School of Management

(Skip Outline)

• Programs
  • Undergraduate
  • Graduate
• Administration
• Introduction
• Faculty
• Course Work
• Undergraduate Programs
  • Bachelor of Science Degree
    • Writing-Intensive, Synthesis Requirements
    • Degree Requirements
    • Acceptance into SOM
    • Academic Advising
  • Accounting, BS
    • Degree Requirements
  • Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems, BS
    • Degree Requirements
  • Finance, BS
    • Degree Requirements
  • Management, BS
    • Degree Requirements
  • Marketing, BS
    • Degree Requirements
  • Concentration in Internet Marketing Resiliency
  • Certificate Program in Accounting
  • Minor in Business
• Graduate Programs
  • Bioscience Management, MS
    • Admissions Requirements
    • Program Schedule
  • Business Administration, MBA
    • Admission Requirements
    • Concentrations
    • CIO Certification
  • Executive MBA
    • Participants
    • Methods of Instruction
    • Residency Weeks
    • Program Schedule
  • Technology Management, MS
    • Admissions Requirements
    • Program Schedule
  • CIO University Partnership

Enterprise Hall
Phone: 703-993-1807
Web: www.som.gmu.edu

Programs

The School of Management (SOM) offers the following academic programs:

Undergraduate

• Accounting (ACCT)
• Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems (DMIS)
• Finance (FNAN)
• Management (MGMT)
• Marketing (MKTG)
• Business Minor (MSOM)

Graduate

• MBA (Master of Business Administration)
• EMBA (Executive Master of Business Administration)
• MS in Technology Management
• MS in Bioscience Management
• Postbaccalaureate Accounting Certificate

Administration

• Richard J. Klimoski, Dean
• David J. Harr, Senior Associate Dean
• Alison O'Brien, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs
• Phillip G. Buchanan, Director of MBA Program
• Jean-Pierre Auffret, Director of Bioscience Management Program and the MS in Technology Management Program
• Karen Hallows, Director of Executive MBA Program
• Daniel Mackeben, Director of Marketing Communications
• Pamela Allen, Assistant Dean of Student Services
• Daniel Robb, Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment Management

Introduction

The School of Management (SOM) has provided high- quality business education to the region since 1972. SOM faculty members bring both theoretical and applied expertise to the classroom. Nearly one-third of the faculty is bilingual. SOM faculty members have international reputations on topics such as executive compensation, effects of insider trading on stock prices and e-commerce, and international work groups and teams. Faculty members have provided testimony before nearly every federal agency, and have served as consultants to industry and organizations such as NASDAQ, the FDIC, and the Department of Defense.

Today, more than 3,800 students are studying in five undergraduate majors, the business minor, and four graduate programs. The MBA, EMBA, MS in technology management, and MS in bioscience management are pioneers nationwide. Mason's management programs provide a solid business core emphasizing information technologies and communication, entrepreneurial thinking, and global business strategy. We prepare students to lead with initiative, imagination, and innovation.

Of more than 2,100 business programs in the nation, only one-fifth are fully accredited by AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) International. Mason's SOM is one of only 165 schools in the nation with both business and accounting programs fully accredited by AACSB International.

A Mason business degree delivers in-depth exposure in an area of specialization as well as the skills required for success in a global business world. The school's unique undergraduate keystone and capstone courses develop skills and provide students with opportunities to interact with regional business leaders. More than 90 percent of the school's graduate students study while employed. Since our graduate programs emphasize learning in teams, each student has the opportunity to test classroom concepts against the best practices of some of the region's premier organizations. Graduate students experience global business through an international residency. SOM integrates teamwork, technology, and innovation into a state-of-the art curriculum to prepare students for tomorrow's business environment.

