MBA/MS Open House Events FAQ Handbook for Faculty

Transcription

1 COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS ZICKLIN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS - BARUCH COLLEGE 55 Lexington Avenue, Box B 11/220, New York, NY Phone: (646) Fax: (646) World Wide Web: MBA/MS Open House Events FAQ Handbook for Faculty Please refer unresolved questions to Prof. M. Palley ( ; mpalley@baruch.cuny.edu) Bring: 1. Your own business cards 2. Sign in Sheet 3. Masters Programs in CIS handouts Masters Open House Events are at the Baruch Conference Center, 7th floor Faculty Should Arrive at 6:45, and can generally leave by 7:30.

2 Frequently Asked Questions - MS/CIS and MBA/CIS * How many new MBA/CIS and MS/BCIS students are enrolled each year? MBA/CIS 34 (for Fall 03), MS/BCIS 17 (for Fall03). * * How many graduate students are presently in the MS/BCIS? In the MBA/CIS? MS: 82 MBA: 115 (Fall 03) * What is the minimum required (average) undergraduate GPA for MS/BCIS students? For MBA CIS students? o Average GPA, approximately 3.2; very few admitted below 2.7 o Older grades which are low can be more easily offset by solid GMAT scores than those of recent graduates o The selectivity and stature of the school attended is an important consideration o The Admission Committee adjusts for grades in technical programs/majors which tend to be lower (for example math, science, engineering) * Are the GRE tests acceptable as admissions criteria for the MS/BCIS program? No * What is the minimum required (average) GMAT for MS/BCIS Students? For MBA/CIS Students? Average GMAT is reported by Grad Admissions to be in the 600 range for MBA and MS programs. * Can a student "waive" the GMAT requirement? No. * How old can GMAT scores be to still be accepted without needing to re-take the exam Score must be no older than 5 years after that the testing facility maintains no records of the test. * Are the admissions requirements (in terms of min. GPA, Min. GMAT, work experience) for MS/BCIS different from those of the MBA/CIS? MS to MBA program requires reevaluation of application, MBA to MS is automatic. So one might assume that the MBA program is marginally more difficult for admission. * What is the average/minimum required TOEFL score for international students in the MS/BCIS? In the MBA/CIS? TOEFL minimum is 590, TWE ( Test of Written English ) 4.0. Foreign students may be required to take an English course upon admission. * In the MS/BCIS program, can a student waive business courses if he/she has prior work experience or relevant undergraduate courses? MS preliminary business requirements can be waived based on prior coursework. No waivers for work experience. Evaluation is done upon admission by the Office of Grad. Academic Svcs. * What is the minimum number of classes (assuming many are waived) a student must take to complete the MS/BCIS? 36 credits * If I am accepted, can I start taking courses this summer? It all depends when you get the acceptance notice. If the application deadline is May 31, you will probably learned about your acceptance during the summer and you may not have time to register for summer courses.

3 * Does your department offer summer courses (from the MS or MBA program)? It varies depending on demand, School resources, and faculty availability. * Who makes the admissions decisions for the MBA and the MS? It is the same group of people? The decision is made entirely by the Office of Graduate Admissions. The CIS Department has neither involvement nor influence on the decisions. * Can I do one degree (the MS in BCIS) and then the MBA in CIS? <or vice versa> Credits counted towards one masters degree, cannot be used towards another. So a student who has completed an MS would need to take 54 credits of new work in order to fulfill the degree requirements. Generally, there would not be enough CIS courses available in order to fulfill the 36 CIS in the MS, followed by another 18 CIS credits needed for the MBA/CIS. * Of the students in MS/BCIS (MBA/CIS), what percentage gets internships each summer/semester in the CIS area? Zicklin School of Business encourages students to seek internships. The Office of Graduate Career Services has recently hired a staff person to exclusively handle internships. Students can also do an internship without credit, independent of any course. * What kind of internships are available? With what companies? Recommend that they contact Prof. Pai Chun Ma, at pai-chun_ma@baruch.cuny.edu or grad internship coordinator. * Of the students in MS/BCIS and MBA/CIS who get internships in the CIS area, what percentages go on to get permanent jobs in CIS? The company they interned with offers many students fulltime jobs. * Of the MS/BCIS and MBA/CIS students who get full time jobs in the CIS/MIS area, what is the min/average/max salary? The Graduate Career Management Center collects data. Major recruiters of CIS students at Baruch include: Solomon Smith Barney, Paine Webber, Anderson Consulting, AMS (American Management Systems), and others. Recommend that they speak with Graduate Career Services * How many CIS graduate assistantships are there each year? 8-10 * What is the difference between the MS/BCIS and MBA/CIS programs? MBA program - 42/54 credits done in general business. The focus of an MBA is business breadth. Only 12 credits are done in your major (may use free electives to bring this up to 21 credits). Core curriculum is non-waivable regardless of prior background. MS program - a full 36 credits (double the coursework) is done in CIS. A miniature general business core is waivable for people with prior course background. A more detailed audio track on this topic is available on our website at: * How is the MS/BCIS program different from a masters in Computer Science? MS/BCIS has a business-organizational focus. Our focus is application of the technologies, utilization of IT for strategic organizational advantage. Comp Sci, on the other hand, is a science discipline, focused on the technology itself. Comp Sci is mathematical, rather that organizational, in orientation. A more detailed audio track on this topic is available on our website at:

