Graduate Catalog
Master of Science in Business Management (MS)
Program Coordinator: John Sandler
Business Building (3N), Room 238
Telephone: 1.718.982.2921
Business Department Website
*See the curriculum supplement for additions and changes
to the program.
The College of Staten Island offers a program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Business Management. Designed for a broad spectrum of students with undergraduate degrees in business and related fields, it is focused on strategic management skills with required courses in major decision making areas. Students will study advanced analytical methods and theory and acquire experience with new technology.
The Department of Business at CSI offers Baccalaureate degrees in Accounting and in Business with concentrations in Finance, International Business, Management, and Marketing, and, in conjunction with the Department of Computer Science, a Baccalaureate degree in Information Systems. The Department of Media Culture offers degrees in Corporate Communications; the Department of Political Science, Economics, and Philosophy offers degrees in Economics. Graduates in all of these disciplines are potential candidates for the Master's degree program in Business Management.
In addition, the program serves Accounting graduates who will need 150 hours of baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate education to sit for the Certified Public Accountant examination.
The Master's degree program in Business Management, at CSI is unique in CUNY. It specializes in management decision making and is thus appropriate for both accounting and non-accounting student populations. Objectives of the Master's degree program in Business Management include:
- Graduates will have learned the analytical methods currently used to assess businesses and non-profit organizations, planning and implementation processes, and control methods.
- Graduates will have updated and honed their skills in decision making, analysis, and technology.
- Graduates will understand current theories and issues of business ethics, ethical dilemmas, and the role of ethics in decision making.
- Graduates will be familiar with the global marketplace and its implications for business.
- Graduates with a background in accounting will acquire the credentials to sit for the CPA examination.
Admission Requirements
Students may apply for admission to the program for the fall or
spring semesters. A graduate Management
Steering Committee comprised of the coordinator of the program
and deputy area coordinators from accounting, finance, information
systems, international business, management, and marketing will
determine admissions using the following
criteria:
- Successful applicants must have a Baccalaureate degree in
Accounting or Business (or related fields such as Corporate
Communications or Economics) from an accredited institution
and a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Other potential
students may apply after taking proficiency courses.
- They must take the GMAT examination and achieve a
minimum score of 550. This scoring level is consistent with
the
admissions criteria of business programs worldwide. According
to the “Graduate Management Admissions Council’s
Guide to the use of the GMAT” (2002), an
overall score of 540 was the median score of the test
taking population for examinees tested from January
1999 through December 2001 (www.testmastergmat.com/gmat/GMATInformation/scale.aspx)
Students with degrees in Corporate Communications may offer
the GRE examination.
- Those with baccalaureate degrees from non-English-speaking
universities also must take the TOEFL examination and achieve
a score of 600 on the paper-based
version or 250 on the computer-based
version.
- They must supply two letters of recommendation from instructors
or employers. One letter, whenever possible, should come from
a current or former employer.
- The Steering Committee may request an interview.
Degree Requirements
Students in the Master's degree program in Business Management are required to take 30 credit hours, or ten courses at three credits each, at the graduate level. Most students will have satisfied prerequisites in accounting (2 courses), communications (through a communications course or through business classes with major presentation requirements such as upper-level courses in management and marketing), computer fundamentals (one course equivalent to BUS 150), economics (two courses equivalent to microeconomics and macroeconomics, and quantitative methods (minimum of pre-calculus and statistics) as undergraduates. Those who have not may be permitted to remedy undergraduate proficiencies, but courses taken to remove the deficiencies must be in addition to their regular coursework.
With prerequisites satisfied, all students are required to take four core courses:
- MGT 600 The Administrative Process
- MGT 605 Business, Government, and Society
- MKT 600 Strategic Marketing Management
- FNC 600 Financial Management
These courses, as well as later courses, may involve case studies, computer simulations, formal presentations and projects, and exploring the Internet.
Once these core courses have been completed, students are required to take four more advanced courses:
- MGT 710 Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness
- MGT 720 Global Business Strategy
- MGT 730 Strategic Human Resource Management
- MGT 770 Managerial Decision Making and Applications
The capstone course, Managerial Decision Making and Applications, involves a comprehensive and integrative approach to managing an organization over time through computer simulation. There is a significant quantitative and financial aspect to the course complemented by a qualitative analysis of business policy and strategy over time. While not a thesis per se, a significant written assignment is required at the culmination of the course in addition to smaller papers during the term. This capstone course is comparable to those offered at many business schools worldwide. It is a very rigorous experience designed to bolster the program's intent of training decision makers.
In addition, students will elect two courses from a group of seven:
- ACC 730 Accounting/Management Information Systems
- ACC 740 Tax Strategies and Business Decisions
- FNC 730 Financial Statement Analysis
- FNC 740 Financial Planning
- MKT 730 Services Marketing and Management
- MKT 740 Business-to-Business Marketing
- MGT 790 Seminar in Contemporary Business Topics
(including topics in Information Systems, Internet Marketing, Enterpreneurship, etc.)
Courses
ACC 600 Introduction to Financial and Managerial Accounting
3 hours; 3 credits
This course prepares students to work with financial statements and other accounting information. Topics include introduction to the accounting system, understanding how key accounting alternatives can influence interpretation of financial information, and identification and analysis of key disclosures. Coverage of managerial accounting includes analysis of variable and fixed costs, period costs, product costs, investment decisions, and budget preparation.