Faculty

Accounting

Buchanan, Douthett, Heller, Hylton, Jones, Krishnan, Leary, Moraglio, Nutter, Parsons, Visvanathan

Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems

Auffret, C. Chen, M. Chen, Das, Dutta, Hsu, Hughes, Hutchison, Kim, Kinsley, Mazumdar, Meixell, Singer, Talalayevsky

Finance

Brown-Hruska, Christophe, Crockett, Ferri, -Hallows, Hanweck, Hsieh, Johnston, Nikolova, Stahel, Zhdanov

Management

Coffinberger, Cramton, Cronin, Demory, Eland, Joshi, Klimoski, Kravitz, Lee, Ling, Marks, O'Brien, Rockmann, Samuels, Wolf, Yasai

Marketing

Entrikin, Harvey, Joiner, Jaju, Martin, McCrohan, Meamber, Philpot, Saini, Schneider, Stanbury

Course Work

SOM offers all course work designated ACCT, BULE, DESC, EMBA, FNAN, MBA, MGMT, MIS, MKTG, MSBM, MSOM, SOM, and TECM in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

Because all organizations face constant change driven largely by information technology, new organizations and new business models are continually evolving. SOM faculty and students are intellectually curious about what information technology, new business models, and paradigm shifts mean to present and future organizations.

Success in business requires a broad portfolio of skills as well as a desire for lifelong learning. When studying business, focusing on just one discipline is not enough. Today's workforce must be able to perform successfully in an environment of change and ambiguity. SOM prepares students to be successful in the fast-paced world of business.

Bachelor of Science Degree

Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
Phone: 703-993-1880
Web: som.gmu.edu

The programs in management education culminate in a BS degree with a major from one of five areas: 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 in the "Academic Policies" chapter for information concerning literacy, general education, residence, and other academic requirements.

In addition, students should carefully examine prerequisites for SOM courses. Students may be removed from courses if they enroll without having fulfilled them.

Writing-Intensive, Synthesis Requirements

Mason's writing-intensive requirement for SOM majors is satisfied by successful completion of SOM 301. The synthesis requirement is satisfied by successful completion of SOM 498.

Degree Requirements

All degree applicants must complete a minimum of 30 credits of SOM core and major courses at Mason. They must include at least 9 credits required for the specific major, and SOM 498 Capstone Course: Advanced Business Models. A grade of C or higher must be earned in SOM core and major requirements.

SOM students pursuing a BS degree must complete the university-wide general education program plus 1 additional credit of natural science, for a total of 44 credits. The natural science requirement must be fulfilled by completing two, 4-credit laboratory sciences. All degree applicants must complete the following SOM degree requirements:

	Credits
ECON 103*	3
ECON 104*	3
ECON 300–400	3
ANTH, PSYC, or SOCI (satisfies university requirement for Social and Behavioral Science)	3
MATH 108 or 113* (satisfies university requirement for quantitative reasoning)	3
School of Management Core *	35
ACCT 203	3
ACCT 301	3
BULE 302	3
DESC 210	4
DESC 301	3
FNAN 301	3
MGMT 301	3
MIS 102	1
MIS 301	3
MKTG 301	3
SOM 301	3
SOM 498	3
Major*	18
General Electives These credits may not include pure activity courses such as those listed under the catalog designations of individual sports, physical education, team sports, and recreational activities. Certain courses under the designation of dance, music, theater, and arts are also restricted. Consult the SOM web site for more specific information. A minimum of 9 credits must come from courses outside the SOM or the Department of Economics.	17
Total Credits University General Education and SOM	120

* Completion with a grade of C or better is required for graduation.

Acceptance into SOM

A student interested in pursuing a major in accounting, decision sciences and management information systems, finance, management, or marketing must apply for acceptance to the SOM during the semester in which the student will complete the acceptance requirements. A student who has not received acceptance will have a degree status classified as "BPRE," until the application is approved.

Acceptance is selective, based on completion of the following:

• At least 48 credits with a minimum of 9 credits at Mason
• A GPA of 2.500 or higher at the end of the semester of application, for all courses attempted and from all schools and universities attended.
• Successful completion of the following courses with a grade of C or better: ACCT 203 (Prerequisite: C or better in ECON 103); DESC 210 (Prerequisite: C or better in MATH 108); SOM 301 (Prerequisite/corequisite: C or better in ACCT 203, DESC 210, and ENGL 302)
• A minimum Mason cumulative and semester GPA of 2.00 at the end of the semester of application.

Please note: Students must meet the admission requirements in effect at the time of application to the school.

