Updated June 13, 2025
Students join the Smith School with a variety of technical skills and educational and professional backgrounds. The resources below have been compiled to assist incoming students with preparing for their master's coursework.
UMD students have unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning, an online library of instructional videos covering the latest software, creative, and business skills.
Online MS in Management Studies students must have the following software ready to use on their personal computers before the first day of class:
- Microsoft Excel (access at https://terpware.umd.edu/Windows/Title/3107)
Online MS in Management Studies students will also be utilizing the following software in their first fall:
- Lumivero (formerly Palisades) Decision Tools Suite (access at http://vsmith.umd.edu; can be downloaded to a Windows-compatible personal computer)
- Tableau (access/download at https://www.tableau.com/academic/students; free for academic use when using @umd.edu email address)
Other programs that may be used include:
- SQL (access at http://vsmith.umd.edu)
- Python (access/download at https://www.anaconda.com/download)
- R & R Studio (access/download at https://www.rstudio.com/)
Required Pre-Semester Asynchronous Course
Students who do not already have a strong familiarity with Microsoft Excel should complete the following no later than August 17, 2025:
Optional Asynchronous Assignments and Reading
Incoming students do not need to be proficient with all of these tools prior to the start of classes, however, having some prior experience could help them learn more effectively.
- Business Writing and Communications
- LinkedIn Learning Course: Ten Habits of Effective Communicators
- LinkedIn Learning Course: Tips for Better Business Writing
- LinkedIn Learning Course: Communication within Teams
- LinkedIn Learning Course: Communication Foundations
- LinkedIn Learning Course: Own Your Voice: Improve Presentations and Executive Presence
- Tableau
- Access/download at https://www.tableau.com/academic/students;
free for academic use when using @umd.edu email address - LinkedIn Learning Course: Tableau Essential Training
- LinkedIn Learning Learning Path: Develop Your Tableau Skills
- Access/download at https://www.tableau.com/academic/students;
- Power BI
- Python
- SQL
- R & R Studio
- Smith School's Summer Reading List 2025