The University�s general degree requirements are discussed here.
The M.S. degree is obtained by completing a 36-hour program, beyond prerequisite courses, consisting of (1) 10 hours of basic core courses, (2) courses in a selected area of concentration, and (3) electives. Areas of concentration are (1) Finance, (2) Electronic Commerce, and (3) Organizations and Strategy, (4) Supply Chain Management, and (5) Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The student may elect to submit a Master�s thesis, which counts as three credit hours toward the total course requirements.
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in both core courses and in aggregate courses to qualify for the M.S. degree.
Each candidate must complete a minimum number of required credit hours specified for a concentration. The required courses in each concentration area are:
Finance: In the Finance concentration, students may choose either the Investment Analysis and Management track or the Corporate Financial Strategy track.� The former track is designed for students who intend to pursue careers in investment analysis and portfolio management, which in some cases require completion of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA@) examination.� The latter track is designed for students who plan to pursue careers in corporate financial analysis, including financial planning, management of financial institutions, and entrepreneurial finance.
�Electronic Commerce � This concentration focuses on business models and processes in electronic commerce.� Every organization will increasingly use the Internet as an integral component of their overall strategy in coming years. This program gives students a solid understanding of issues pertaining to the use of Internet as a marketing tool � focusing on both strategic and technology aspects. This includes topics such as database management systems, web design and development, and Internet business models. The curriculum covers issues relevant to pure Internet based firms as well as traditional firms moving to Internet based delivery of products and services.
��Organizations and Strategy � This concentration emphasizes organizational behavior and theory, human resources management, and strategic management.� Students will learn how to effectively integrate and leverage human resources as well as other forms of capital to create sustainable advantages in the competitive marketplace.� The courses draw upon and integrate a wide variety of disciplines, including economics, organization theory, finance, psychology, and sociology.
Supply Chain Management � The SCM concentration explores key issues related to the design and management of industrial supply chains.� Students will learn how to improve supply chain operations to obtain lower costs, faster delivery, higher quality and mass customization.� The ultimate objective is to mold traditional business operations into competitive weapons for today�s global economy.�
�Innovation and Entrepreneurship � This concentration focuses on the processes of innovation and new venture development in entrepreneurial firms, including opportunity identification and evaluation, financing, strategy, marketing, and new venture management. Emphasizing technological innovation in both large and small organizations, this multidisciplinary sequence of courses seeks to prepare students for successful careers either as principals or key functional managers in emerging growth firms, or as leaders of technological innovation in established firms.
Students are required to complete a sufficient number of� elective hours to earn a minimum of 36 hours toward the M.S. Specific course �requirements for these concentration areas are available in the School of Management Advising � Office. Students wishing to develop an individual program of studies which does not follow one of the concentrations must have the program approved in advance by the appropriate Program Director.