Applications must be submitted by November 1 for the following spring semester; by April 1 for the following Summer Term; and by July 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. For more information about the application process, contact the Office of Academic and Career Services, 703-993-1880.

Academic Advising

Academic planning for undergraduate students is available in the SOM Office of Academic and Career Services, Enterprise Hall, Room 008. Students are encouraged to consult with an advisor regularly. Any student who wishes to change to a major in the SOM must consult an SOM academic advisor for degree requirements. For more information about making an appointment or walk-in advising hours, call 703-993-1880 or go to www.som.gmu.edu.

Accounting, BS

Degree Requirements

The BS in accounting (ACCT) prepares students for professional careers in the private and public sectors of the economy. Students learn how to evaluate fundamental value-propositions for various types of organizations and transactions, and convert financial and economic information from these organizations and transactions into information that is useful for decision-making purposes. Students also learn how to design and test information systems that provide reliable and relevant information for planning and control. Further, students learn how to identify value-creating opportunities and choose among competing operating, investing, financing, and disclosure alternatives to maximize firm or organizational value.

The program emphasizes, but is not limited to, the accounting profession and its role in business and government, including professional responsibilities and ethics. The program stresses conceptual understanding, technical competency, analytic abilities, communication skills, and computer literacy. The degree is separately accredited by AACSB International.

In addition to the general requirements for the BS degree, students must complete all required credits in upper-level accounting courses, with grades of C or better in each course. Students majoring in accounting must complete 18 credits composed of the following:

• ACCT 311 Managerial and Cost Accounting
• ACCT 321 Financial Reporting and Analysis
• ACCT 351 Taxation and Managerial Decision Making
• ACCT 361 Accounting Information Systems
• ACCT 421 Advanced Financial Accounting Topics
• ACCT 461 Assurance and Audit Services

Materials are available in the Office of Academic and Career Services to provide guidance regarding recommended electives. Students who anticipate taking the CPA, CMA, CIA, or other professional exam should consult applicable regulations and meet with their advisor. State regulations may dictate course selections.

Note: Students who anticipate taking the Uniform CPA exam in Virginia after June 30, 2006, will be required to complete a minimum of 150 credits, including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by an accredited college.

Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems, BS

Degree Requirements

The BS in decision sciences and management information systems (DMIS) prepares students for a range of career options that involve applying information technology and quantitative methods to business problems. Knowledge of business functions as well as information technology is necessary to assess information requirements and leverage technology to design and improve business processes. The content of the DMIS major is at the intersection of technology, process, and people.

In addition to the general degree requirements for the major, students who major in DMIS must complete 18 credits of upper-level DMIS courses with a grade of C or better in each course. Of these, 9 credits are taken up by the required courses for the major as listed below. Students have considerable flexibility in their choice of electives, and may choose from two tracks of study: one in management information systems, which prepares students for a career in the information technology industry; and the other in management of business operations, which develops expertise in areas such as quality, project, and supply chain management and business process analysis. Students are strongly urged to discuss their choice of electives and programs of study with their advisor. It is also strongly recommended that students planning to major in DMIS take MIS 302 as part of their program.

Required courses

• MIS 310 Introduction to Database Management Systems
• MIS 320 Business Data Communications
• MIS 330 Computer Systems Analysis and Design

Electives (choose three)

• DESC 320, 352, 435, 452, 456, 493, or 499
• MIS 302, 411, 412, 430, 435, 440, 450, 491, or 499

Finance, BS

Degree Requirements

The BS in finance (FNAN) prepares students for professional careers by providing a solid foundation in financial principles necessary to make operating decisions for an organization. In addition to the general degree requirements for the major, students must complete 18 credits in upper-level finance courses with a grade of C or better in each course.

Required courses (choose three)

• FNAN 302 Financial Analysis and Forecasting
• FNAN 311 Principles of Investment
• FNAN 321 Financial Institutions
• FNAN 401 Advanced Financial Management

Electives (choose three)

• FNAN 302, 311, 321, or 401, if not taken as a required course
• FNAN 351, 411, 412, 421, 440, 451, or 491

Management, BS

Degree Requirements

The BS in management prepares students for management and leadership in the public and private sectors. In addition to the general degree requirements for the BS, students must complete 18 credits in upper-level management courses with a grade of C or better in each course.

