Business, School of

Business Foundation Chart (.pdf, 409 kb)
>Department Web Site

M. P. RICE, Dean
A.Z. ZENG, Director MIS Program
Professors: M. C. Banks, M. B. Elmes, A. Gerstenfeld, F. Hoy, J. T. O'Connor, M. P. Rice, D. M. Strong, H. G. Vassallo, J. Zhu
Associate Professors: H. N. Higgins, S. A. Johnson, C. J. Kasouf, E. Loiacano, S. Taylor, A. Z. Zeng
Assistant Professors: S. Djamasbi, A. Hall, R. Konrad, F. Miller, B. Tulu, J. Wang, W. Zhao
Professors of Practice: K. Hebert-Maccaro, J. Schaufeld

The School of Business at WPI is nationally acclaimed. The School's numerous national rankings derive partially from the project enriched curriculum required of all WPI undergraduate students, as well as the emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology that is found throughout the Business School's undergraduate and graduate programs.

Mission Statement

The School of Business at WPI is rooted in WPI's strengths in technology, engineering, and science, and known for developing innovative and entrepreneurial leaders for a global technological world. We focus on:

• Creating and leading technology-based organizations;
• Innovating technology based processes, products, and services; and
• Integrating technology into the workplace.

We emphasize:

• Innovative and project-based education that integrates the theory and the practice of management, and prepares students to assume positions of leadership in an increasingly global business environment;
• Basic scholarship, while also valuing the scholarship of application and the scholarship of instruction; and
• Interaction with the wider community focused primarily on technological innovation and both individual and organizational entrepreneurship.

Course Areas

The School of Business covers all the functional areas of business. Courses with the following prefixes are found within the School:

ACC - Accounting
BUS - Business, Including all Foundation Courses
ETR - Entrepreneurship
FIN - Finance
MIS - Management Information System
MKT - Marketing
OIE - Operation & Industrial Engineering
OBC - Organizational Behavior and Change

Management (MG)

PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Objectives of the Management Major are:

• To prepare students for management roles in technology based organizations.
• Through a flexible curriculum, to provide a solid, broad base of business knowledge and the written communication, oral presentation, decision-making, and leadership skills necessary to succeed in a technology based environment.

To develop student abilities necessary for continued career growth including:

• the ability to integrate theory and practice;
• the ability to integrate technology and change into existing organizations;
• the ability to think critically and analytically, to define and solve business problems, work in teams, and think globally; and
• the ability to learn new skills in response to changing professional requirements

Program Distribution Requirements for the Management Major

REQUIREMENTS (NOTE 1)	MINIMUM UNITS
1. Business Foundation (Note 2)	11/3
2. Mathematics (Note 3)	4/3
3. Basic Science	2/3
4. Management (Major Note4)	6/3
5. Breadth Electives (Note 5)	3/3
6. Computer Science (Note 6)	1/3
7. MG MQP	3/3

NOTES:

1. Courses may not be counted more than once in meeting these distribution requirements. The total number of units taken in the School of Business may not exceed 50% of the total number of units earned for the degree.
2. The Business Foundation consists of BUS 1010: Leadership Practice; BUS 1020: Global Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2020: The Legal Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2060: Financial Statements for Decision Making; BUS 2070: Risk Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 2080: Data Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 3010: Creating Value through Innovation; BUS 3020: Achieving Effective Operations; BUS 4030: Achieving Strategic Effectiveness. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are required and also fulfill the WPI Social Science requirement.
3. Mathematics must include 2/3 units of calculus and 2/3 units of statistics.
4. Students selecting the Management Major must complete six courses from no more than three areas listed below:

   ACCOUNTING & FINANCE: ACC 4200, FIN 2250, FIN 2260
   ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ETR 3633, ETR 3910, ETR 3920, ETR 4930
   MARKETING: MKT 3640, MKT 3651
   ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR: OBC 3351, OBC 4365, OBC 4300
   ECONOMICS: ECON 1130, ECON 2110, ECON 2117, ECON 2120, ECON 2125, ECON 2135
   LAW: GOV 1310, GOV 2304, GOV 2310, GOV 2311, GOV 2312, GOV 2313, GOV 2314
   PSYCHOLOGY: PSY 1401, PSY 1402, PSY 1504, PSY 2406

