Master of Science in Management
Course List
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Management Program requires the satisfactory completion of 36 semester credit hours distributed as follows:
- 30 credit hours in core
- 6 credit hours in electives (May select electives in: Human Resources, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management or two general electives)
All courses are 3 semester credit hours in length
To view the course descriptions
Click on a course name below to display the description for that course. You can also display or contract all course descriptions by using the buttons below.
Required Foundation Courses
There are 30 credit hours in Foundation courses needed for the Master of Science in Management Program.
This course discusses general business terminology, and briefly introduces accounting, economics, management, marketing, and finance. Emphasis is on understanding and applying concepts associated with current business practices.
This course reviews the basic concepts, theories, and research regarding psychological issues related to organizational behavior and leadership. It examines the nature of leadership, leadership behavior, and specific psychological traits of ordinary individuals in leadership roles. Individuals will be helped to identify their leadership style.
Supply Chain Management encompasses development of integrated strategies in managing over-all costs, attaining profit goals, and satisfying customers. Building on the implementation of enterprise software and new applications, leaders are better able to plan sales revenue, schedule production, set optimal inventory levels, plan distribution/warehousing and global logistics, source goods and services strategically, and finance operations through better working capital management. Recognition is also given to important interrelationships among sales management, logistics, production, marketing, and financial management. This course also focuses on outsourcing as a corporate strategy to reduce costs, improve cycle time, customer service and improve the overall performance of the supply chain. The human resource implications and challenges inherent in implementing outsourcing will be addressed and the pros and cons of this strategy debated in class. Requirements of the course will include case analyses.
Students learn how to develop the skills and concepts needed to ensure the ongoing contribution of a firm’s operations to its competitive position. Typically this requires the firm to achieve, at a minimum cost, quality and economic parity, responsiveness and adaptability to customer needs and desires, rapid time to market, process technology, and sufficient and responsive capacity. Topics encompass all elements of coherent operation systems, process analysis, cross-functional and cross firm integration, product development, and technology and operations strategy.
This course is designed for managers who need a background in accounting and finance. The course integrates, from a management perspective, relevant principles and concepts drawn from both accounting and finance. The course introduces students to such financial concepts as the relationship of cash flow to the time value of money; cash management, receivables management, and capital budgeting techniques. Completion of this course will prepare students to assess and analyze the quality of accounting information as presented in financial statements, and utilize the data for both strategic and operational management decisions.
This course addresses the ethical dimensions of management with a special focus on the processes managers may use to raise and resolve ethical dilemmas and conflicts in organizational settings. Policies pertaining to treatment of those raising ethical issues will be considered. The legal and regulatory requirements of ethical conduct will be examined. Policies and codes of conduct established by various organizations and industry groups will be critically examined. The course will feature case studies involving alleged breaches of ethical conduct among publicly held corporations.
Organizations do not always have a clear understanding of marketing, the components of developing a marketing strategy, and the elements of planning and implementing a marketing plan. This course emphasizes the identification, analysis, and selection of target markets; development and management of product/service lines; pricing; demand analysis and forecasting; distribution systems; and advertising and promotions. Major forces impacting marketing strategy, such as electronic marketing, one-to-one marketing, consumer trends, competition, and regulating forces, are examined. Students diagnose marketing problems, identify opportunities at operational and strategic levels, and develop a marketing plan for their organization or an organization they choose to enhance.
This course focuses on the essence of leadership and management, including the behaviors, attitudes, and perspectives that distinguish leaders. Effective strategies for developing managers and leaders in the context of modern organizations are emphasized. Leadership dilemmas and issues are analyzed. A multidisciplinary approach will be used to explore new demands and relevant strategies for effective leadership. Individuals will be helped to identify their leadership style.
This is a Capstone Course that "puts it all together" through a program application project. Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours before taking this course. The course is intended to help students frame unstructured business problems. Students must identify the central issues and determine the most appropriate tools and concepts from the core curriculum to apply in order to gain insight into these issues. This approach helps develop a cross-functional approach to business issues. Students are engaged in a project with an outside organization of their own choosing and receive extensive feedback as they carry out the project. Their project is presented to a faculty panel acting as decision makers for the organization.
This course focuses on the development of effective communication strategies and their applications in various organizational contexts and with different stakeholder groups. Topics covered include defining the organizational communications culture and styles, audience assessment, overcoming communications barriers, communications etiquette, and ethical dimensions of communications. Techniques covered include preparation of memos and business reports, business correspondence using email and hard copy formats, preparing and delivering oral reports, and facilitating discussions.
Elective Requirements
Students are required to take two courses (6 credit hours) in an elective group (may choose both electives in one area: Human Resources, Public Administration, Nonprofit, or take two general electives.
Human Resources Electives
This study of contemporary views on the complex decision-making process regarding the management of human resources within an organizational system is geared to meeting both individual needs and organizational objectives. New acquisition, development, rewarding, and maintenance of human resources are researched, analyzed, and discussed.
An objective evaluation of the demand for, and supply of, labor in its relation to management’s needs provides a solid foundation for managers and human resources professionals. The theory and application of collective bargaining and employee benefit programs are also emphasized. The impact of labor contracts on global competition and corporate flexibility in a changing world are examined.
Public Administration Electives
This course studies processes of making public policy, including detection of public issues, consideration of alternatives, and adoption and implementation of solutions. This course highlights the major contributors in the policy process, as well as the environment within which they work.
This course provides an opportunity to investigate issues and trends shaping the nonprofit and public sectors and the challenges they present for leaders. “Best practices” and benchmarking public and nonprofit sectors are examined. Topics include trends in philanthropy and public giving; mergers, strategic alliances and joint ventures within and across sectors; new models for governance and boards; and the type of leadership that is required to create and maintain high levels of excellence in organizations.
-or-
This course studies of fundamental normative debates in the public and nonprofit financial management arena with a focus on resulting implementation principles and techniques in governmental accounting, financial reporting, budget and revenue decisions, debt management, cash and investment management, pensions and employee benefits, and risk management.
Nonprofit Management Electives
This course provides an opportunity to investigate issues and trends shaping the nonprofit and public sectors and the challenges they present for leaders. "Best practices" and benchmarking public and nonprofit sectors are examined. Topics include trends in philanthropy and public giving; mergers, strategic alliances and joint ventures within and across sectors; new models for governance and boards; and the type of leadership that is required to create and maintain high levels of excellence in organizations.
This course studies of fundamental normative debates in the public and nonprofit financial management arena with a focus on resulting implementation principles and techniques in governmental accounting, financial reporting, budget and revenue decisions, debt management, cash and investment management, pensions and employee benefits, and risk management.
Graduation Requirements
- Satisfactory completion of all requirements in the program of study developed in consultation with the faculty members.
- Satisfactory completion of ten core courses and two elective courses for a total of 12 courses or 36 credit hours.
- A minimum grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) and a grade of “B-” or better in all required courses.
- Completion of these requirements within seven years of matriculation into the program
- A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration.