Required courses

• MGMT 312 Principles and Practices of Management
• MGMT 321 Introduction to Human Resource Management

Electives (choose four)

• Recommended for students focusing on human resource management or personnel: MGMT 412, 413, 421, 431, 463, or 464.
• Recommended for students interested in pursuing a career as a manager, executive, or management consultant: MGMT 413, 451, 461, 463, 464, or 471.
• Recommended for students with entrepreneurial interests: MGMT 421, 451, 463, or 471

Enrollment in the Honors Seminar (MGMT 462) is by management faculty invitation. To be eligible for an invitation, a student must be accepted into SOM with a management major; have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 with a minimum of 75 semester hours of course work; and have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in course work completed for the management major. The size of the Honors Seminar will be kept small. If the number of interested and qualified students exceeds the number of available spots, management faculty will enact a selection process.

Marketing, BS

Degree Requirements

The BS in marketing prepares students for a broad range of global and domestic career options in market and consumer research, brand management, advertising, customer relationship management, new market and business development, and marketing strategy. Marketing opportunities are increasing in the new economy as firms, government agencies, and nonprofits adopt a market orientation.

A marketing major provides students with a solid background in marketing concepts and practices, with emphasis on market analysis and planning, research, and consumer behavior. 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 BS degree, students must complete 18 credits of upper-level marketing courses with a grade of C or better in each course.

Required Courses

• MKTG 312 Consumer Behavior
• MKTG 351 Marketing Research Techniques and Applications
• MKTG 471 Marketing Management

The remaining 9 credits must be chosen from a variety of upper-level electives in marketing.

Concentration in Internet Marketing Resiliency

Marketing also offers a concentration in Internet marketing resiliency within the marketing major. This concentration prepares students to enhance and protect the electronic marketing efforts of their firms.

Required courses

• MIS 320 Business Data Communications
• MKTG 315 Internet Marketing
• MKTG 451 Competitive Intelligence and Information Security
• MKTG 491 Special Topics in Marketing

Marketing majors are advised to work closely with their academic advisor to ensure that electives taken in related fields provide the opportunity to gain proficiency in specific marketing-related -areas.

Certificate Program in Accounting

This program provides an opportunity for nonmatriculated students to earn the academic credit necessary to sit for and pass the Uniform CPA Examination for Virginia. The requirement for enrollment is a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.

Candidates are required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of accounting courses, 15 of which must be taken at Mason. The additional recommended credits (up to a maximum of 18 credits) that are required to meet the minimum academic requirements to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination for Virginia may be completed at Mason. Successful completion of the certificate program requires a grade of C or better in accounting courses, and a GPA of at least 2.00 in all courses.

Required courses

• ACCT 203 Survey of Accounting
• ACCT 301 Financial Accounting and Decision Making
• ACCT 311 Managerial and Cost Accounting
• ACCT 321 Financial Reporting and Analysis
• ACCT 351 Taxation and Managerial Decision Making
• ACCT 361 Accounting Information Systems
• ACCT 421 Advanced Financial Accounting
• ACCT 461 Assurance and Audit Services

Recommended courses (courses are consistent with content specification outline for the CPA exam)

• BULE 302 Legal Environment of Business
• BULE 402 Commercial Law
• DESC 210 Statistical Analysis for Management
• FNAN 301 Financial Management
• FNAN 302 Financial Analysis and Forecasting
• MIS 301 Introduction to Business Information Systems

Minor in Business

The business minor provides an introduction to the skills needed for success in the rapidly changing and evolving world of business. Because it is designed for nonbusiness students who seek to learn business essen-tials to enhance their own area of expertise, the minor provides broad exposure to business concepts and theories. The minor also presents and integrates the major functional -areas in business to solve management problems through the use of information technology. Strong written and oral communication skills are expected of students. Prior to beginning the minor in business, students must have completed 29 credits. The minor in business consists of the -following seven courses. Students must complete five of the seven courses for a total of 15 credit hours*. Students must achieve a grade of C or better in each course that is applied toward the minor.