ACC 730 Accounting/Management Information Systems
3 hours; 3 credits
This course covers requirements of corporate accounting for managerial and external use and the system design methods to satisfy these needs. The integration of accounting information system with corporate operational systems and with the systems of vendors and customers is a major focus. Other topics include integrity, security, and accuracy of the information processed.
Prerequisite: ACC 600 or undergraduate credits in accounting
ACC 740 Tax Strategies and Business Decisions
3 hours; 3 credits
This course examines timely topics in tax at an advanced level. Particular emphasis is placed on tax strategy and planning, as well as compliance and procedural considerations. Students will be required to read scholarly articles and official pronouncements on current issues and developments. Research papers and oral presentations on timely topics are required.
Prerequisite: ACC 600 or undergraduate credits in accounting
FNC 600 Financial Management
3 hours; 3 credits
Topics presented in this course include an examination of analytical issues that surround long-term and short-term financing, financial ratio analysis, current asset management, capital budgeting, present value concepts, the cost of capital, mergers/acquisitions, and new ventures. Material related to for-profit, not-for-profit, and global environments is presented.
FNC 730 Financial Statement Analysis
3 hours; 3 credits
Income statements, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows will be studied from the point of view of financial managers. Ratio analysis, such as profitability, liquidity, debt, asset utilization, and market value ratios will be discussed. Cross-sectional and time series analysis of financial metrics will be examined. The focus of this course will not be the construction of financial statements; instead, we will try to understand the value of a firm.
Prerequisites: FNC 600, ACC 600 or undergraduate credits in accounting
FNC 740 Financial Planning
3 hours; 3 credits
This course will cover topics in budgeting, investments, income tax planning, insurance, retirement planning, and estate tax and trusts from the perspective of the individual.
Prerequisite: FNC 600
MGT 600 The Administrative Process
3 hours; 3 credits
This course introduces students to the key issues involved in the management of organizations. Major topics include the nature of management and the skills required for success, the organization's internal and external environment, organizational ethics, and the functions of managers (planning, organizing, leading/motivating, and controlling).
MGT 605 Business, Government, and Society
3 hours; 3 credits
This course proposes to: (1) examine the roles and responsibilities of business in today's complex global economy, including the interests of various stakeholders; explores social, legislative, regulatory, and judicial processes as expressed in public policy and the options open to business management in anticipating and responding to these forces; (2) integrate concepts of ethical behavior with corporate responsibility; and (3) examine managerial values and corporate culture and the resulting corporate governance as driving forces in the modern business organization. Particular focus on the differences between policy formation in the U.S. as compared to other nations.
MGT 710 Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness
3 hours; 3 credits
A systematic analytical approach to understanding, predicting, and controlling human behavior in organizations is presented in this course. Special consideration is given to the relationship of the individual and the organization, groups and the organization, and organizational development. The course is presented within the framework of providing leadership for the organization and its employees.
Prerequisites: MGT 600, MGT 605
MGT 720 Global Business Strategy
3 hours; 3 credits
This course introduces students to the key issues involved in developing long-term global strategy for organizations. Major topics include analysis of the organization's internal and external environments and planning strategy at the corporate, business, and functional levels. Consideration will be given to strategic planning for international and non-profit organizations. Case studies will be used to develop an understanding of top management's role in all phases of global strategy formulation management.
Prerequisites: MGT 600, MGT 605
MGT 730 Strategic Human Resource Management
3 hours; 3 credits
The course addresses the functions of a human resource manager, with emphasis placed upon the technical, analytical, and legal skills required for effective job performance. Special topics include: recruiting, selecting, training and development, performance appraisal, components of compensation, and compliance with legal mandates.
Prerequisites: MGT 600, MGT 605
MGT 770 Managerial Decision Making and Applications
3 hours; 3 credits
This capstone course requires the application of all business education. It is an integrative course that places students in the role of top/middle management facing the myriad decisions involved with running a business. The heart of the course is participation in a computer-based business simulation. The emphasis is on team interpersonal dynamics, use of financial statements, and decision making skills in business situations that involve the organization as a whole.
Prerequisites: MGT 600, MGT 605, MKT 600, FNC 600, MGT 710, MGT 720
MGT 790 Seminar in Contemporary Business Topics
3 hours; 3 credits
This course examines timely topics in business. Topics will rotate by semester and may focus on information systems, marketing research, venture capital and business valuation, and advanced accounting issues, for example. Opportunities for individual research are integral to the course.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission
MKT 600 Strategic Marketing Management
3 hours; 3 credits
This course is designed to expose graduate students to key aspects of the marketing function in for-profit and non-profit organizations. All elements of the marketing mix including product decisions, pricing, distribution, and communication are discussed. Students are introduced to marketing theories and concepts, encouraged to develop analytical and decision making skills, and provided the opportunity to execute managerial actions in varied market settings. The applied course format requires the student to utilize and communicate marketing concepts through case analyses.
MKT 730 Services Marketing and Management
3 hours; 3 credits
This course applies marketing and management principles to the unique requirements of service industries (financial, legal, accounting, medical, etc.). The special roles of the marketer, service provider, and customer in the process of creating and delivering value are considered. Emphasis is given to the utility of the Internet for identifying prospects, delivering services, enhancing value, and strengthening relational bonds. The course employs text readings, case analysis, and other exercises to build key themes.
Prerequisite: MKT 600
MKT 740 Business-to-Business Marketing
3 hours; 3 credits
This course explores the differences between business and consumer marketing. It examines business/institutional buyer behavior and marketing strategy including market research, product planning, pricing, promotion, and management of the sales force. Extensive use of the Internet is required for case studies and other assignments.
Prerequisite: MKT 600
