Home 2013-2014 Undergraduate College Catalog School of Graduate & Professional Studies Programs

School of Graduate & Professional Studies Programs

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2013-2014 Undergraduate College Catalog

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Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

Master of Fine Arts in Writing

Master of Science in Finance

Master of Science in Marketing Communications Management

Master of Science in International Management

Master of Science in Business Leadership

Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership

Master of Science in Human Resource Management and Organizational Effectiveness

Master of Science in Sport Business Management

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies

*** As of March 2013, the admission of new students into the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program has been suspended until further notice. Current students will be able to continue their progression in this program.***

This program cuts across many disciplines to take a broad-based approach to the study of contemporary humanity and our changing world. Instead of demanding concentration in one field, it permits students to draw on many areas: art, literature, music, psychology, religion, sociology, philosophy, history and politics.

The Master of Arts in Liberal Studies is designed to fit the needs, schedules, and interests of the part-time adult student. Thirty credits, ten courses or nine courses and a Master's Essay constitute the program. MALS students create an individually structured program based on courses relevant to personal and professional interests.

Special Features

Self-Paced Program: By taking one course each semester, students can complete the degree within three years. Some may complete it in a substantially shorter time by taking more than one course each semester.

Convenient Scheduling: Students may enter the program in any semester. Classes usually meet once a week and convenient scheduling allows a student to take either day or evening courses.

Personal Counseling: Students are assigned an advisor who will work with them to plan their course of study.

Admissions

Persons holding bachelor's degrees from accredited colleges may apply. A two-year interval between full-time undergraduate study and entrance to this program is strongly recommended. A formal interview is required. Along with the MALS application form and fee, students should submit official transcripts of all previous work (undergraduate and graduate) and an autobiographical letter describing the applicant's education and career experiences. The two-to-three page narrative should be reflective and include reasons for choosing this program. Students with appropriate credit in a graduate liberal studies program may transfer a maximum of six graduate credits.

Master of Fine Arts in Writing

This program was designed to meet the needs of students who have completed their undergraduate degree and wish to pursue a terminal degree in creative writing.

Components of the program:

Cores Seminars (Foundations in Graduate Creative Writing, Contemporary Publishing: Theory and Practice, and Advanced Seminar in Creative Writing) (9 credits)

Workshops (12 credits)

Electives (12 credits)

Thesis Project (3 credits)

Students must complete 36 credits with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better (scale of 4.0). Students begin the program with the introductory course, Foundations in Graduate Creative Writing.They may earn up to six elective credits by taking Summer Writers' Week or Fall Writers' Weekend workshops. Students may enter the program in fall, spring or during Summer Writers’ Week.

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of B.
A five-year limit to complete each program is mandatory.

Master of Science in Finance

The newly designed curriculum in Finance offers a way to acquire a valuable credential to enhance your skill set and qualifications while preparing for professional advancement. Courses are available in a convenient evening and accelerated weekend format, meaning that the 36-credit curriculum, which provides the interdisciplinary knowledge and specialized skill set essential to compete effectively in the ever-expanding and increasingly complex global marketplace, can be completed in only 2 years.

With its strong foundation in the principles and practices of finance, the curriculum, developed in consultation with industry leaders, is designed to anchor students with a culminating body of knowledge that prepares graduates to recognize, respond to, and lead change in an era of uncertainty. It focuses on the emerging concepts, modern finance theory, new practices, new applications and technologies needed to be successful in today’s changing market and includes concentrations in Corporate Finance and Investment Management that align with the rapidly changing "globalized" world and its new challenges. Hiring managers are looking for graduate students who can demonstrate this kind of real world financial decision‐making.

The seven required core courses (21 credits) represent the core competencies that you must be proficient in to succeed in today’s highly competitive global business environment. You then choose one of the two concentrations (12 credits) offered. Corporate finance focuses on the decision-making process used by organizations with the overriding goal of maximizing shareholder wealth whereas investment management focuses on the analysis of a wide range of investment assets along with hedging and trading strategies. The program culminates in a final project (3 credits) that demonstrates your ability to conduct comprehensive, applied research and articulate original ideas and thought processes.

The program is ideal for individuals who want to acquire or update their core competencies and general financial education, while equipping themselves with the specialized tools to thrive in their career path. Courses are taught with academic rigor by an outstanding faculty who are practicing leaders in their fields and exceptional educators who bring real-world experience and networking opportunities into the classroom.