   Additionally, the MQP must be related in some way to the courses taken. Students may also work with their academic advisor to create a custom MG Program. Such custom programs must be approved by the advisor and the School of Business's Undergraduate Policy & Curriculum Committee.
5. Breadth Electives must include at least 1/3 unit from among the 3000- and 4000-level courses in the School. The remaining 2/3 units specified in the requirement may be satisfied with courses from Mathematics, Basic Science, Computer Science, Social Science, or courses with any of the following prefixes: ACC, BUS, ETR, FIN, MIS, MKT, OBC, or OIE, but excluding courses FIN 1250 and OIE 2850.
6. A minimum of 1/3 unit of Computer Science (except CS 2022 and CS 3043). Either CS 1101 or CS 1102 is recommended.

Management Engineering(MGE)

Educational Program Objectives

Objectives of the Management Engineering Major are:

• To prepare students for management challenges in key areas that increasingly require proficiency in the technical aspects of business such as production and service operations.
• To provide the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed professionally, including literacy in a technical field, a broad understanding of management issues, written communication, oral presentation, decision-making, and leadership skills required to create new and improved products, processes and control systems.

To develop student abilities necessary for continued career growth including:

• the ability to integrate theory and practice and to apply knowledge of technical issues with the foundations of management;
• the ability to integrate technology and change into existing organizations;
• the ability to think critically and analytically, to define and solve business problems, work in teams, and think globally; and
• the ability to learn new skills in response to changing professional requirements.

Program Distribution Requirements for the Management Engineering Major

REQUIREMENTS (NOTE 1)	MINIMUM UNITS
1.Business Foundation (Note 2)	11/3
2. Mathematics (Note 3)	4/3
3. Basic Science	2/3
4. Management Engineering Major (Note 4)	6/3
5. Breadth Electives (Note 5)	3/3
6. Computer Science (Note 6)	1/3
7. MGE MQP	3/3

NOTES:

1. Courses may not be counted more than once in meeting these distribution requirements. The total number of units taken in the School of Business may not exceed 50% of the total number of units earned for the degree.
2. The Business Foundation consists of BUS 1010: Leadership Practice; BUS 1020: Global Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2020: The Legal Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2060: Financial Statements for Decision Making; BUS 2070: Risk Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 2080: Data Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 3010: Creating Value through Innovation; BUS 3020: Achieving Effective Operations; BUS 4030: Achieving Strategic Effectiveness. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are required and also fulfill the WPI Social Science requirement.
3. Mathematics must include 2/3 units of calculus and 2/3 units of statistics.
4. Students selecting the Management Engineering Major must complete six courses from one of the concentrations as specified below:
   
   

   Operations Management Concentration - 2 units

   Complete the following four courses

   OBC 3351
   OIE 3401
   OIE 3420
   OIE 4460

   and

   Select two courses from among:

   ACC 4151
   CS 2118
   MIS 3720
   MKT 3640
   OBC 4365
   OIE 3501

   The MQP must have an Operation Management focus.

   
   Biomedical Engineering Concentration - 2 units

   Complete at least one course, but no more than two, from among:

   BUS 1020
   ETR 3910
   ETR 3920
   ETR 4930
   MKT 3640
   MKT 3651
   OIE 3401
   OIE 3420
   OIE 3501
   OBC 3351
   OBC 4365

   and

   Select at least four courses, but no more than five, from among:

   BME 1001
   BME 2204
   BME 2504
   BME 2604
   BME 3101
   BME 3102
   BME 3300

   The MQP must have a business focus related to Biomedical Engineering.

