School of Management (SOM)
Administration
The School of Management (SOM) is located in Enterprise Hall.
Teresa J. Domzal, Dean
Timothy F. Sugrue, Senior Associate Dean
Mary D. Erickson, Undergraduate Program Director
Gopal Krishnan, Graduate Program Director
Rajendra S. Sisodia, Executive Program Director
Virginia Ann Lewis, Director of Student Services
Faculty
Accounting
Brown, Buchanan, Cao, Faughnan, Godfrey, Harr, Heller, Holt, Kandelin, Krishnan,
Nutter, Varosi, Wilkie, Young
Decision Sciences and Management
Information Systems
Bedewi, Behara, Boiney, Chen, Das, Dutta, Hsu, Hughes, Jukic, Oliver, Ruth, Schank,
Sigman, Singer, Tetzlaff
Finance
Brown-Hruska, Christophe, Crockett, Erickson, Ferri, Hanweck, Hysom, Johnston, Sugrue,
Yau
Management
Christie, Cramton, de Kluyver, Fagenson Eland, Kovach, Lee, Morse, Schmidt, Wasserman
Marketing
Domzal, Entrikin, Harvey, Kernan, McCarty, McCrohan, Meamber, Reston, Sisodia, Tongren
Course Work
The School of Management offers all course work designated ACCT,
BULE, DESC, EMBA,
FNAN, MBA, MGMT,
MIS, MKTG, and TAX
in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog.
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Science Degree
The programs in business education offered by the university culminate in a B.S.
degree with a major in accounting, decision sciences and management information systems,
finance, management, or marketing. A minimum of 120 credits of course work is required,
of which at least 45 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level.
Students should consult the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements section under Academic
Policies for information concerning the literacy requirement, English composition
requirement, core requirements, catalog requirements, residence requirements, and
academic requirements.
In addition, students should carefully examine course prerequisites for courses offered
by the School of Management. Students who enroll in courses without having fulfilled
the prerequisites may have those courses cancelled.
Degree Requirements
The following requirements must be met by all degree applicants:
All students must complete at least 24 credits in the degree program, following acceptance
to the School of Management. The 24 credits must include 18 to 21 credits required for the specific major and
MGMT 498 Business Strategy and Policy.
While a student may apply 12 credits of D grades toward graduation, no D grades may
be applied to the business core requirements and no Ds may be applied to the major.
|
Credits
|
| General Education Requirements |
47
|
Language arts and culture
|
18
|
English composition
(ENGL 100 or 101 and 302-business)*
|
6
|
Communication
(COMM 100, 101, 220, or 260)
|
3
|
Literature and humanities
(Humanities include DANC 101; MUSI 100, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, or 107; THR 101;
and any art history, philosophy, religious studies, or foreign language Courses.
Literature includes all 200-level English courses and all literature courses offered
by the Department Of Modern and Classical Languages. Students may take either six
credits of literature and three credits of humanities, or vice versa.)
|
9
|
Social Science
|
18
|
Principles of Economics
(ECON 103 and 104)*
|
6
|
Economics
(Upper-level marketing majors must take ECON 306)
|
3
|
History, government, or geography
(except GEOG 102)
|
3
|
Psychology, sociology, and/or anthropology
|
6
|
General Sciences
|
11
|
Mathematics (MATH 108)*
|
3
|
Laboratory sciences
(astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, physics)
|
8
|
| Business Core Courses* |
35
|
Financial and Managerial Accounting
(ACCT 201 and 202)
|
6
|
Statistical Analysis for Management
(DESC 210)
|
4
|
Spreadsheet Applications for Business
(MIS 102)
|
1
|
Introduction to Computer-Based MIS
(MIS 201)
|
3
|
Decision Models in Business and Operations Management (DESC 301)
|
3
|
Legal Environment of Business
(BULE 302)
|
3
|
Financial Management (FNAN 301)
|
3
|
International Business (MKTG 407)
|
3
|
Organizational Behavior and Administration
(MGMT 302)
|
3
|
Principles of Marketing (MKTG 301)
|
3
|
Business Strategy and Policy
(MGMT 498 must be taken in the
final semester.)
|
3
|
Major** All 18 credits must be taken at George Mason.
A grade of C or better is required in each course
presented on the graduation application. |
18
|
General Electives**
These 20 credits may not include pure activity courses in any department such as
those listed under the catalog designations of dance, individual sports, physical
education, team sports, recreational activities, music, theater, and art. No more
than 11 credits of general electives may be in courses offered by SOM or the Department
of Economics. |
20
|
| Total |
120 |
* Completion with a grade of C or better is required for graduation.