CORE COURSES

(Seven courses required)

Corporate Finance
International Finance
Communicating Effectively
Financial Institutions, Money and Markets
Financial Statement Analysis
Managing Risk
Investment Theory and Practice

CAPSTONE

(One required course)

Final Project

CORPORATE FINANCE CONCENTRATION

(One required course and three electives)

This concentration has been designed for the student in search of a skill set that emphasizes the requirements and competencies needed by corporate financial managers to be successful in today's marketplace. The corporate finance concentration focuses on the decision-making process used by organizations with the overriding goal of maximizing shareholder wealth. Corporate finance is a broad field that covers several key areas, including budgeting for investment projects, raising capital through the issuance of debt and equity, dividend policy and risk management. Efficient financial management requires a thorough understanding of each aspect of corporate finance. This concentration provides a thorough grounding in these areas, including managerial accounting, financial statements analysis, investment analysis, financial markets and risk management. As a result, students are able to analyze the financial condition of a corporation, understand alternative investment strategies, properly manage the risk of a corporation, understand the economic environment in which a corporation operates and effectively plan the corporation's operations.

REQUIRED COURSE

Managerial Accounting

ELECTIVE COURSES

(Choose three courses)

Mergers, Acquisitions, Private Equity and Leveraged Buyouts
Treasury Operations
Fixed Income Analysis
Financial Risk Management
Special Topics in Corporate Finance
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION
(One required course and three electives)
This concentration has been designed to equip the students with the skills and techniques necessary for an active role in the managerial and strategic areas of investment management. The investment management concentration focuses on the analysis of a wide range of investment assets along with hedging and trading strategies. Successful investing requires a thorough understanding of the properties of these assets along with knowledge of the economic and regulatory environment in which they trade. This concentration provides an in-depth background in financial markets and various classes of assets, including equities and fixed income products, as well as derivative securities, such as futures and options. In addition, alternative investments, such as private equity and hedge funds, are analyzed in detail. Strategies for international investing are covered in depth, as well as risk management techniques. As a result, students will be able to develop appropriate investment strategies for financial institutions as well as manage the risks of these strategies.
REQUIRED COURSE
Investing and Security Analysis
ELECTIVE COURSES
(Choose three courses)
Treasury Operations
Fixed Income Analysis
Global Investments
Options and the Futures Markets
Special Topics in Investment

Notes:

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of B.
There is a five-year limit for completion of the program.

Master of Science in Marketing Communications Management

The newly designed curriculum in Marketing Communication Management offers a way to acquire a valuable credential to enhance your skill set and qualifications while preparing for professional advancement. Available in an accelerated, convenient weekend format, the 36-credit curriculum can be completed in only 1 1/2 years and provides the broad-based, interdisciplinary knowledge and skill set essential for success in higher level marketing and communications roles in national and international organizations.

With its strong foundation in the principles and practices of marketing and public relations, and its focus on key bodies of knowledge such as social media, reputation management, innovation and growth, it treats the subject matter from a strategic perspective as opposed to a purely tactical or functional one. To accommodate a broader, more complex, and balanced discipline in the marketplace, the curriculum ranges from understanding consumers to providing them with innovative products and services to building brands and leading organizations.

The six required core courses (18 credits) represent the core competencies that you must be proficient in to succeed in today's highly competitive global business environment. The elective courses allow you to choose 5 courses (15 credits) that best match your specialized career goals. The program culminates in a final project (3 credits) that demonstrates your ability to conduct comprehensive, applied research and articulate original ideas and thought processes.

REQUIRED COURSES (students take all 7)

Business Strategy
Communicating Effectively
Public Relations Theory and Practice
Creating Customer Value Through Marketing
Communication Ethics and Regulations
Social Media and the Business Imperative
Final Project

ELECTIVE COURSES (students choose 5)

Consumer Behavior
Brand Management
Global Marketing Strategies
Issues Management
Reputation Management
Social Media Technologies
Project Management
Generating Growth and Innovation
Special Topics in Marketing Communication Management

The program is ideal for individuals who want to upgrade and update their general business knowledge and leadership skills. Courses are taught with academic rigor by an outstanding faculty who are practicing leaders in their fields and exceptional educators who bring real-world experience and networking opportunities into the classroom.

Notes:

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of B (3.0).
There is a five-year limit for completion of the program.

Master of Science in International Management

The curriculum in International Management offers a way to acquire a valuable credential to enhance your skill set and qualifications while preparing for professional advancement. Available in an accelerated, convenient weekend format, the 36-credit curriculum can be completed in only 1½ years and provides the broad-based, interdisciplinary knowledge and skill set essential for success in higher level leadership roles in national as well as global organizations.