Required courses*

• MSOM 300 Managing Financial Resources
• MSOM 301 Managing People and Organizations
• MSOM 302 Managing Information in a Global Environment
• MSOM 303 Marketing in the Global Economy

Electives (choose one of the following)

• MSOM 304 Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing a New Enterprise
• MSOM 305 Managing in a Global Economy
• MSOM 306 Managing Projects and Operations

These courses may not be taken for credit by SOM majors, except for MSOM 305, which may be used only to fulfill the global understanding requirement.

*Students that have already taken and received credit for MGMT 301, MIS 301, MKTG 301, or DESC 301 shall substitute courses as follows: MGMT 301 for MSOM 301, MIS 301 for MSOM 302, MKTG 301 for MSOM 303, and DESC 301 for MSOM 306. Both courses cannot be taken for credit. Students that have taken and received credit for both ACCT 203 and FNAN 301 shall substitute the combination for MSOM 300. All three courses cannot be taken for credit. Transfer students may transfer a maximum of 6 credits toward the business minor. The same policies for like substitutions apply.

Graduate Programs

Graduate Admissions
4400 University Drive, MS 5A2
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
Phone: 703-993-2136
Fax: 703-993-1778
Web: som.gmu.edu
E-mail: somgrad@gmu.edu

SOM offers the MS in bioscience management, MBA, the executive MBA, and the MS in technology management. Graduate programs are accredited by AACSB International.

Bioscience Management, MS

Phone: 703-993-2136
E-mail: bioman@gmu.edu

The MS in bioscience management is designed to provide students with a graduate management education that will help them further their leadership career in bioscience- oriented firms and organizations, including those in the biotechnology, biodefense, and pharmaceutical industries. The bioscience industry today is undergoing rapid scientific and business change. Genomics and proteomics are moving to the forefront, while medicine is becoming more personalized and bioscience businesses are competing globally. To prepare bioscience leaders to compete in this environment, the SOM and a consortium of Washington, D.C., area bioscience firms and organizations established this program. It addresses how to succeed in the marketplace, and emphasizes leadership and management; the special considerations of bioscience entrepreneurship, product development and regulation, and systems thinking.

Students are from the major bioscience firms in the Washington, D.C., region and from across the country. They average 10 years of work experience, with a mix of business and science academic and work backgrounds.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, three years of professional work experience, two professional references, and a GMAT score or other evidence that they can perform graduate level work.

Program Schedule

The program uses the ClassroomPlus™ approach to facilitate the participation of a national student body from the major biotechnology industry regions. Two to four days of face-to-face class meetings are held at the beginning and end of each semester. These meetings are held at e Mason's Arlington Campus, and usually span the end of a week and the weekend. In addition, two-hour video conference sessions are held every other week for each course. The professor and the Washington-area students meet at the Fairfax Campus, and students from across the country participate from their home location.

Academic Year I

Fall semester

• MSBM 603 Managerial Economics and Decisions of the Firm
• MSBM 613 Financial Reporting and Decision Making

Spring semester

• MSBM 643 Managerial Finance
• MSBM 653 Organizational Behavior

Summer session

• MSBM 623 Marketing Management
• MSBM 712 Project Management

Academic Year II

Fall semester

• MSBM 650 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Bioscience Management
• MSBM 735 Bioscience Management Capstone Project—Start
• MSBM 745 Life Science Product Development and Risk Management

Spring semester

• MSBM 703 Best Practices in R&D Management
• MSBM 720 Analysis of the Bioscience Industries

Summer Session (includes one-week international -residency)

• MSBM 735 Bioscience Management Capstone Project—End
• MSBM 750 Global Aspects Bioscience Management

Business Administration, MBA

703-993-2136
E-mail: somgrad@gmu.edu

The Mason MBA program provides a high-level professional education in business administration. It is offered as both a part-time and a traditional full-time program. The curriculum integrates functional areas with an emphasis on group work, information technology, and the global business environment.