** Accounting majors enrolled in the financial accounting concentration must complete
21 credits in the major (including BULE 402) and 17 credits of general elective course
work, of which a maximum of 8 credits may be in course work offered by SOM and/or
the Department of Economics. |
Acceptance into a Major
This applies to all students accepted to George Mason under the 1998-99 University
Catalog and later.
A student interested in pursuing a major in accounting, decision sciences and management
information systems, finance, management, or marketing must separately apply for
admission to SOM. Until the application is filed and approved, a student is classified
as a prebusiness major.
To be eligible to apply for acceptance into SOM, the following requirements must
be satisfied: (1) completion of 60 or more credits at George Mason University and/or
through acceptable transfer credits, and (2) completion, at George Mason University
and/or through acceptable transfer credits, of the following 25 credits with a grade
of C or better in each course:
- Financial and Managerial Accounting: ACCT 201 and 202
- Statistical Analysis for Management: DESC 210
- Introduction to Computer-Based Management Information Systems: MIS 201
- Four business core courses: FNAN 301, DESC 301, MGMT 302, and MKTG 301
Acceptance into SOM is competitive based on the grade point average computed on
the above credits. The applicant should check with the SOM Admissions Office in Enterprise
Hall, Room 38A, for the GPA standard for the semester of application. Applicants
who do not receive a 2.000 for the semester of application will be denied acceptance,
regardless of their overall academic performance.
Applications for acceptance to SOM must be submitted by December 1 for the following
spring semester, by May 1 for the following Summer Term, or by August 1 for the following
fall semester. Students should file the application at the beginning of the semester
in which they anticipate completing the requirements set forth above.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated writing
intensive in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students granted a degree by
George Mason with a major in SOM will satisfy the writing-intensive requirement for
their major by completing MGMT 498.
Academic Advising
Academic planning sheets for prebusiness students are available in SOM's Office of
Student Services, Enterprise Hall, Room 42. Students are encouraged to consult with
academic advisors on a regular basis.
Call (703) 993-1880 to make arrangements for advising. SOM's web page also contains
valuable information that is helpful in advising.
Enrichment Program
The enrichment program uses guest speakers from the business community to provide
students with contemporary examples of how to apply academic theory to business practice.
Degree Requirements
The B.S. in Accounting prepares students for professional careers in public, private,
and governmental accounting. The degree is separately accredited by the American
Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. The B.S. provides a basic foundation
of accounting and business knowledge in areas such as financial and managerial accounting,
auditing, tax accounting, and accounting information systems. The program emphasizes
the accounting profession and its role in business, professional responsibilities
and ethics, conceptual understanding, technical competency, analytic abilities, communication
skills, and computer literacy.
Students may choose one of two concentrations within the major that most fits their
needs and interests. The financial accounting concentration is designed for students
who seek to enter public accounting and to complete the Uniform Certified Public
Accountants (CPA) Examination. The managerial accounting concentration is designed
for students who seek to enter private or governmental sectors of the profession
as managerial accountants or internal auditors and expect to complete the Certified
Managerial Accountants (CMA) Examination and/or the Certified Internal Auditors (CIA)
Examination.
In addition to the general requirements for the B.S. degree, students who pursue
either concentration must complete all required credits in upper-level accounting
courses, with grades of C or better in each course. The following courses are required
of all accounting majors (13 credits): ACCT 310, 311, 330, 334, and 351. Each student
in the financial accounting concentration must complete the following courses (8
credits): ACCT 432 and 461 and BULE 402. Each student in the managerial accounting
concentration must complete the following two courses (5 credits): ACCT 411 and 462.
Students in either concentration may elect to complete the following electives: ACCT
452, 472, 491, 492, and/or 499.
Advising materials are available in SOM's Office of Student Services to provide guidance
regarding recommended electives. Students should see their advisors when selecting
courses within the field of accounting. Students who anticipate sitting for the Uniform
CPA, CMA, or CIA examinations should consult applicable regulations and discuss their
programs with a member of the accounting faculty.
Degree Requirements
The decision sciences and management information systems faculty offer a variety
of courses and programs of study that apply mathematical modeling, statistical analysis,
and computer-based information systems to the practical problems of business and
government.
In addition to the general degree requirements for the B.S., students who major in
decision sciences and management information systems must complete 18 credits of
upper-level business courses with a grade of C or better in each course. Requirements
include a common core of courses (6 credits) and electives (12 credits) as defined
below.
Students have considerable flexibility in their choice of electives and may choose
programs of study that develop expertise in areas such as computer systems, decision
analysis, information resource management, managerial and decision economics, production
and operations management, and statistical modeling. Students are urged to discuss
their choice of electives and programs of study with an advisor in SOM's Office of
Student Services.
Required courses: MIS 310 and DESC 352.
Electives: 12 credits of noncore, upper-level DESC and/or MIS courses; 3 credits
may be satisfied by ACCT 311, ECON 345, INFS 310, 311, 312, 315, or 316. Limited
electives are available in DESC.