The MS in International Management is the only degree of its kind in the Westchester area. It is designed to prepare business leaders for meeting the evolving challenges of international management, and to seize opportunities for business success in both mature and expanding markets. The program is ideal for managers and executives whose jobs involve international responsibilities, or for any working professional who wants to broaden his or her international business perspective. MBA graduates may also find the program attractive, as it adds an intensive international dimension to their previous education

The six required core courses (18 credits) represent the core competencies that you must be proficient in to succeed in today’s highly competitive global business environment. The elective courses allow you to choose 5 courses (15 credits) that best match your specialized career goals. The program culminates in a final project (3 credits) that demonstrates your ability to conduct comprehensive, applied research and articulate original ideas and thought processes.

REQUIRED COURSES (students take all 7)

Understanding the Global Business Environment
Cross-Border Competitiveness
Global Financial Markets and Risks
International Law & Ethics
Building a Global Culture
Managing Processes and Projects across Borders
Final Project

ELECTIVE COURSES (students choose 5)

Global Accounting
Foreign Investment and Trade Policy
Managing Global teams
Leading Change across Borders
Entrepreneurship: Entering Markets
Consumer Behavior
Outsourcing/Offshoring
Information Technology Management
Global Marketing: Brands and Customer Value
Supply Chain Management
Regional Business Operations

The program is ideal for individuals who want to upgrade and update their international management skills. Courses are taught with academic rigor by an outstanding faculty who are practicing leaders in their fields and exceptional educators who bring real-world experience and networking opportunities into the classroom.

Notes:

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of B (3.0).
There is a five-year limit for completion of the program.

Master of Science in Business Leadership

The newly designed curriculum in Business Leadership (previously Leadership and Strategic Management) offers a way to acquire a valuable credential to enhance your skill set and qualifications while preparing for professional advancement. Available in an accelerated, convenient weekend format, the 39-credit curriculum can be completed in only 1½ years and provides the broad-based, interdisciplinary knowledge and skill set essential for success in higher level leadership roles in national and international organizations.

With its strong foundation in the principles and practices of leadership in business, the curriculum has been designed to fill a void so often articulated by industry, namely the shortage of leaders to take the organization forward. The program anchors students with a body of knowledge that prepares its graduates to recognize, respond to, and lead businesses in an era of uncertainty.

The seven required core courses (21 credits) represent the core competencies that you, as a businessperson, must be proficient in to succeed in today’s highly competitive global business environment. The elective courses allow you to choose 5 courses (15 credits) that best match your specialized career goals. If you opt for the 3-credit unrestricted elective, together with your advisor, you may select a course from any of the graduate program areas offered at The School of Graduate and Professional Studies in order to acquire an even deeper dive into a discipline related to your career path that will make this program immediately relevant to your job today as well as to your future career aspirations. The program culminates in a final project (3 credits) that demonstrates your ability to conduct comprehensive, applied research and articulate original ideas and thought processes.

The newly designed curriculum has eight required Core Courses including a Capstone (Final Project) and a choice of five Elective Courses:

REQUIRED CORE COURSES (Students take all eight courses)

Business Strategy
Analytical and Financial Tools for Decision Making
Generating Growth and Innovation
Leading Effectively and Ethically
Project Management
Transitioning from Manager to Leader
Communicating Effectively
Final Project

ELECTIVE COURSES (Students choose five courses)

Entrepreneurship
Issues Management
Global Business
Leveraging Information Technology for a Competitive Advantage
Managing Risk
Creating Customer Value Through Marketing
Operations Management
Managing in a Mission-based Organization
Health Care Management
Special Topics in Business Leadership
Unrestricted Elective (Uses existing courses.) Upon advisement, students select one additional course from any of the School of Graduate and Professional graduate programs that is consistent with their professional goals.

Notes:

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of B.
A five-year limit to complete each program is mandatory.

Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership

The Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership is designed for those students who aspire to leadership positions in the nonprofit sector. Under the guidance of executives and consultants currently working in the nonprofit and private sectors, students will find this six course (18-credit) program targeted to the key concerns of nonprofit leaders with focus on application to day-to-day decisions. Certificate courses may be applied at full credit to the M.S. degree in Leadership and Strategic Management.

Potential students are:

Managers already employed in the nonprofit sector who wish to fill gaps in their management background and to raise their leadership skills to a superior level
Accomplished volunteers who serve on community or foundation boards and now wish to increase the effectiveness of governance teams and volunteer resources
Managers in business, government and other professions who wish to prepare for a career shift into the nonprofit sector, or to leadership roles as community volunteers

The program consists of six courses:

Organizational Leadership
Managerial Finance
Management in Nonprofit Organizations
Executive Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations
Fundraising and Development for Nonprofit Organizations
Advanced Philanthropy/Fundraising

Master of Science in Human Resource Management and Organizational Effectiveness

As companies seek to enhance their competitive position by adopting a more holistic approach to planning and implementation, the HR professional of the future will have considerable input in developing and retaining talent, formulating staffing plans as they relate to the strategic goals of the corporation, and promoting training and learning to stimulate organizational effectiveness. Cost-efficiency, resource conservation and regulatory compliance have become issues for almost every organization. Turnover among top talent is expected to increase; globalization is requiring stronger regional HR capabilities; and demographic shifts across the world are dramatically affecting availability of qualified people.

