems analysis, data analysis, research design, marketing, operations research, decision risk analysis, and more.
When researching management science degree programs, decide what criteria will make a program a good fit for you. You may find it useful to investigate programs鈥 rankings. For example, Universities.com ranks the management science programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Southern California, and Tulane University of Louisiana as the top five in the US as of 2025 []. Rankings are based on such factors as:
The diversity of the student body
Retention and graduation rates
Student-faculty ratio
Percentage of tenured or tenure-track faculty聽
Learn more: What Is a Risk Assessment? + Key BI Tools to Accelerate It
With a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in management science, you can earn approximately $92,000 per year []. A Master of Science (MS) degree in the same field can yield $111,000 annually [].
In addition to earning your degree, you can benefit from continuing to build skills, knowledge, and industry insight in the broad field of management science. In continuing your education, you can better narrow down an area of focus or identify a specific career track for applying your management science training, such as data science or project management.
The following are four approaches you can take based on your interests and career goals:
Become a member of the .
Attend INFORMS conferences and events, take the organization鈥檚 professional development courses, and consider becoming a .
Attend conferences from other organizations listed on the .听
Once you decide on a focus area or specific career track, the next step is to build a resume representing your capabilities. Be sure to list your education, certifications, specific skills, conferences you鈥檝e attended, memberships in professional organizations, and other qualifications.听
Start by researching current job openings on various career sites, including general sites like Glassdoor, Indeed, or LinkedIn. Try search queries like 鈥渕anagement science careers,鈥 鈥渕anagement science jobs,鈥 鈥渕anagement scientist,鈥 or roles in your chosen area of focus.
For each job listing, pay close attention to salary information, qualifications required, and the tasks and responsibilities you鈥檇 be responsible for. Tailor your resume to each position. Practice interviewing skills like answering different types of questions and researching a company.听
Subscribe to our on LinkedIn to gain access to management science career tips and trends, and connect with industry professionals. Additionally, explore our free, digital resources for career building:
Determine which project management certification is right for you:
Watch a skills video on YouTube:
Explore potential project management career paths: Project Management Career Paths: Explore Roles & Specializations
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Management science can be a good degree to earn for several reasons. First, consider your interests and talents and how they might align with management science. Management science can be a rewarding career path for you if you want to work in a field that intersects with different disciplines, helps businesses perform better, and builds leadership and critical thinking skills.听 Next, consider the versatility of a management science degree. Depending on your goals, you can apply it to a range of disciplines or industries, including marketing, game theory, and psychology. Lastly, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that jobs in operations research (an alternative term for management science) will increase by 21 percent between 2024 and 2034, which means there may be a variety of opportunities available to you as you advance your career []. 鈥 鈥 鈥
Management science is interdisciplinary and applies to various career paths that generally involve helping businesses improve performance and make scientifically informed decisions. Job titles you might come across in your job search include data analyst, business analyst, finance analyst, risk analyst, and more. Search job sites to discover opportunities that you may have with a management science degree.听 鈥 鈥
Zippia. 鈥, https://www.zippia.com/management-science-major/salary/.鈥 Accessed September 8, 2025.听
Universities.com. 鈥, https://www.universities.com/programs/management-science-degrees.鈥 Accessed September 8, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Business_Administration_(MBA)%2C_Management/Salary.鈥 Accessed September 8, 2025.
Payscale. 鈥, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Master_of_Science_(MS)%2C_Management_Science/Salary.鈥 Accessed September 8, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm.鈥 Accessed September 8, 2025.听
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.