Degree Requirements
The B.S. in Finance prepares students for professional careers in various branches
of finance. In addition to the general degree requirements for the major, students
wishing to major in finance must complete 18 credits in upper-level business administration
courses with grades of C or better in each course.
Required courses: Three from FNAN 302, 311, 321, or 401.
Electives: Three or more from FNAN 302, 311, 321, 351, 401, 411, 412, 421, 423, 440,
451, 452, 453, or 491 if not taken as a required course.
Degree Requirements
The B.S. in Management prepares students for managerial careers in the public and
private sectors. In addition to the general degree requirements for the B.S., students
must complete 18 credits in upper-level management courses with grades of C or better
in each course. Beyond MGMT 302, students are required to take the following:
Students specializing in human resource/personnel should take MGMT 331, 421, and
431.
Degree Requirements
The B.S. in Marketing prepares students for a broad range of global and domestic
career options. Opportunities are increasing in marketing as government agencies,
the nonprofit sector, service industries, and small businesses adopt a marketing
orientation that was traditionally perceived as a practice limited to large corporations.
A major in marketing provides students with a solid background in marketing concepts
and practices, with emphasis on market analysis and planning, research, consumer
behavior, and advertising management. Because marketing draws on a variety of disciplines
for its foundation and is practiced globally, marketing majors are encouraged to
take electives in related fields such as psychology, sociology, economics, public
policy, international studies, computer science, and foreign languages.
In addition to the required core courses for the B.S. degree, students must complete
18 credits of upper-level marketing courses with grades of C or better. Students
are required to take the following:
- MKTG 312 Consumer Behavior
- MKTG 313 Advertising Management
- MKTG 351 Marketing Research Techniques and Applications
- MKTG 471 Marketing Management
The remaining six credits must be chosen from a variety of upper-level electives
in marketing. Marketing majors are advised to work closely with their academic advisors
to ensure that electives taken in related fields provide the opportunity to gain
proficiency in specific marketing-related areas.
Minor in Business Administration
A minor in business administration is available for nonbusiness majors and requires
20 credits. All courses at the 300 level must be taken at George Mason University.
A grade of C or better is required in each business course presented on the graduation
application. MATH 108 is a prerequisite.
Students must complete three core courses totaling nine credits: one course of FNAN
301 or DESC 301; one course of MKTG 301, MGMT 302, or BULE 302; and one additional
course from the above course work.
Graduate Programs
The School of Management offers the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.).
The program is accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business
(AACSB). To receive an application or more information, send your request to the
School of Management's Graduate Admissions Processing Center at MS 5A2, Fairfax,
Virginia 22030-4444; call (703) 993-2136; send an e-mail to gradadms@som.gmu.edu;
or fax to (703) 993-1886.
Business Administration, M.B.A.
The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program provides a high-level professional
education in business administration. The curriculum integrates functional areas
with an emphasis on group work, information technology, and the global business environment.
The M.B.A. Fast Track program is a part-time evening program. Fast Track students
are admitted for the fall and spring semesters.
Admission Requirements
All students registering for graduate courses numbered 600 and higher offered by
the School of Management must have graduate standing. Nondegree student status is
not available.
Admission to the M.B.A. program is highly competitive. No previous course work in
business administration is required, but an college-level calculus course must be
successfully completed before matriculation. Applicants are evaluated primarily on
undergraduate record and GMAT performance. A minimum of two years of professional
work experience before entering the program is required. Important consideration
is given to a professional background, with emphasis on leadership potential. These
criteria are applied with a certain amount of flexibility to ensure that individuals
with unusual academic qualifications are not denied admission.
Fast Track, Part-Time M.B.A.
The Fast Track, part-time M.B.A. curriculum effectively integrates functional areas
with an emphasis on the use of information technology, oral and written communication,
and teamwork. The Fast Track M.B.A. program requires 48 credits, including 33 credits
of core courses and 15 credits of elective courses. Students complete the degree
program in three years by taking six credits each semester for eight consecutive
semesters (including summer terms). Due to the cohort structure, students must commit
to attending classes two times per week for three years.
