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What is the STEM Management Science Major?
What is the STEM Management Science Major?
The STEM-designated management science major helps prepare you to lead in a technology-intensive world. This may be an important credential now or in the future depending on your industries of interest.
The STEM-designated management science major helps prepare you to lead in a technology-intensive world. This may be an important credential now or in the future depending on your industries of interest.
STEM has been a popular component here and in other top MBA programs. International students with the STEM major are eligible to apply for a STEM OPT extension of 24 months beyond the initial period of 12 months after graduation to work in the United States.
Which Classes Count for STEM?
Which Classes Count for STEM?
MBA STEM Management Science Major List of Approved MBA Courses .docxSee the list of approved electives and required core courses for the major
See the list of approved electives and required core courses for the major
The core courses are part of your MBA curriculum and the Program Office will register you.
The electives are part of your MBA, but you are responsible for registering for enough STEM-approved credits to complete the major.
Passing grades in all courses are required. A passing grade is an A, A-, B+, B, B-, or C.
Not all courses on this list are currently being offered.
New courses are added to this list as they are created and approved for Management Science.
Am I on Track for STEM?
Am I on Track for STEM?
Students are responsible for tracking their own progress toward completing the major by their intended graduation by following the steps below.
Use the "What-If" analysis feature of the "My Degree" audit tool in GU Experience:
Login to GU Experience -> Go to your Student Dashboard -> Student Profile -> MyDegree link on the left side.
Under Area of Study - Major, select "Management Science."
Click Process.
Timelines and Requirements
Timelines and Requirements
Application timelines
Application timelines
During your final semester, students will be asked to submit the MBA Graduation & Academic Credentials request form showing they have met the credit requirements to receive the STEM management science major.
During your final semester, students will be asked to submit the MBA Graduation & Academic Credentials request form showing they have met the credit requirements to receive the STEM management science major.
The Program Office will contact students based on their expected graduation date. The form link and deadline for application will be provided at that time. It will also be posted on the Graduation page.
December graduates will be contacted in October.
May graduates will be contacted in January. August graduates may submit the STEM request then, but records will be changed in the summer.
August graduates will be contacted in June.
Course Requirements
Course Requirements
Elective and core credit requirements to complete the major differ by class year due to slight differences in the curriculum.
Elective and core credit requirements to complete the major differ by class year due to slight differences in the curriculum.
Students on the 54-credit MBA curriculum: You need 12 approved elective credits and 18 core credits.
Dual degree students and students who've taken courses on a different timeline than their original MBA class should consult their program advisor for their specific Management Science requirements.
Study abroad courses do not count toward the Management Science credit requirements. Therefore, it may be more challenging to study abroad and complete the STEM major, and overloading may be needed during the final semester.
Replacement Credits for Waived Core Courses
Replacement Credits for Waived Core Courses
Any student who waived an MBA core course that is listed on the approved course list must replace the credits from that core with additional approved electives from the list.
Any student who waived an MBA core course that is listed on the approved course list must replace the credits from that core with additional approved electives from the list.
For example, if you passed the waiver exam for ACCT 6500/550 (1.5 credits), you will need to complete 13.5 approved elective credits (instead of 12) and 16.5 core credits (instead of 18).
If you passed the waiver exam for OPAN 6500 or FINC 6500 (3 credits), you will need to complete 15 approved elective credits (instead of 12) and 15 core credits (instead of 18).
STEM Major on Your Degree
STEM Major on Your Degree
Your degree will remain the Master of Business Administration. Your major will be changed from Business Administration to Management Science in your final semester.
Your degree will remain the Master of Business Administration. Your major will be changed from Business Administration to Management Science in your final semester.
The STEM degree code is 52.1301.for management science.
Upon successful completion of all MBA and management science major requirements in your final semester, the major will be noted as completed on your transcript.
FAQs
FAQs
What are the benefits to the Management Science Major?
What are the benefits to the Management Science Major?
This new major is an evolution of an initiative the MBA program began several years ago to add more quantitative and management science content to our program. This was in response to both employer feedback and student interests, with the goal of better preparing our students to lead in a technology-intensive world. The management science major also will offer eligible international students the opportunity to apply for a STEM OPT extension of their work authorization in the United States. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment visa that allows international students to work in the USA for an initial period of 12 months after graduation. If you get a STEM Major, then you’re eligible to apply for a STEM OPT extension of 24 months.
Can I request the Management Science major after I graduate if I'm not sure yet if I want it?
Can I request the Management Science major after I graduate if I'm not sure yet if I want it?
No. We are unable to change students' records after they graduate. Please make sure you apply for the major in your final semester when the Program Office contacts you.
If I am short elective credits required to complete the Management Science major, can I take additional classes over the summer to satisfy the major requirements?
If I am short elective credits required to complete the Management Science major, can I take additional classes over the summer to satisfy the major requirements?
If you have completed the credits required for the MBA degree, you cannot register for additional courses.
Can I request an elective that is not on the approved list to count toward the major?
Can I request an elective that is not on the approved list to count toward the major?
No, only courses listed on the approved list above may count towards the Management Science major. This list is reviewed periodically so new courses can be added when approved.
All McDonough MBA electives went through a thorough review process over an extended period of time as we pursued the creation of the new major. The review process included faculty teaching electives, senior faculty members in each area, Graduate Curriculum & Standards Committee, MSB Executive Faculty Committee, Graduate School Executive Faculty Committee, and the representatives from the Provost's Office. The approval of the STEM-designated Management Science major was based solely on the approved list of electives. We cannot consider appeals of other electives, tutorials, study abroad courses, or other courses taken outside McDonough.
What criteria were used to determine which electives were classified as STEM approved? Why are some electives that appear to be STEM-related not on the approved elective list?
What criteria were used to determine which electives were classified as STEM approved? Why are some electives that appear to be STEM-related not on the approved elective list?
The answer has to do with what is deemed "STEM" in the context of business education. It is not literally about science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Instead, in the context of business education, STEM has been characterized by DHS as "Management Science," which is defined as follows: a program that "focuses on the application of statistical modeling, data warehousing, data mining, programming, forecasting and operations research techniques to the analysis of problems of business organization and performance. Includes instruction in optimization theory and mathematical techniques, data mining, data warehousing, stochastic and dynamic modeling, operations analysis, and the design and testing of prototype systems, and evaluation models."
All electives were evaluated from the lens of this definition of Management Science. Only those that had at least 50% of their content covering the topics mentioned in the definition were approved as STEM-eligible. Consequently, if an elective did not have at least 50% of its content devoted to these topics, even if the overall topic of the course might be related to STEM in a literal sense, it was not included in the list of approved electives.
Can I use the same course to count toward an MBA certificate and the Management Science major?
Can I use the same course to count toward an MBA certificate and the Management Science major?
Yes. For example, you can count a course toward both the STEM Management Science major and the MBA Certificate in Consumer Analytics and Insights.
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