Admission Requirements

All students registering for SOM graduate courses must have graduate standing. Nondegree student status is not available. Admission is highly competitive, and is available to all qualified candidates without regard to prior academic major. No previous course work in business administration is required, but a four-year undergraduate degree and a college-level calculus course must be successfully completed before matriculation. Further, technological proficiency must be demonstrated through prior academic course work or professional work experience. Applicants are evaluated primarily on undergraduate record and GMAT performance. For information on the GMAT, go to www.mba.com. A minimum of two years of professional work experience before entering the program is required. Preference is also based on strength of professional background and leadership potential. These criteria are applied with a reasonable amount of flexibility to ensure that individuals with unusual academic and professional qualifications are considered. Priority is given to applicants submitting their application by November 1 for the following spring semester, and by April 1 for the following fall semester. Applications for admission received after November 1 and April 1 will be considered on a space- available basis.

Students are admitted in fall and spring semesters to commence course work. The curriculum effectively integrates functional areas with the use of information technology, oral and written communication, and teamwork. The MBA program requires 48 credits: 30 credits of core courses and 18 credits of elective courses. Students complete the degree program in either two or three years depending upon the cohort selected. Due to the cohort structure, part-time students must commit to attending classes a minimum of two times per week, and full-time students are expected to attend classes in the late afternoon three or four days each week. Part-time students are expected to enroll in classes during the summer session to complete their degrees on a timely basis.

Core Courses, 30 Credits

The core courses usually must be completed prior to enrollment in electives. Part-time students enroll in at least 6 credits per semester, and at least 3 credits each summer. Full-time students normally enroll in 12 credits per semester, with no expectation for enrollment in the summer session.

All MBA students must complete the following core courses:

	Credits
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 and Technology for the Digital Enterprise	3
MBA 643 Managerial Finance	3
MBA 653 Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management	3
MBA 673 Legal Environment for Management	1.5
MBA 678 Strategy and Organizational Leadership	3
MBA 798 Global Business Perspectives*	3

*Travel outside the United States is required.

Elective courses, 18 Credits

After completing the core courses, students must complete a series of market-driven elective courses. A limited number of courses from outside of the MBA program may be taken as electives with the permission of the program director.

Concentrations

MBA students may use electives to complete courses leading to a concentration in financial management, entrepreneurship, market and business development, or information systems management.

Financial Management

Required courses

• MBA 701 Business Analysis and Valuation
• MBA 702 Corporate Financial Policy
• MBA 703 Financial Markets
• Two courses from the following:
  • MBA 704 Risk Management and Financial Innovation
  • MBA 705 Venture Capital and Private Finance
  • MBA 706 Investment Analysis
  • MBA 708 Taxes and Business Strategies
  • MBA 717 International Finance

Note: One elective must be taken outside this concentration.

Entrepreneurship

Required courses

• MBA 705 Venture Capital and Private Finance
• MBA 711 Entrepreneurship
• MBA 714 Managing Growth of Small Businesses
• Two courses from the following:
  • MBA 701 Business Valuation and Analysis
  • MBA 708 Taxes and Business Strategies
  • MBA 712 Project and Cost Management
  • MBA 713 Human Resource Management
  • MBA 721 Marketing Decision Systems
  • MBA 725 Leadership
  • MBA 736 Managing Digital Business
  • MBA 719 Entrepreneurship Laboratory (1 credit, may be repeated 3 times)

Note: One elective must be taken outside this concentration.

Market and Business Development

Required courses

• MBA 721 Marketing Decision Systems
• MBA 722 Consumer Behavior
• MBA 723 Supply Chain Management
• Two courses from the following:
  • MBA 711 Entrepreneurship
  • MBA 724 Marketing Communications
  • MBA 725 Leadership
  • MBA 732 Knowledge Management
  • MBA 734 Electronic Commerce

Note: One elective must be taken outside this concentration.

Information Systems Management

Required courses

• MBA 731 Business Systems Development
• MBA 732 Knowledge Management
• MBA 733 Business Data Communications
• Two courses from the following:
  • MBA 711 Entrepreneurship
  • MBA 734 Electronic Commerce
  • MBA 735 Systems Thinking and Business Simulation
  • MBA 736 Managing Digital Business
  • MBA 737 Corporate Information Systems Policy

Note: One elective must be taken outside this concentration.

