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Students in knowledge management will help their future employers generate, adopt and diffuse knowledge

Knowledge Management - M.S.

Knowledge management (KM) is the art of transforming information and intellectual assets into enduring value for an organization's clients and its people. This allows for reusing intellectual capital, enabling better decision making and creating the conditions for innovation. KM provides people, processes and technology to help knowledge flow to the right people, at the right time, so they can act more efficiently, effectively and creatively. 

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Advisory Board

The Kent State Knowledge Management program is advised by world-class KM experts with leadership experience from corporations including, among others, Accenture, BP Oil, General Electric, and Microsoft; academic institutions such as the University of Illinois at Chicago and Kent State University; and the U.S. government including the U.S. Army and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The guidance provided by the world-class Advisory Board is an integral part of the program success due to the Board’s diverse academic and professional expertise.

Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Science degree in Knowledge Management prepares professionals to serve as leaders who guide organizations into improved performance through better use of organizational knowledge. Graduates of the program will be able to design, deliver and support knowledge management programs at the enterprise and project levels.

Organizations of all types, across all sectors of the economy, face a growing need for increased efficiencies. Gaining these efficiencies means organizations must mature into knowledge organizations by developing and applying knowledge to serve their markets better. This requires professionals with new skills and tools found in the emerging domain of knowledge management.

Students in the Knowledge Management major learn principles, values and best practices that will prepare them for leadership roles in their future careers. They learn from interaction with their instructors and student colleagues, many of whom are also professionals working in knowledge management. Through courses, internships and other opportunities, students gain real-world, practical experience in developing and applying knowledge to improve organizational strategies, processes and technical skills.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale1
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Résumé
  • Goal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
    • Minimum 587 TOEFL PBT score
    • Minimum 94 TOEFL IBT score
    • Minimum 82 MELAB score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 120 Duolingo English score
1

In calculating total GPA, all grades from all courses taken at relevant level (bachelor's or master's) from all institutions are counted.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum 2.750 GPA requirement must submit a statement that addresses the circumstances that contributed to the GPA and preparation for success in graduate study. Applicants should include recent professional achievements that indicate an ability to perform at a higher academic level to be considered for conditional admission to the program.

Technology Requirements

Appropriate technology and computer literacy skills are essential for each School of Information course. In order to be successful in the program, all incoming students must meet the School of Information computer competencies, as well as its minimum computer hardware, software and internet access requirements before the first day of class. For details, students should consult the school's website.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Application deadline: April 15
  • Spring Semester
    • Application deadline: November 15
  • Summer Term
    • Application deadline: March 15

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

  1. Develop and deliver strategies for organizations and communities that apply knowledge to create value.
  2. Demonstrate leadership in the design and implementation of strategies that align with and enable an organization’s culture, strategic intent and operational objectives
  3. Design, build, operate and lead a comprehensive program that turns strategies into action through the integration of people, process and technology components.
  4. Become a thought leader in advancing knowledge management ideas and practices.
  5. Prepared to engage and collaborate with the global knowledge management community to grow the demand, practice and value of knowledge management.
Dual Degree

Dual Degree with M.B.A. in Business Administration

Students have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the M.B.A. degree and the M.S. degree in Knowledge Management. A separate application must be submitted for each program. Students can view admission requirements for each program on their respective catalog page.

The M.B.A./M.S. dual degree program prepares students for responsible leadership positions and offers an integrated business and knowledge management curriculum. Dual degree graduates will be able to design, deliver, support and lead knowledge management programs at the enterprise and project levels. Through courses, internships and other opportunities, students gain real-world, practical experience in developing and applying knowledge to improve organizational strategies, processes and technical skills with an emphasis on regional, national and global implications.

Dual Degree Requirements

Major Requirements
ACCT 63037FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING 2
ACCT 63038MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING FOR DECISION MAKING 2
BA 64005ANALYTICS FOR DECISION MAKING 2
BA 64041OPERATIONS, SERVICE AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 2
CIS 64042GLOBALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY 2
ECON 62021MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 2
ECON 62022MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS 2
FIN 66050LAW AND ETHICS 2
FIN 66060MANAGERIAL FINANCE 2
HRM 64271HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 2
KM 60301FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT 3
KM 60302DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE 3
KM 60306THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT 1
LIS 60636KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURES, SYSTEMS AND SERVICES 3
MGMT 64158LEADERSHIP AND MANAGERIAL ASSESSMENT 2
MGMT 68051BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I 11
MKTG 65051MARKETING MANAGEMENT 2
M.B.A. Business Administration Elective3
Major electives, choose from the following:12-15
Emerging Media and Technology (EMAT) Courses
Health Informatics (HI) Courses
Knowledge Management (KM) Courses
Library and Information Science (LIS) Courses
User Experience Design (UXD) Courses
Culminating Requirement
MGMT 64185BUSINESS STRATEGY 3
Culminating Elective, choose from the following: 23-6
KM 66092
MASTER'S INTERNSHIP IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
KM 66099
MASTER'S PROJECT IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
KM 66198
MASTER'S RESEARCH PAPER IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
KM 66199
THESIS I
Minimum Total Credit Hours:59
1

MGMT 68051 may be waived for students with at least two years of full-time work experience.

2

Students who select thesis as their culminating requirement will complete 3 credit hours of College of Communication and Information electives; all others will complete 6 credit hours.

Graduation Requirements

Students may graduate with fewer than 59 total credit hours but no fewer than 58 total credit hours.

Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
KM 60301FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT 3
KM 60302DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE 3
KM 60306THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT 1
LIS 60636KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURES, SYSTEMS AND SERVICES 3
MGMT 64158LEADERSHIP AND MANAGERIAL ASSESSMENT 2
Major Electives, choose from the following: 112-15
Any Business Analytics (BA) Course
Any Computer Information Systems (CIS) Course
Any Emerging Media and Technology (EMAT) Course
Any Health Informatics (HI) Course
Any Human Resource Management (HRM) Course
Any Knowledge Management (KM) Course
Any Library and Information Science (LIS) Course
Any Management (MGMT) Course
Any User Experience Design (UXD) Course
Culminating Requirement
Choose from the following:3-6
KM 66092
MASTER'S INTERNSHIP IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
KM 66099
MASTER'S PROJECT IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
KM 66198
MASTER'S RESEARCH PAPER IN KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
KM 66199
THESIS I
Minimum Total Credit Hours:30
1

Students who select thesis as their culminating requirement will complete 12 credit hours of electives; all others will complete 15 credit hours.

Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Fully online

Career Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects increasing demand for jobs in fields related to knowledge management. 

9.6%
Information Architect
$114,454
National Average Salary in KM
9.6%
Systems Analysts