   
   Chemistry Consentration - 2 units

   Complete at least one course, but no more than two from among:

   BUS 1020
   ETR 3910
   ETR 3920
   ETR 4930
   MKT 3640
   MKT 3651
   OIE 3401
   OIE 3420
   OIE 3501
   OBC 3351
   OBC 4365

   and

   Select at least four courses, but no more than five, from among:

   CH 1030
   CH 1040
   CH 2310
   CH 2320
   CH 2330
   CH 2360
   CH 2640
   CH 3510

   The MQP must have a business focus related to Chemistry.
   Students pursuing the Chemistry Concentration must Complete CH 1010 and CH 1020 for their basic science requirement. This may be double counted as part of the Chemistry Concentration.

   
   Civil Engineering Concentration - 2 units

   Complete at least one course, but no more than two, from among:

   BUS 1020
   ETR 3910
   ETR 3920
   ETR 4930
   MKT 3640
   MKT 3651
   OIE 3401
   OIE 3420
   OIE 3501
   OBC 3351
   OBC 4365

   and

   Select at least four courses, but no more than five, from among:

   CE 1030
   CE 2000
   CE 2001
   CE 2020
   CE 3030
   CE 3041
   ES 3004

   The MQP must have a business focus related to Civil Engineering.

   
   Electrical and Computer Engineering Concentration – 2 units

   Complete at least one course, but no more than two, from among:

   BUS 1020
   ETR 3910
   ETR 3920
   ETR 4930
   MKT 3640
   MKT 3651
   OIE 3401
   OIE 3420
   OIE 3501
   OBC 3351
   OBC 4365

   and

   Select at least four courses, but no more than five, from among:

   ECE 2011
   ECE 2022
   ECE 2111
   ECE 2112
   ECE 2311
   ECE 2312
   ECE 2799
   ECE 2801

   The MQP must have a business focus related to Electrical and Computer Engineering.

   
   Mechanical Engineering Concentration – 2 units

   Complete at least one course, but no more than two, from among:

   BUS 1020
   ETR 3910
   ETR 3920
   ETR 4930
   MKT 3640
   MKT 3651
   OIE 3401
   OIE 3420
   OIE 3501
   OBC 3351
   OBC 4365

   and

   Select at least four courses, but no more than five, from among:

   ES 2001
   ES 2501
   ES 2502
   ES 2503
   ES 3001
   ES 3003
   ES 3004
   ME 1800
   ME 2300
   ME 2820
   ME 3820
   ME 3901
   ME 4320
   ME 4429
   ME 4430

   The MQP must have a business focus related to Mechanical Engineering.

   
   Manufacturing Engineering Concentration – 2 units

   Complete at least one course, but no more than two, from among:

   BUS 1020
   ETR 3910
   ETR 3920
   ETR 4930
   MKT 3640
   MKT 3651
   OIE 3401
   OIE 3420
   OIE 3501
   OBC 3351
   OBC 4365

   and

   Select at least four courses, but no more than five, from among:

   ES 2001
   ME 1800
   ME 2820
   ME 3320
   ME 3820
   ME 4815
   ME 487x
   ME 489x

   The MQP must have a business focus related to Manufacturing Engineering.

   Students may also work with their academic advisor to create a custom MGE Program. Such custom programs must be approved by the advisor and the School of Business's Undergraduate Policy & Curriculum Committee.

5. Breadth Electives must include at least 1/3 unit from among the 3000- and 4000-level courses in the School. The remaining 2/3 units specified in the requirement may be satisfied with courses from Mathematics, Basic Science, Computer Science, Social Science, or courses with any of the following prefixes: ACC, BUS, ETR, FIN, MIS, MKT, OBC, or OIE, but excluding courses FIN 1250 and OIE 2850.
6. A minimum of 1/3 unit of Computer Science (except CS 2022 and CS 3043). Either CS 1101 or CS 1102 is recommended.