CIO Certification

703-993-2136
E-mail: somgrad@gmu.edu

The certificate consists of a minimum of seven courses. Mason MBA students may fulfill the requirements as part of the information systems management concentration; Mason MBA and EMBA alumni may also complete the certificate, but must take any additional required courses that were not taken as part of their degree program. In addition, graduates of any other MBA or EMBA program accredited by AACSB International may complete the certificate by enrollment in the MBA Plus program

Required courses

• MBA 731 Business Systems Development (or equivalent)
• MBA 732 Knowledge Management (or equivalent)
• MBA 799 Corporate Information Systems Policy
• Two additional courses from the following:
  • MBA 733 Business Data Communications (or equivalent)
  • MBA 734 Electronic Commerce
  • MBA 735 Systems Thinking and Business Simulation
  • MBA 736 Managing Digital Business
• Two additional courses from the following:
  • MBA 712 Project and Cost Management (or equivalent)
  • MBA 713 Human Resource Management (or equivalent)
  • MBA 725 Leadership (or equivalent)

If alumni from other AACSB International programs have taken any of these courses in their MBA program as an upper-level elective, they may submit evidence of having taken the course and will be given credit for up to two courses in the seven courses required for the certificate. They will be waived from having to repeat a course they have taken, and must chose from the remaining electives for a minimum total of five courses, which is a Mason requirement for a graduate, credit-bearing -certificate.

Executive MBA

Phone: 703-993-2136
E-mail: emba@gmu.edu

This 21-month, general management program leads to the MBA degree. It is for mid- to senior-level executives who have a deep functional knowledge in one or more areas and want to broaden their knowledge and skills in all business functional areas. The program's focus is leadership growth and strategic management of business resources, technology, and operations.

The class schedule of alternating Fridays and Saturdays is designed to allow participants to continue their careers while they study and master a broad range of functional and leadership skills.

The curriculum incorporates three distinctive elements: a focus on services as the dominant context, competencies needed to transition to executive rank, and an understanding of the transformational impact of technology.

Participants

The Executive MBA is designed for those with significant business and professional experience. Participants must have the support of their organizations (such as being given the time to attend class). Financial sponsorship is desired but not -required.

Sponsoring organizations include ATPCO, AMS, Apple Federal Credit Union, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Booz Allen Hamilton, Case New Holland, Center for Naval Analyses, Cisco, CSC, DISA, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, EDS, Ernst & Young, ExxonMobil, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, GE Healthcare Financial Services, General Dynamics, HP, IBM, KPMG, Level (3) Communications, Lockheed Martin, ManTech International, Marriott, Nextel, Northrop Grumman, OPM, Orbital Sciences, PamAmSat, Pinkerton Computer Consultants, Raytheon, SAIC, SRA, Sunrise Senior Living, USA Today, U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Postal Service, Verizon, World Bank, WR Systems, and Xerox.

Methods of Instruction

Study groups, an essential part of the Executive MBA experience, are arranged by the program director. The groups usually meet independently once a week to discuss course work and prepare class presentations. Between classes and study group sessions, group members continue to work collaboratively through a groupware platform provided by the program.

The faculty encourages 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, making each person's contribution to the discussion essential.

Residency Weeks

Four residency sessions complete the Executive MBA experience: a four-day orientation residency, a two-week global residency, a one-week joint cohort residency in New York City, and a one-week Oxford University "Doing Business in the EU" residency.

The global residency is scheduled at the end of the first year. It is a two-week international program to help students integrate the managerial disciplines learned during the year. The global residency focuses on developing an increased understanding of global markets, competition, business strategy, and business opportunities. This residency will be held in Asia, South America, or some other area in the world where there is relevant business activity.

The one-week joint cohort residency in New York City, held the third week of January every other year, focuses on financial markets, regulatory effects on business decision-making, ethical financial market considerations, and entrepreneurship within the financial sector. During the week, students hear from prominent speakers and visit many financial institutions including NYMEX, NASD, and the Stock Exchange.

