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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Master of Science in Management Program (MSM)?
The MSM is a graduate degree that prepares students for outstanding managerial and leadership positions in the highly competitive and global business environment of the 21st century. The MSM degree program specializes in educating students in three critically important and rapidly expanding careers areas – Human Resources Management (HRM), Management Information Systems (MIS), and Transportation/Supply Chain Management (T/SCM).
2. How does the MSM degree program compare to a MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree?
The MSM is a focused degree that allows more courses in a specific concentration area. The MBA degree is a more general business degree covering all the business functional areas, but typically fewer courses in an area of concentration. The MBA degree is more suited for individuals who have not yet determined which area of business they wish to pursue. The MSM degree, by contrast, provides instruction in the basic business areas (e.g., economics, accounting, management), but allows the student to complete additional courses, and therefore gain additional expertise, in a chosen area of concentration.
3. How do I apply for admission to the MSM program?
The School of Graduates Studies encourages potential students to apply online. Visit their website at htt://www.ncat.edu/~sbe/gradpro/science-director.html . You may also call (336) 334-7029 or stop by the School of Graduate Studies, 120 Gibbs Hall. The MSM program, (336)
285-2366 here in the School of Business and Economics has a limited supply of applications upon request.
4. What is needed to complete my application to the MSM program?
All the following items are required to complete your application packet to the Graduate School and the MSM program.
- A completed Graduate School application and payment of the application fee.
- Official copies of transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate programs attended.
- An official score on the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) examination reported to the Graduate School.
- Three letters of recommendation (These can be from college professors, professional supervisors, etc.)
- A letter of intent, which expresses why you are pursuing a master’s degree, why you have selected this degree program (MSM), and why you have selected our University and School of Business and Economics to pursue this degree.
- International students are required to take the TOEFL exam. (A minimum score of 550 is required on this examination.) For further requirements dealing with international students, please refer to the Graduate School website.
5. What are the admission criteria for the MSM program?
For admission to the MSM program the School of Business and Economics requires a minimum 2.6 undergraduate GPA, and a minimum total GMAT score of 400 (the average on this national examination is typically about 500). In addition the School examines the letters of recommendation for the respondents’ judgments on the applicant’s ability to successfully perform graduate level work and the Letter of Intent for the applicant’s reasoning for applying to the MSM program and writing sophistication.
6. What if I do not have a 2.6 undergraduate GPA or score at least 400 on the GMAT examination; is there any way that I can still be admitted into the MSM program?
Yes, there still are some paths available for admission.
- If the applicant has an undergraduate GPA relatively close to 2.6 and a GMAT score of at least 400, he/she may be allowed to take graduate courses under a provisional basis. For example, the provision may be that the applicant must score a B average (3.0) or above on the first three courses taken. This gives the applicant an opportunity to prove that despite a low undergraduate GPA, he/she can do graduate level work.
- If the applicant has an acceptable undergraduate GPA but a GMAT score below 400, the applicant may study for and retake the GMAT exam in an effort to achieve the minimum 400 score. The GMAT exam may be retaken as many times as the applicant wishes; we only need one exam score at or above 400.
7. Can I take graduate courses while I am completing the application requirements? Can I register for graduate courses while I am studying to take/retake the GMAT exam?
Yes, to both questions. The PBS (Post Baccalaureate Studies) Program allows applicants to register for graduate courses without completing all the required admission requirements. To register for the PBS program applicants must: (1) complete the PBS application, (2) pay the application fee, and (3) provide a copy of his/her undergraduate transcript(s), which show that the applicant did complete an undergraduate degree. The PBS program allows students to take up to 12 credit hours of course work and, upon acceptance into the MSM program, transfer these credit hours directly toward the MSM degree. Thus, the student loses no time or credit hours in pursuit of the MSM degree.
8. I have an undergraduate degree in a business discipline. How many courses will I need to take to complete the MSM degree?
Typically, a student admitted to the MSM program with an undergraduate degree in a business discipline can complete the MSM degree with 12 courses or 36 credit hours. However, this may depend on the type and number of business courses taken and the grades achieved.
9. I do not have an undergraduate degree in a business discipline. How many courses will I need to take to complete the MSM degree?
Students without a degree in a business discipline typically are required to take 16 courses or 48 credit hours to complete the MSM degree. The additional 4 courses (Foundation Courses) are necessary to equip the student with a sufficient business/economics foundation upon which to build the master’s level courses.