Core Courses, 33 Credits
The core courses are offered during the first two years, with students taking six
credits each fall, spring, and summer. Every course sets the foundation for the next
and builds on knowledge gained in previous courses. All Fast Track M.B.A. students
must complete the following required core courses: |
| MBA 603 Managerial Economics and Decisions of the Firm |
3
|
| MBA 612 Managing Costs and Evaluating Performance |
1.5
|
| MBA 613 Financial Reporting and Decision Making |
3
|
| MBA 623 Marketing Management |
3
|
| MBA 633 Statistics for Business Decision Making |
3
|
| MBA 638 Managing Operations for Competitive Advantage |
3
|
| MBA 643 Managerial Finance |
3
|
| MBA 653 Organizational Behavior |
3
|
| MBA 663 Introduction to Information Technology and Management |
3
|
| MBA 673 Legal and Ethical Environment for Management |
3
|
| MBA 677 Application of Business Theories and Simulation |
1.5
|
| MBA 678 Strategy and Policy |
3
|
Elective Courses, 15 Credits
During the final year of the program, students choose from several market-driven
elective courses offered by the School of Management in the following disciplines:
accounting; decision sciences; finance; management; management information systems;
and marketing.
Electives may also be chosen from courses offered by other graduate programs in the
university, with approval from the School of Management. |
Business Administration, Executive M.B.A.
The Executive Master of Business Administration program is a 21-month general
management program leading to the M.B.A. degree. The program provides managers and
executives with state-of-the-art education in contemporary management. Particular
emphasis is placed on leadership skills, change management, and strategic management
of technology.
The class schedule of alternating Fridays and Saturdays, two one-week residencies,
and one two-week international residency is designed to allow participants to continue
their careers while they study and master a broad range of functional and managerial
skills.
The curriculum incorporates three distinctive elements: a focus on services as the
dominant context, an underlying philosophy of relationship-based management, and
an understanding of the transformational impact of technology.
Participants
The Executive M.B.A. is designed for those with significant business and professional
experience. Participants must have the support of their organizations (given the
time to attend class). Financial sponsorship is desired but not required.
Sponsoring organizations include but are not limited to Allstate Insurance, Atlantic
Research Corporation, AT&T, Bell Atlantic, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, General
Motors, Landmark Systems Corporation, Mobil Oil Corporation, Paxton Van Lines, TASC,
the U.S. Government, and Xerox Corporation.
Methods of Instruction
Study groups are an essential part of the Executive M.B.A. experience and are selected
by the director/associate director of the program. The groups usually meet off campus
once a week to discuss course work and prepare class presentations. Between classes
and study group sessions, the group members continue to work collaboratively through
electronic communications, using the groupware platform, Lotus Notes, provided by
the program.
Faculty encourage classroom discussions in which opinions are shared and experiences
reviewed for the benefit of the whole class. The program is designed to combine the
theoretical with the practical, so each person's contribution to the discussion is
essential.
Residency Weeks
Live-in sessions complete the Executive M.B.A. experience. The first residency, held
at the beginning of the program at a local hotel or conference center, is five days
long. Participants not only begin their formal course work but learn how to work
within a study group, how to use the Internet to do research, and how to use the
current groupware platform, Lotus Notes. The second residency is scheduled at the
end of the first year. It is a two-week program in Europe, designed to help the participants
integrate the managerial disciplines learned during the year. The European program
includes one week of study in residence at Oxford University where a certificate
is earned, and one week in continental Europe where participants visit firms, research
centers, and governmental institutions. The final residency week is held at the beginning
of the last semester in the program. The week includes formal classroom study, presentations
by CEOs, and a computer business simulation.
For the most current information on the program, please contact the program office
by e-mail at emba@gmu.edu or by phone at (703) 733-2833.
Program Schedule
Fall Semester--First Year
One Week Residency
- EMBA 600 Managerial Economics and the Decisions of the Firm
- EMBA 610 Financial Accounting and Statement Analysis
- EMBA 630 Managerial Business Information Using Statistical Techniques
- EMBA 640 Valuation in a Global Market
- EMBA 650 Managing Individuals and Groups in Organizations
Spring Semester--First Year
- EMBA 612 Managing Costs and Evaluating Performance
- EMBA 635 Managing Organizations for Competitive Advantage
- EMBA 651 Managing Organizational Change
- EMBA 670 Global Marketing and Business Processes
- EMBA 735 Special Topics in Decision Sciences: International Political Economy,
Technology, and Industry
- EMBA 750 Business Unit Strategy
- EMBA 775 Special Topics in Marketing: International Business I
Fall Semester--Second Year
- EMBA 641 Creation of Corporate Value
- EMBA 660 Emerging Issues in Information for Business
- EMBA 715 Special Topics in Accounting: Federal Taxation
- EMBA 745 Special Topics in Macroeconomics: Applied Macroeconomics
- EMBA 775 Special Topics in Marketing: International Business II
Spring Semester--Second Year
One-Week Residency
- EMBA 720 Regulatory Structure and Ethics
- EMBA 745 Special Topics in Finance: Financial Markets
- EMBA 751 Special Topics in Management: Corporate Strategy
- EMBA 755 Special Topics in Management: Corporate Governance
- EMBA 755 Special Topics in Management: Negotiations
- EMBA 755 A Computer Business Simulation
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|