The one-week Oxford University "Doing Business in the EU" residency, held the third week of March in the last semester of a student's program, focuses on EU business and regulation. Students stay at Mansfield College at Oxford University, and attend seminars with Oxford professors and EU business representatives. One day is spent in London on site visits to appropriate EU regulatory agencies.

Program Schedule

Academic Year I

• EMBA 603 Managerial Economics
• EMBA 613 Financial Reporting and Decision Making
• EMBA 633 Statistics for Business Decision Making
• EMBA 653 Organizational Behavior
• EMBA 638 Operations Management in a Digital World
• EMBA 623 Marketing Management
• EMBA 643 Managerial Finance
• EMBA 791 Business, Government, and Regulatory Interface
• EMBA 798 International Business Environment

Academic Year II

• EMBA 612 Managing Costs and Evaluating Performance
• EMBA 660 Information Technology Management
• EMBA 673 Legal Environment for Managers
• EMBA 778 Strategic Management
• EMBA 791 Business, Government, and Regulatory Interface
• EMBA 713 Human Resource Management

And three electives*

*To complete the second year, the academic director, with input from students and faculty, determines the final three courses in the curriculum. Students take courses from the following:

• EMBA 708 Taxation and Business Strategy
• EMBA 709 Global Capital Markets
• EMBA 716 Managing Change
• EMBA 724 Integrated Marketing Communication
• EMBA 717 Corporate Governance
• EMBA 725 Leadership and the Role of the General Manager
• EMBA 734 Electronic Commerce
• EMBA 751 Corporate Strategy and Policy
• EMBA 715 Special Topics in Accounting
• EMBA 735 Special Topics in Decision Science
• EMBA 745 Special Topics in Finance
• EMBA 755 Special Topics in Management
• EMBA 765 Special Topics in Management Information Systems
• EMBA 775 Special Topics in Marketing

Technology Management, MS

Phone: 703-993-2136
E-mail: techman@gmu.edu

The MS in technology management is designed to provide students with a graduate management education that will help them further their leadership careers in technology and technology oriented businesses and organizations. With technology innovation and commercialization occurring at an increasing pace and industries becoming more networked and global, business success depends on the successful management of technology. Companies are succeeding with rapid innovation, insightful technology integration, creation of focused technology organizations, and skillful management of complexity. The program addresses how to succeed in this marketplace and emphasizes leadership and management; special considerations of technology innovation, commercialization, introduction and integration; and methods and approaches of systems thinking.

Students are from the major firms and organizations in the Washington, D.C., region. They average 12 years of work experience, and the classes are balanced evenly between men and women. Almost 30 percent of the students already have graduate degrees. Approximately two-thirds of the students work for the private sector, while the remainder work for federal government agencies or departments.

Admissions Requirements

Students must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, three years of professional work experience, two professional references, and a GMAT score or other evidence that the student can perform graduate level work.

Program Schedule

The program, designed for working professionals, starts in January and lasts for 18 months. Classes are held on the Fairfax Campus on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program is 36 credits, and includes a capstone project and an international residency.

Spring Semester, First Year

• TECM 610 Communications and Leadership
• TECM 620 Economics of Technology Management
• TECM 635 Metrics and Statistics for Quality and Project Management
• TECM 702 Interpersonal Dynamics and Teamwork

Summer Session, First Year

• TECM 700 Business Engineering and Change Management
• TECM 740 Managing of the Client Relationships

Fall Semester, First Year

• TECM 615 Decision Making Using Accounting and Financial Information
• TECM 704 Planning and Control of Projects
• TECM 720 Analysis of IT Industries

Spring Semester

• TECM 640 Management of Consulting and Technical Professionals
• TECM 703 Technology Assessment, Evaluation, and Investment
• TECM 745 Business Function and Operations: Client Industries

Summer Session

• TECM 735 Technology Management Capstone Project
• TECM 750 Global IT Management International Residency

CIO University Partnership

Program graduates receive chief information officer (CIO) certification, in partnership with the Federal CIO Council, in addition to their MS degree. The program satisfies the requirements for federal government CIOs that were developed in response to the passage of the Information Technology Management Reform Act. Mason is one of only six institutions certified to offer this qualification, and was one of the founding university partners with CIO University.