Management Information System(MIS)

Educational Program Objectives

The objectives of the Management Information Systems Major are:

• To prepare students for positions involving the design and deployment of business applications using a wide variety of advanced information technologies, especially in high technology business, consulting, and service firms, in either start-up or established environments, and to prepare students for rapid advancement to project management and other management positions.

• To provide the knowledge and skills consistent with the professionally accepted IS curriculum guidelines. Specifically, this includes providing knowledge and skills related to:

• business application development tools;
• database, web-based and networked applications;
• integrating IT into existing organizations through managing and leading systems analysis and design projects;
• communicating effectively via written and oral presentations.

  To develop student abilities necessary for continued career growth including:

• the ability to integrate theory and practice and to apply knowledge of information technology issues with the foundations of management;
• the ability to integrate technology and change into existing organizations;
• the ability to think critically and analytically, to define and solve business problems, work in teams, and think globally; and
• the ability to learn new skills in response to changing professional requirements

Program Distribution Requirements for the Management Information Systems Major

Requirements (NOTE 1)	Minimum Units
1. Business Foundation (Note 2)	11/3
2. Mathematics (Note 3)	4/3
3. Basic Science	2/3
4. Management Information Systems Major (Note 4)	6/3
5. Breadth Electives (Note 5)	3/3
6. Computer Science (Note 6)	1/3
7. MIS MQP	3/3

NOTES:

1. Courses may not be counted more than once in meeting these distribution requirements. The total number of units taken in the School of Business may not exceed 50% of the total number of units earned for the degree.
2. The Business Foundation consists of BUS 1010: Leadership Practice; BUS 1020: Global Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2020: The Legal Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2060: Financial Statements for Decision Making; BUS 2070: Risk Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 2080: Data Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 3010: Creating Value through Innovation; BUS 3020: Achieving Effective Operations; BUS 4030: Achieving Strategic Effectiveness. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are required and also fulfill the WPI Social Science requirement.
3. Mathematics must include 2/3 units of calculus and 2/3 units of statistics.
4. Students selecting the Management Information Systems Major must complete six courses as specified below:
   
   Complete the following four courses: MIS 3720, MIS 3740, MIS 4720, and CS 2118.
   Complete two of the following courses: MIS 4740, MIS 4781, CS 2102, CS 2301 or CS 2303, CS 3041.
   Complete a MQP in MIS.
   
   Students may work with their academic advisor to create a custom MIS Program. Such custom programs must be approved by the advisor and the School of Business's Undergraduate Policy & Curriculum Committee.
5. Breadth Electives must include at least 1/3 unit from among the 3000- and 4000-level courses in the School. The remaining 2/3 units specified in the requirement may be satisfied with courses from Mathematics, Basic Science, Computer Science, Social Science, or courses with any of the following prefixes: ACC, BUS, ETR, FIN, MIS, MKT, OBC, or OIE, but excluding courses FIN 1250 and OIE 2850.
6. A minimum of 1/3 unit of Computer Science (except CS 2022 and CS 3043). Either CS 1101 or CS 1102 is recommended.

MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING (MGE)

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Objectives of the Management Engineering Major are:

• To prepare students for management challenges in key areas that increasingly require proficiency in the technical aspects of business such as production and service operations.
• To provide the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed professionally, including literacy in a technical field, a broad understanding of management issues, written communication, oral presentation, decision-making, and leadership skills required to create new and improved products, processes and control systems.

To develop student abilities necessary for continued career growth including:

• the ability to integrate theory and practice and to apply knowledge of technical issues with the foundations of management;
• the ability to integrate technology and change into existing organizations;
• the ability to think critically and analytically, to define and solve business problems, work in teams, and think globally; and
• the ability to learn new skills in response to changing professional requirements.

