Master of Science in Management and Administrative Sciences
Degree Requirements
The
University’s general degree requirements are discussed here.
The M.S. in Management and
Administrative Sciences degree is a flexible degree that allows students to
design a program of study that fits their specific needs. Students complete a 36-hour program, beyond
prerequisite courses, consisting of 10 hours of basic core courses, and 26
credit hours of graduate level electives. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point
average in both core courses and in aggregate courses to qualify for the M.S.
degree.
Students should be aware that
separate Master of Science programs, with varying core and elective
requirements exist in the following areas:
For the
MS-MAS degree program, students choose their own course of study, pulling
courses from the School of Management graduate catalog.
Note: The Executive Education area of the School of Management
offers three additional and separate MS-MAS programs, which retain the same set
of core courses but have their own set of specific topical electives. These
include: the MS-MAS with an emphasis in project management, the Executive
Healthcare MS-MAS, and the MS-MAS with an emphasis in Organizational Behavior
and Coaching. These are described in the Executive Education section of
the School of Management chapter. All three programs are supported entirely by
participant fees and special admissions requirements apply.
MS-MAS Program Description
Basic Core Courses (10 hours)
Each candidate must satisfactorily
complete the following 10 hour basic core:
AIM 6201 Financial Accounting
MECO 6303 Business Economics
MIS 6204 Information Technology and MIS Fundamentals
OPRE 6301 Quantitative Introduction to Risk and Uncertainty in Business
Elective
Courses: (26 credit hours)
Concentrations
- Students may choose to concentrate
in one of the areas listed below that have historically been offered as defined
specialties in the masters programs. Concentrations
are informal collections of electives that address a student’s educational
goals. A concentration may be aligned with functional area specialties, or may
cut across functional areas. Typical concentrations have a minimum of 15 credit
hours in a given area, and include:
•
Accounting and
Information Management: In today’s
global and technology-driven environment, managers need skills to effectively
analyze accounting information and make value-enhancing decisions. Students may
select accounting and information management (AIM) courses to concentrate in
financial analysis, consulting, corporate governance and tax management.
•
Electronic
Commerce: Every organization will
increasingly use the Internet as an integral component of their overall
strategy in coming years. Students can select courses to provide a solid
understanding of issues pertaining to the use of the internet as a marketing
tool – focusing on both strategic and technological aspects. This includes
topics such as database management systems, web design and development, and
Internet business models. The Advising Office can provide a plan of study that
covers topics in this area.
•
Finance: Students can prepare for careers in corporate
finance, investment management, or the management of financial institutions.
Courses in this area emphasize creative solutions to business financing
problems, the development of value maximizing investment and financing
strategies, and the analysis and management of fixed income and equity
investments. Students may choose to concentrate in either corporate financial
planning or the analysis of financial securities and investment portfolios.
•
Healthcare
Administration: The primary goal of this
concentration is to prepare students for leadership positions in healthcare
organizations. The healthcare concentration is cross-functional and
industry focused. Courses will contain cases, projects, and assignments
that are centered around
applying management skills to healthcare issues and organizations.
Classes are taught by School of Management faculty and healthcare executives
who bring special expertise and experience to the program.
•
Information
Systems: Information Technology permeates
all aspects of modern business and our courses will enable you to make the most
of information technology to solve business problems and gain strategic
advantage. We also provide advanced courses for students who wish to be on the
"supply" side of information technology in the areas of IT consulting, software
management, and e-business.
•
Innovation and
Entrepreneurship: Focused on the processes of
technological innovation in both large and small organizations, a set of
multidisciplinary courses prepares students for successful careers either as
principals or key functional managers in emerging growth firms, or as leaders
of technological innovation in established firms.
•
International
Management: In this concentration, students can
take a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of international management,
with courses in finance, marketing, strategic management, and the legal and
cross-cultural differences that effect business. This course of study will
prepare students for careers in international industries.
•
Leadership in
Organizations: The leadership concentration prepares
students for upper management positions through the study of the psychological,
sociological, and organizational behavior disciplines. The program provides a
foundation of leadership theory, building and problem solving in interpersonal
work relationships, group dynamics, organizational decision making and change,
and ethics.
•
Marketing: Students learn to understand customers’ needs and purchase
behaviors, how to satisfy those needs, and how to make a profit in competitive
industries and markets. Topics include: developing an effective marketing
strategy, developing new products, and managing different brands and product
categories. Students can also acquire expertise in pricing, advertising and
promotions, market research, and retailing strategies. Courses are also
available on the Internet’s effect on marketing and business.
•
Operations: Firms can use effective and innovative operations
to create and sustain competitive advantages. Students in these courses gain a deep, analytical understanding of how challenges posed by
fast developing business environments can become profit-making opportunities. Integration
of various parties (suppliers, factories, stores) and various functional areas
(marketing, finance, procurement) is an important theme. In particular,
incentives, contracts and information technologies fostering collaboration
among financially independent parties are emphasized.
•
Organizations: This concentration emphasizes organizational behavior and
theory, and human resources management. Students learn how to effectively
integrate and leverage human resources to create sustainable advantages in a competitive
marketplace. Courses chosen in this area integrate a wide variety of
disciplines, including economics, organization theory, finance, psychology, and
sociology.
•
Strategy: This concentration focuses on corporate level strategic
management, including: implementation of strategic designs; top management team
leadership; the strategic implications of the social, governmental,
technological, and international environments; organization structuring; and
strategic alliances. Students will learn how to integrate accounting, finance,
economics, and organization theory to create sustainable competitive advantage.