Product Management (MPS)

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A 30-credit, fully online Master of Professional Studies that prepares creative professionals to lead physical, digital, luxury, and globally sourced products from concept to market in 18 months, with four specialized pathways to choose from.

Spring, Summer, Fall Intakes

100% Asynchronous Online

$40,635 total
(30 credits)

18 Months

Master of Professional Studies (MPS) Credential

Program Overview

What is MICA's MPS in Product Management?

The MPS in Product Management is a 30-credit, fully online graduate program at the Maryland Institute College of Art that prepares creative professionals to lead the full product lifecycle from concept through launch using design thinking, generative intelligence, sustainable sourcing, and cross-functional leadership. It is a design-centered alternative to MBA-style product management education, built specifically for creators, makers, designers, and innovation professionals rather than generalist business students.

M.P.S.

Product Management

Students choose one of four core pathways — Artisanal & Craft Production, Digital Products, Luxury Goods & Experience Design, or Ethical Global Sourcing & Sustainability — and pair it with two of three specialization modules: Technology & Data for Product Teams, Sustainable & Global Product Systems, or Product Leadership & Go-to-Market Strategy. The program culminates in a two-course capstone studio aligned to the student's chosen pathway, producing a launch-ready product strategy and prototype.

Every course generates a professional-grade deliverable such as Product Requirements Documents, Go-to-Market decks, AI prompt libraries, lifecycle and sustainability analyses so graduates leave with a portfolio of applied work, not just coursework.

By the end of this program, you will be able to:

Apply advanced product management frameworks to lead cross-disciplinary product teams
Integrate design thinking methodologies to create innovative, user-centered products
Use quantitative and qualitative data with generative intelligence tools for data-driven decision-making
Source materials with knowledge of fabrication processes for physical product development
Collaborate with executives, engineers, and technical teams throughout the product lifecycle
Develop strategies for sustainable sourcing, manufacturing, and supply chain management
Apply project management and agile practices to oversee end-to-end product development

This program is ideal for:

Creative professionals expanding into product management or innovation leadership
Designers and makers seeking to commercialize sustainable physical products
Digital strategists and developers integrating AI and data analytics into product workflows
Professionals in fashion, luxury, or craft industries moving into global product leadership roles
Entrepreneurs and career changers ready to lead creative teams and launch products

Focuses on an applied field of study
Develops practical skills
Perfect for current and aspiring professionals
Delivered online in just 18 months
Students maintain a work-life balance

Program & Format &Term	Program Start Date	Term/Program End Date
MPS PM Summer 2026	5/10/26	8/29/26
MPS PM Fall 2026	8/30/26	12/19/26
MPS PM Spring 2027	1/17/27	5/8/27

Overview

Core Pathways

The MPS in Product Management offers four pathways, each aligned to a distinct product sector and culminating in its own capstone studio.

What does the Digital Product Management pathway cover?
This pathway prepares creative professionals to lead innovation in a world shaped by data, design, and generative intelligence building fluency in AI integration, customer personalization, and digital business models while learning to guide organizational change and cross-functional teams. Coursework in risk assessment, product launch, and market strategy carries into the capstone: Digital Project Studio I & II, a six-credit sequence delivering an innovation strategy and working prototype for a digital product.

What does the Luxury Goods & Experience Design pathway cover?
This pathway prepares creative professionals to lead in the global luxury sector, where brand storytelling, craftsmanship, and sustainability define success. Students study luxury brand strategy, consumer psychology, and sustainable production systems, then apply circular-economy practices and personalized experience design to luxury markets. The capstone, Luxury Goods & Experience Studio I & II, produces a market strategy and prototype for a luxury brand or product.

What does the Artisanal & Craft Production pathway cover?
This pathway prepares creative professionals to lead where artistry meets strategy combining product management fundamentals with the craft of making. Students gain fluency in sustainable materials, global supply chains, and traditional production methods alongside data analytics and generative intelligence. The capstone, Artisanal & Craft Studio I & II, produces a market-ready product that unites sustainability, innovation, and creative vision.

What does the Ethical Global Sourcing & Sustainability pathway cover?
This pathway equips creative professionals to manage and innovate across global markets, balancing ethical sourcing, sustainable materials, and regenerative systems with strategic product leadership. Students build expertise in global supply chain strategy, circular economy practices, and generative intelligence for innovation. The capstone, Ethical Global Sourcing & Sustainability Studio I & II, produces a full market strategy and prototype integrating ethical design, sustainability, and global impact.

Overview

Specialization Modules

Alongside a core pathway, students select two of three specialization modules to build a personalized professional profile:

AI tools, data analytics, and change management strategies to enhance product performance and personalization.

Environmentally responsible, globally sourced products through sustainable materials, circular systems, and ethical supply chains.

Advanced leadership, communication, and execution skills for launching and scaling digital and physical products.

Your Journey Starts Now

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Career Outcomes

What can you do with an MPS in Product Management from MICA?
Graduates are prepared for roles across material, digital, luxury, and global product environments, including:

Product Manager / Senior Product Manager
Product Strategy & Innovation Lead
Digital Product Manager
Luxury Brand or Category Manager
Sustainability / ESG-Focused Product Lead
Founder or Product Lead, independent or small-batch venture

Why Product Management, Why Now

Industry data underscores growing, durable demand for product talent particularly professionals who pair product fundamentals with AI fluency and sustainability literacy:

Product management hiring is up 40–50% year-over-year, with senior-level demand growing nearly 87% year-over-year (Product Leadership, 2026).
Nearly 26,900 open product management roles were posted worldwide as of March 2026, a 2.3x increase in demand versus 2023 (Product Management Society, 2026).
The circular economy market is projected to grow from $578 billion in 2026 to $888 billion by 2030, an 11.3% CAGR, driving demand for sustainability-literate product leaders (Research and Markets, 2026).

Frequently Asked Questions

Total tuition is $40,635 for the full 30-credit program, before financial aid. The program is offered in Spring, Summer, and Fall intakes.

The program takes 18 months to complete and is delivered 100% asynchronously online, allowing students to continue working full time.

Four core pathways: Digital Product Management and Luxury Goods & Experience Design (currently enrolling), and Artisanal & Craft Production and Ethical Global Sourcing & Sustainability (launching Fall 2026).

No. The MPS is a design-centered, practice-oriented professional degree built for creative professionals such as makers, designers, and innovation leads, rather than a generalist business degree. It emphasizes applied deliverables (e.g. prototypes, PRDs, go-to-market decks) over case-study-based general management theory.

The program is designed for creative professionals moving into product leadership: designers and makers, digital strategists, luxury and fashion professionals, and entrepreneurs seeking to formalize product management skills without leaving the workforce.

It is one of the few graduate programs offering distinct, dedicated pathways for physical/artisanal, digital, luxury, and global-sourcing product work within a single degree, rather than a single generalized "design management" track. Generative intelligence and circular-economy/sustainability principles are integrated across every pathway rather than taught as standalone electives.

A design or making background is common among applicants but not strictly required; the program is built for creative professionals broadly, including digital strategists and business-side professionals moving into product leadership.

Product Management (MPS)

Product Management (MPS)