The newly designed curriculum in Human Resource Management and Organizational Effectiveness offers a way to acquire a valuable credential to enhance your skill set and qualifications while preparing for professional advancement. Whether you wish to work on the transactional side (the stewards) or as a strategist we offer a concentration customized for your career goals. Our industry-driven courses taught by HR practitioners deliver a comprehensive, incisive, and applied approach to the human resources profession, which has now evolved into a broader, more complex, and balanced discipline. Courses are available in an accelerated, convenient weekend format, the 36-credit curriculum can be completed in only 1 1/2 years and provides the broad-based, interdisciplinary knowledge and skill set essential for success in higher level HR roles in national and international organizations.

The seven required core courses (21 credits) proficient in to succeed in today's highly competitive global business environment. You then select one of the two concentrations (12 credits) offered. You then get to choose an unrestricted Elective, which could be any graduate course offered by The School of Graduate and Professional Studies (even from your non-selected concentration) or in certain circumstances an Internship. The program culminates in a final project (3 credits) that demonstrates your ability to conduct comprehensive, applied research and articulate original ideas and thought processes.

REQUIRED COURSES (students take all 7)

Human Resource Competencies
Business Strategies for a Globally Diverse Workforce
Strategic Talent Management
Communicating Effectively
Leading Effectively and Ethically
Project Management
Final Project

Human Resources Concentration	Organizational Effectiveness Concentration
(Students take all four courses)	(Students take all four courses)
Navigating the HR Legal and Regulatory Environment	Organizational Learning and Executive Coaching
Employee and Labor Relations	Organizational Assessment, Analysis, and Change
Total Rewards	Human Capital Analytics
HR Technologies	Analytical and Financial Tools for Decision Making

With pre-approval, students may select one graduate course within The School of Graduate and Professional Studies that is consistent with their professional goals. Courses in their non-selected concentration area in the Human Resource Management or Organizational Effectiveness degree are also eligible.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION

This concentration has been designed to equip the students with the skills and techniques necessary for an active role in a Human Resources steward role to create a positive impact on the organization. The HRM concentration provides an in-depth background in Total Rewards, Employee and Labor Relations, Navigating the HR legal and Regulatory Environment and HR Technologies. Successful Human Resource Management requires a thorough understanding of the theory and practices to navigate the new challenges especially in a global environment. As a result, students will be able to synthesize and integrate their understanding of the factors contributing to and detracting from a steward's role and will have mastered the fundamentals of a comprehensive approach to Human Resource Management within an organizational setting.

ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS CONCENTRATION

The Organizational Effectiveness concentration has been designed to prepare the students with the skills and knowledge of organizational human resources and technologies necessary for a Strategic Human Resources role. The OE concentration provides an in-depth background in Organizational Learning and Executive Coaching, Organizational Assessment, Analysis and Change, Human Capital Analytics and Analytical Tools for Decision Making. Organizational Effectiveness requires a thorough understanding of the overarching strategy and leadership within the broader context of the business. These abilities will continue to be important in an emerging information society that is characterized by a combination of rapidly changing technology and the need for skilled leaders who can navigate through volatility and change. As a result, students will be able to recognize, apply and lead future changes to address organizational solutions that address business situations in the global workplace.

The program is ideal for individuals who want to acquire or update their core competencies and general business education, while equipping themselves with the specialized tools to thrive in their career path as HR professionals. Courses are taught with academic rigor by an outstanding faculty who are practicing leaders in their fields and exceptional educators who bring real-world experience and networking opportunities into the classroom.

Notes:

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of B (3.0).
There is a five-year limit for completion of the program.

Master of Science in Sport Business Management

This 36-credit degree program provides individuals with the necessary knowledge and business skills to assume a leadership role in sports management. The course work provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of sport management with a thorough foundation in sport business while allowing flexibility for students to explore a wide variety of opportunities within the field. The program includes an internship to assist students in preparing for middle and upper level positions within a variety of markets, including but not limited to professional sport, intercollegiate athletics, amateur and youth athletic organizations.

Potential students are:

Players and other sport industry professionals in other fields who wish to improve their business management and leadership skills.
Graduating seniors and working professionals in other fields who wish to enter this exciting emerging business area.
Aspiring graduating seniors and sport lovers enthusiasts who wish to work in the management section of sports.

The program consists of:

Required Core Courses (8)