At McIntire, we view commerce as the purposeful exchange of goods, services, and ideas to strengthen and advance society, and we believe the future of commerce requires a new kind of leader—one with a rigorous, real-world skill set and a human-centered mindset.
Our applicants are well-rounded individuals who demonstrate a passion for their chosen field of study and are evaluated based on the demonstration of mission-driven skills, knowledge, and character qualities that speak to their potential in these areas. While it is not anticipated that every candidate will exhibit all qualities, these characteristics inform the composition of each incoming class of students and align with McIntire’s overarching mission and educational goals.
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Academic excellence
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Intellectual curiosity
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Strong work ethic
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Ability to collaborate
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Awareness and ability to engage across differences in background, perspective, or life experience(s)
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Growth mindset
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Initiative
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Resilience and perseverance
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Social engagement
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Unique perspective
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Personal and professional integrity
As an applicant, you may choose to share and describe the experiences that have led you to develop these qualities through your application materials. The Impact Essay offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on and convey these experiences.
Requirements
The M.S. in Commerce (MSC) is designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts or STEM fields and are seeking to develop foundational business knowledge and skills through a structured, immersive graduate experience. The program is intended for candidates who are exploring how to apply their academic background in a business context immediately after completion of the undergraduate degree.
Academic Background
Eligible candidates will have completed a bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate major in the liberal arts or a STEM discipline. Candidates with undergraduate majors or degrees in business or business-related fields are not eligible to enroll in the program. The MSC curriculum is designed to provide introductory and foundational instruction in core business disciplines. As such, the program is not intended for students who have already completed extensive undergraduate business coursework.
Time Since Degree Completion
To support the program’s cohort-based learning model and its focus on immediate post-undergraduate exploration and skill development, candidates should have completed their bachelor’s degree no more than 18 months prior to matriculation. This timeframe reflects the program’s emphasis on students who are transitioning directly from undergraduate study into graduate-level business formation.
Expected Undergraduate Preparation
Applicants are expected to demonstrate academic readiness through completion of the following prerequisite coursework prior to matriculation.
These prerequisites ensure baseline quantitative and analytical readiness while allowing the program to deliver comprehensive instruction in core business disciplines.