Merrimack offers three pathways for students interested in a career in product management. Learn which option is right for your professional and personal goals.
Product Management is an in-demand field where every aspect of a product’s life cycle is conducted. Merrimack College offers three different pathways for students looking to enter or advance into the field of Product Management.
Master’s in Product Management
If you are currently in a junior product management role or want to enter and grow your career as a product manager, a comprehensive degree in Product Management may be the right path for you.
Merrimack Master’s in Product Management allows students to gain the skills and knowledge needed to advance in areas such as product, technical, and marketing management. Students can specialize in three different industry-specific tracks: Life Sciences, Software/Web/Mobile, or Complex Technological Products. The 33-credit curriculum is focused on three core learning areas in business, data science and analytics, and engineering management.
Current Product Management student Lisa P. shared, “To be able to end each class with what amounts to a playbook of future product releases at my company is in itself a huge deliverable. It’s a huge thing to have and to leave with and it brings immediate benefit.”
This degree positions students to be product leaders in their respective industries. Some future job opportunities may include:
- Vice President of Product Management – $271,741/yr
- Director of Product Management – $278,482/yr
Jeff Hovis is a lecturer and the program director for the Product Management program at Merrimack. He is also the Managing Principal and Innovation Catalyst at Product Genesis:
“Our M.S. in Product Management curriculum has been designed based on in-depth consultation with industry partners to ensure students have the skills needed for high-impact product management roles in rapidly growing industry sectors. Our graduates tell us they start applying their knowledge from day one in their new career paths.”
Master’s in Management, Product Management Concentration
The Master’s in Management with a concentration in product management is geared toward students who are interested in leadership roles where blended skills in business and product management are required.
Depending on your undergraduate background, students complete 12-20 credits of business core courses with 12 credits of electives all focused in the product management area. This concentration is designed to introduce students to the more foundational competencies of product management while developing more comprehensive business acumen. The 33-credit M.S. in Product Management will develop a more focused acumen in the field of product management.
The product management concentration is comprised of two required courses (New Product Development and Principles of Product Realization) and two elective courses focused in areas such as Design Thinking, Agile Project and Innovation Models, Innovation for Life Sciences, Innovation Models for Technological Products, or Regulatory, Reimbursement, and IP Considerations in Life Sciences).
With the combination of skills business skills and specialized product management skills acquired students are able to leverage their degree to pursue management positions such as:
- Director of Strategy – $244,057/yr
- Senior Operations Manager – $118,856/yr
Annarita Meeker is the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and Director of Accounting Programs at Merrimack College. Meeker oversees the M.S. in Management program:
“Product management skills are invaluable in assisting teams to achieve their business objectives by bridging the communication gap between product development, design, the customer, and the business. By coupling business and management education within the MS in Management and the technical side of product management within the product management concentration, students will build the competencies and expertise to position themselves for engaging, challenging, and hands-on professional roles.”
Product Management Foundations Certificate
If you’re looking to kick-start your career in product management, Merrimack’s Graduate Certificates in Product Management may be the perfect fit. These specialized certificates provide the knowledge base and skills that students need for a more integrated and comprehensive approach to beginning a career in Product Management.
Choose a certificate in Life Sciences, Software/Web/Mobile, and Complex Technological Products and complete 4 courses to earn a graduate certificate. You can also apply the credits toward the M.S. in Product Management.
Earning a foundational certificate in Product Management will help students land their first job in roles such as:
- Associate Product Manager – $76,472/yr
- Product Manager – $127,748/yr
Which program should I choose?
If you’re currently in the field of product management or want to enter and grow your career path as a product manager, a Master’s in Product Management could be the right fit for you. And if you’re interested in product management but also want to focus on more business/management functions, a Master’s in Management with a concentration in Product Management can position you as a leader in your respective industry.
If you’re looking to kick-start your career in product management, Graduate Certificate in Product Management is a great introduction to the field.
Jeff Hovis, Product Management Program Director, and Annarita Meeker, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs for the Girard School of Business are both available to answer any questions you may have about the programs.