MSU College of Business launches specialized master in management with intercultural component
The College of Business at Minot State University is seeking students for a specialized on-campus version of its Master of Science degree in management (MSM) that will begin in August. Students enrolled in the accelerated 12-month format will not only learn management principles but will also be exposed to the Chinese culture.
The intercultural program will team local students with students from SIAS International University in Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China. The SIAS students will reside on the MSU campus for one year. A cohort is a group of students who go through a program together; in this case, they will take a sequence of 10 courses as a group.
"Completing a program as a cohort has some real advantages," explained Gary Ross, director of the MSM and the intercultural program. "The participants form strong relationships and that can serve as a motivation to stick with the program and see it through."
Students will complete the entire program in approximately 12 months, beginning in mid-August 2007 and finishing in July 2008. The program consists of five eight-week terms; students will take two courses per term. Classes will be taught in the evenings and/or on weekends.
In addition to completing the objectives of the Master of Science in management program to develop leadership, management, and communication skills in an applied context, students will team up on work-related projects. Each domestic student will bring a business problem from her or his workplace to be analyzed throughout the program's duration. In turn, each Chinese student will partner with a domestic student to collaborate on solutions for identified problems. The projects will provide opportunities for students to apply their learning from the MSM courses. Each project will be supervised by an MSU faculty member.
Students will also participate in weekly dinners with guests who are business practitioners. These dinners will engage students with persons currently in business in discussions about "best practices." In addition, arrangements will be made for students to attend several business and cultural events.
"I'm certain that the intercultural component of this program will provide a rich, colorful, and deep learning experience," said Ross. "By learning about Chinese business practices, American students will become more sensitized and aware of other cultures. It also promotes awareness of our own business culture. We come to appreciate that what we perceive as normal practice may appear much differently to a person of another culture. I think the discussions will spark creative thinking."
The cohort's launch will mark the first formal exchange of SIAS students and hosting by MSU. Minot State University and SIAS International University signed an articulation agreement nearly one year ago. SIAS is a private institution with more than 13,000 students. It has about 200 international instructors and classes are taught in English.
Developing and supporting a diverse, multicultural, and inclusive campus community is also one of the strategies for achieving the university's strategic plan "Vision 2013."
"This program supports several of the strategies in President Fuller's Vision 2013," says College of Business Dean JoAnn Linrud. "It engages students in active learning and it grounds them in appreciating the opportunities in and the uniqueness of North Dakota, as well as fostering a multicultural learning environment."
Besides this specialized MSM format, the College of Business offers the MSM degree and the Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) through online delivery. The COB also offers a Master of Education in business and a Graduate Certificate in knowledge management.
The Master of Science in Management program has initial accreditation by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. Minot State University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
For more information, contact Gary Ross by phone at 858-3291 or by e-mail to (gary.ross@minotstateu.edu). Details may also be obtained at the Web site (www.minotstateu.edu/msm).