Howe School Degree Programs – Brief Descriptions
Undergraduate Programs
All students in the BSB and QF programs attend full-time and the vast majority reside on campus. All undergraduate courses are taught in a face-to-face mode.
The Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) degree is a unique degree differentiated from other undergraduate programs by its focus on technology, real-world projects, and location-centric experiences. The degree offers majors in five areas: Business & Technology, Marketing, Management, Finance, and Information Systems. Starting in Fall 2014, a major in Economics will also be added. The six majors are linked together under the BSB degree because students pursuing the BSB degree take the same core curriculum that includes a solid business foundation through the “business core”, an opportunity to apply business theory to real-world business projects through the “practice core”, and a well-rounded “liberal arts & sciences core”. What separates the majors is the major curriculum, which involves students taking 6-8 courses in their chosen major field. Students in the Business & Technology major use their major courses to take two concentrations (4 courses each): a business concentration chosen from a number of business disciplines (e.g., marketing, finance), and a technology concentration chosen from technology fields largely outside the business school (e.g., biotechnology).
The Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Finance (QF) goes beyond the boundaries of traditional finance to develop students well prepared for the growing demand for finance professionals who also have strong quantitative and technological skills. Students in the program take the core finance curriculum along with deep and rigorous curriculum in mathematics and computer science. They also take a liberal arts and sciences core. Finally, students participate in the distinctive “Spine” curriculum, that includes a course in each of the eight semesters that focuses on understanding how these intersecting worlds of finance, mathematics and computer science fit together. The program benefits greatly from hands-on work in the state-of-the-art Hanlon Financial Systems lab that is equipped with the latest hardware, software and data analytic tools.
Graduate Programs
At the graduate level, the school offers a Master of Business Administration, an Executive Master of Business Administration, five specialized master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in Technology Management.
Most of the students enrolled in our graduate programs attend part-time on campus or at corporate sites. Graduate students can take a mixture of face-to-face and web-based courses. In addition, a number of courses are offered simultaneously, using advanced technology platforms. The same quality standards hold for all modalities of interaction (face-to-face and web). The standard 9 and 10 analyses described later in this report indicate that sufficiency and qualifications standards for the web courses are satisfied in AY2013-14.
Most of the students enrolled in our graduate programs attend part-time on campus or at corporate sites. Graduate students can take a mixture of face-to-face and web-based courses. In addition, a number of courses are offered simultaneously, using advanced technology platforms. The same quality standards hold for all modalities of interaction (face-to-face, web), and a separate analysis indicates that sufficiency and qualifications standards for the web courses are satisfied in AY2013-14 (see section 8 below.)
The Masters of Science in Business Intelligence and Analytics (BI&A) is a unique 36-credit STEM program designed for individuals who are interested in applying analytical techniques to derive insights and predictive intelligence from vast quantities of data. Graduates will have the skills to increase operational efficiency, improve financial performance and influence the strategic directions of organizations in the highly competitive world of “Big Data.” The curriculum is a carefully articulated mix of courses on data, social networks, web analytics, statistics, optimization and risk management. The focus is on industry-specific applications in areas such as marketing, finance, pharmaceuticals, underwriting, manufacturing, information technology, telecommunications, energy and engineering. In fall, 2013-14, the BI&A program will introduce two four-course graduate certificates in Marketing Analytics and Supply Chain Analytics, respectively. A broad range of activities associated with the program aim to produce well-rounded graduates with strong professional, disciplinary and technical skills.
The Master of Science in Enterprise Project Management (EPM) is a 36-credit degree program that blends courses in strategic perspectives, project planning, project portfolio management, and cross-project leadership for an applied curriculum that teaches you to manage and serve as a leader at an enterprise level. This program offers a unique blend of small class sizes, intense collaboration, and global professional networking opportunities. Graduates will leave Stevens with better communications, interpersonal and team skills to plan, implement and manage complex enterprise level projects. The school also offers a joint MS in Enterprise Project Management degree in collaboration with CUFE, the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, China. This program and its associated standard 9 and 10 statistics are described on page below.
Masters of Science in Information Systems (MSIS).Today’s information-intensive, complex business environment demands professionals who have both applied IT experience and management insight. The Master of Science in Information Systems program (MSIS) is a 36-credit STEM degree that prepares graduates to lead and manage organizational efforts and respond to managerial changes and opportunities. The MSIS is the school’s largest program with over 300 part-time and full-time students. This flexible program prepares IT leaders and managers with technical, business, management, industry, and interpersonal skills. MSIS graduates know how to determine the information systems needs of an organization, are able to assess emerging technology trends, and can manage the interaction between business and technology. The program has four 3-course concentrations in Business Intelligence & Analytics, Business Process Management, Social Media and Project Management. Small class sizes build discussion, collaboration, and global professional networks.
MS in Management (MSM): The revised MSM program serves as an introduction to management for students with no prior business experience. The underlying concept is to offer a lean alternative to the MBA. There are no concentrations and the number of credits has been reduced from 36 to 30. Applications and new enrollments more than doubled in fall 2013 over those in fall 2012, with a significant increase in domestic applications.
Master of Business Administration (MBA): Formerly titled “MBA in Technology Management” the redesigned version of the MBA has 48 credits rather than 60 credits. This change in structure resulted from a benchmark analysis of other schools. Applications tripled and new enrollments more than doubled in fall 2013 over those in fall 2012, with a significant increase in domestic applications. The program has six 4-course concentrations in Business Intelligence & Analytics, Finance, Information Systems, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Project Management.
MS in Technology Management (MSTM): Formerly titled “Master in Technology Management for Experienced Professionals,” the revised version of this program has 36 credits rather than 43 credits. This change in structure aligns the credits with the norm for MS programs in the Howe School, as well as with similar offerings at other schools. Additional changes were made to the curriculum to increase the relevance and value proposition to the target audience, such as inclusion of a leadership workshop and introduction of an international tour.
Experienced Professional MBA (EMBA): Formerly titled“MBA in Technology Management for Experienced Professionals”, the revised EMBA program has 48 credits rather than the previous 58 credits. This change in structure resulted from a benchmark analysis of other schools.