Program Distribution Requirements for the Management Engineering Major

REQUIREMENTS (NOTE 1)	MINIMUM UNITS
1.Business Foundation (Note 2)	11/3
2. Mathematics (Note 3)	4/3
3. Basic Science	2/3
4. Management Engineering Major (Note 4)	6/3
5. Breadth Electives (Note 5)	3/3
6. Computer Science (Note 6)	1/3
7. MGE MQP	3/3

NOTES:

1. Courses may not be counted more than once in meeting these distribution requirements. The total number of units taken in the School of Business may not exceed 50% of the total number of units earned for the degree.
2. The Business Foundation consists of BUS 1010: Leadership Practice; BUS 1020: Global Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2020: The Legal Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2060: Financial Statements for Decision Making; BUS 2070: Risk Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 2080: Data Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 3010: Creating Value through Innovation; BUS 3020: Achieving Effective Operations; BUS 4030: Achieving Strategic Effectiveness. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are required and also fulfill the WPI Social Science requirement.
3. Mathematics must include 2/3 units of calculus and 2/3 units of statistics.
4. Students selecting the Management Engineering Major must complete six courses from one of the concentrations as specified below:
   See the .

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (MIS)

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Management Information Systems Major are:

• To prepare students for positions involving the design and deployment of business applications using a wide variety of advanced information technologies, especially in high technology business, consulting, and service firms, in either start-up or established environments, and to prepare students for rapid advancement to project management and other management positions.

• To provide the knowledge and skills consistent with the professionally accepted IS curriculum guidelines. Specifically, this includes providing knowledge and skills related to:

• business application development tools;
• database, web-based and networked applications;
• integrating IT into existing organizations through managing and leading systems analysis and design projects;
• communicating effectively via written and oral presentations.

  To develop student abilities necessary for continued career growth including:

• the ability to integrate theory and practice and to apply knowledge of information technology issues with the foundations of management;
• the ability to integrate technology and change into existing organizations;
• the ability to think critically and analytically, to define and solve business problems, work in teams, and think globally; and
• the ability to learn new skills in response to changing professional requirements

Program Distribution Requirements for the Management Information Systems Major

REQUIREMENTS (NOTE 1)	MINIMUM UNITS
1. Business Foundation (Note 2)	11/3
2. Mathematics (Note 3)	4/3
3. Basic Science	2/3
4. Management Information Systems Major (Note 4)	6/3
5. Breadth Electives (Note 5)	3/3
6. Computer Science (Note 6)	1/3
7. MIS MQP	3/3

NOTES:

1. Courses may not be counted more than once in meeting these distribution requirements. The total number of units taken in the School of Business may not exceed 50% of the total number of units earned for the degree.
2. The Business Foundation consists of BUS 1010: Leadership Practice; BUS 1020: Global Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2020: The Legal Environment of Business Decisions; BUS 2060: Financial Statements for Decision Making; BUS 2070: Risk Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 2080: Data Analysis for Decision Making; BUS 3010: Creating Value through Innovation; BUS 3020: Achieving Effective Operations; BUS 4030: Achieving Strategic Effectiveness. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are required and also fulfill the WPI Social Science requirement.
3. Mathematics must include 2/3 units of calculus and 2/3 units of statistics.
4. Students selecting the Management Information Systems Major must complete six courses as specified below:
   
   Complete the following four courses: MIS 3720, MIS 3740, MIS 4720, and CS 2118.
   Complete two of the following courses: MIS 4740, MIS 4781, CS 2102, CS 2301 or CS 2303, CS 3041.
   Complete a MQP in MIS.
   
   Students may work with their academic advisor to create a custom MIS Program. Such custom programs must be approved by the advisor and the School of Business's Undergraduate Policy & Curriculum Committee.
5. Breadth Electives must include at least 1/3 unit from among the 3000- and 4000-level courses in the School. The remaining 2/3 units specified in the requirement may be satisfied with courses from Mathematics, Basic Science, Computer Science, Social Science, or courses with any of the following prefixes: ACC, BUS, ETR, FIN, MIS, MKT, OBC, or OIE, but excluding courses FIN 1250 and OIE 2850.
6. A minimum of 1/3 unit of Computer Science (except CS 2022 and CS 3043). Either CS 1101 or CS 1102 is recommended.