10. Is the program offered online, or are there any courses in the MSM Home offered online?
At the current time all courses are offered in a classroom setting. The faculty feels strongly that the direct interchange (in real time) among students and faculty is an essential benefit of graduate education.
11. Can I attend the program on a full time or part time basis?
Students can attend the program on a full time or part time basis. Approximately 90% of current students attend on a part time basis, taking 2 courses per semester. However, the number of full time students is steadily increasing. At the graduate level a full time load is considered 9 credit hours.
12. When are the courses offered?
Most courses are offered on Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
13. Are courses offered during the summer sessions?
Yes, a minimum of 2 courses are offered during the summer.
14. Where are the classes held and is parking available nearby?
The classes are held in the new Craig Hall and the adjacent, newly renovated Merrick Hall. These two facilities house tiered classrooms and state-of-the-art computer laboratories. For evening classes parking is available in the lot directly in front of Craig Hall. On street parking is available at the front of Craig Hall and the football stadium parking lot is within a short walk. All lot parking is by permit only.
15. What are the tuition costs and expenses per semester?
For the fall 2005 and spring 2006 semesters the tuition and fees per semester are the following:
In-state student Out of state student
1-2 hours $364.65 $1,562.90
3-5 hours $693.50 $3,089.75
6-7 hours $1,251.50 $4,845.75
8 hours $1,756.75 $5,351.00
9 hours or more $2,015.00 $6,807.50
16. Is financial aid available to students admitted into the MSM program? Is financial aid available to students not yet admitted into the MSM program, but admitted to the PBS program?
Yes, financial aid is available to students accepted (unconditionally or provisionally) into the MSM program who are taking at least 6 credit hours. Financial aid is available only to students who have been admitted to a degree program. Therefore, students who have been admitted into the PBS program, but not yet into the MSM program, are not eligible for financial aid.
17. What kind of scholarships, work study programs, and other financial support programs are available?
There are several kinds of scholarships, tuition remission, and work study programs available for graduate students admitted to the MSM program.
- The Woodland E. Hall Scholarship is granted by the university to students with outstanding credentials (minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA). This scholarship pays all tuition for the student’s first year of study plus a $5,000 scholarship (with half paid each semester). The student, in turn, is assigned to aid in administrative or research support for up to 20 hours per week.
- The Tuition Remission Program is also available for limited number of outstanding graduate students. The School of Business and Economics contributes a minimum $1,000 scholarship to the student per semester, while the graduate school absorbs the student’s in-state tuition for each semester. This program can be repeated annually.
- Graduate Work Study assignments are also available to a select number of graduate students. Graduate students work up to 10 hours per week on administrative or research support activities and are paid on a hourly basis.
18. Which companies, government agencies, or private institutions employ graduates of the MSM program?
A small sample of the companies, agencies, etc. employing our MSM graduates includes: Accenture, Bank of America, Pentagon-Washington, D.C., VF Corporation, Lockheed-Martin, U.S. State Department, U.S. Census Bureau, Bridges Consulting Group, Merchants Distributors, Florida A & M University, and the United Parcel Service.
19. What additional resources are available to MSM students? Are the same resources available to students enrolled in the PBS program, but not yet admitted to the MSM program?
The Graduate Resource Center located in suite 312 Craig Hall houses the administrative offices and graduate student offices for the MSM program. This area provides carrels, computers, printers, copy machines, and group work tables for graduate student use. This center is open from Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM until 9:00 PM and on Friday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
20. Once admitted, who will I see for advisement?
Dr. Roger Gagnon, Director of the MSM Program can assist you in the planning of your program of studies. His office is located in room 312C in Craig Hall. He can be contacted by telephone at 336-256-2277 or by email at gagnonr@ncat.edu.
21. Does the School of Business and Economics have the most current and sufficient computer software, computer hardware, and pedagogical equipment to support the MSM program?
Absolutely, Craig Hall and Merrick Hall contain new tiered classrooms and three computer laboratories, all with the latest computer and pedagogical projection equipment.
22. What is the deadline for admission for the spring and fall semesters?
The deadlines for all admission materials for each semester are shown below:
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Fall Semester |
Spring Semester |
Summer Sessions |
| Domestic students |
July 1 |
November 1 |
April 1 |
| International students |
June 15 |
October 15 |
March 15 |
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