4 * "When I graduate from the MS/BCIS program, will I be able to get a job as a programmer (e.g., C or C++)?" "What about MBA/CIS?" MS students complete two semesters of C++ programming. This does not qualify you per se as an applications programmer. Students interested in becoming programmers are typically recruited by firms for their programmer-trainee programs. MBA students are not required to take programming courses, but can select to as in-major electives. Students who wish pure programmer training should be directed to the Continuing Education Program rather than a business school masters program. * Does a student need to own a computer to do well in (or get into) the MS/BCIS program? Very useful, but not required. * "What software to you recommend I get to give me a head start in the program?" Familiarity with MS-Excel, or equivalent. MS students might wish to obtain a C++ compiler in advance of the program. * "Do you use Macintosh computers?" No. * "I have an liberal arts degree from 10 years ago with little or no quantitative background. Will I have trouble in the MS/BCIS program?" It s been done many times here, but your quantitative skills must be rigorous enough for the FIN 9770 core requirement. Programming is not quantitative as much as it is logical. * "I have NO computer experience aside from a little word processing. Will I have trouble in the MS/BCIS program?" We do not presume prior computer background. Spreadsheet background is very useful prior to the program. We recommend that you obtain and learn MS-Excel prior to beginning the program. CIS 8000 is recommended. * "I have trouble speaking in front of groups. Will I have to do that in the MS/BCIS program?" Many courses in the School of Business require group work and oral presentations. It is a foundation of business education. This is true of the CIS programs as well. * "Is it worth it to get the MS/BCIS?" No question about it. * "Will I learn JAVA in the MS/BCIS program?" Java is currently offered as a special topics course, on an irregular cycle. Most of our courses attempt to be independent of a specific software platform, but special topics courses of this nature occur on an occasional basis. * "Why would I choose the MS/BCIS over the MBA/CIS?" If you seek significant immersion (36 credits) of CIS courses, and want an abbreviated business core. This may be the better option for someone with business school background, since they could waive the preliminary business requirements, and take a shorter, and more CIS-focused program. * "Why would I choose the MBA/CIS over the MS/BCIS?" For students who do not have prior business background, and seek a well-rounded and broad business education. The MBA degree is a well-known quantity in the job market. Current IT professionals might seek to enhance their management skills via an MBA. * "Which program will give me a better competitive advantage in the job market?"

5 Cannot give a general answer. Depends on the specific circumstances (job experience, undergraduate background and career goals of the student. * "Can I switch from one program to another? e.g., MS/BCIS to the MBA program?" MBA students can switch to the MS program automatically, although it is important to do so early on in the program, in order to prevent taking business courses that do not count towards the MS. MS students can apply to transfer to the MBA. However, transfer to the MBA is not automatic, requires review, and requires that the student complete (or has completed) the GMAT and not the GRE exam. * "I want to start my own computer business. Can I combine CIS with entrepreneurship classes [in the MBA program]?" Baruch s MBA programs allow for three free elective courses. Baruch s programs do not allow for a joint or double major. *"How much do the books cost?" Too much. Recommend a visit to the Bookstore. * "Do I have to pay tuition for the entire year at one time, or do I pay by semester? By Semester. * "Can I start the program, take a semester (or year) off and then continue? Yes, but there is a time limit to complete the program - consult the catalog. * Can I double major? - No, the AACSB requirements, and Baruch s MBA program preclude double majors in the Masters Program. * Can I take additional courses that are beyond or supplement my program? [within or outside the major] No. The College is publicly funded, and therefore the allocated cost of taking a course is less than the tuition charged. Therefore, the College views this as an overuse of State subsidies - my wording. The Office of Graduate Studies monitors student transcripts to verify that courses taken conform to the student s specific program requirements. This seems a bit odd to me, since one would think that the School would see this as incremental revenue, but it does not. How well does Grad Studies monitor this? Unknown. Student with further questions about this can be referred to Mrs. Elaine Bernstein in the Office of Graduate Studies