Master of Science
ORIENTATION
MANAGEMENT
THE PROGRAM
Changes in technology and global socioeconomics are
rapidly expanding the world of business. Interest in the career
opportunities born of these changes is far-reaching, into segments
of the work force previously untapped. The MSM Program is a
generalist graduate business program designed specifically for
individuals from non-business academic backgrounds who have
little or no professional work experience. The program provides
the fundamental business knowledge necessary to begin a career
in a corporation or business organization, or to enhance future
career options in “non-business” industries, such as advertising,
engineering, social/non-profit, or biotechnology. No previous
study of business is necessary; applicants may possess an
undergraduate degree in any discipline other than business. The
curriculum is designed to give students a non-industry specific
education, linking knowledge of accounting, finance, marketing,
economics, operations management, and more into a broader
managerial perspective. The electives allow students to focus on one
particular subject— such as entrepreneurship or human resource
management—or, for those students who are still undecided
on a future career path, to sample an offering of diverse topics.
Graduates of the MSM Program enter the workforce prepared for
the challenges that managers face in a climate of rapid change.
THE DEGREE
Students who successfully complete the MSM Program are awarded
a Master of Science degree in Business Administration, with a
major in Management. The MSM Program can be completed in ten
months of full-time enrollment; students who begin the program
in June will graduate in May, and students who begin the program
in January will graduate the following December. Students can
also complete the program on a part-time basis, taking a reduced
credit load each module. There is no thesis requirement in the
MSM program, and the curriculum focuses on practical knowledge
rather than theory and research. Students may complete the M.S.
concurrently, or as part of an official joint degree program, with
another graduate or professional program at the University of
Florida. A specified number of credits can be shared between
the two programs, per final approval from the Graduate School
and participating departments. Other degrees that students have
JOINT & CONCURRENT DEGREES CAREER ASSISTANCE
Incoming students participate in a non-credit orientation at the start
of the program. The orientation is mandatory, even for students
who have previously attended classes at the University of Florida.
Through a variety of activities, students are acclimated to the
expectations and demands of the MSM Program. The orientation
also serves as an introduction to Graduate Business Career Services
Office staff members, who conduct a resume critique in preparation
for production of the MSM Resume CD, which is made available to
recruiters. Orientation week is also a great opportunity for students
to get to know future teammates who will be vital to their ultimate
success in the group work on which the program heavily depends.
CORE CLASSES
The majority of the MSM curriculum is made up of core classes that
provide students with an understanding of business fundamentals,
including accounting, economics, finance, law, management,
marketing and statistics, with a special emphasis on their applications
in managerial decision making. Core courses are required for all
students. The elective courses allow students to tailor the program to
their particular interests. Students who may be interested in pursuing
UF’s Option B MBA degree (One-year) in the future are advised to
take specific electives.
Summary of Benefits
n Earn a business master’s in one year
n Gain knowledge in all areas of business
“core”
completed concurrently with the MSM Program include: JD,
DVM, MEd, PhD (various subjects), MS (Electrical and Computer n Gain industry-specific knowledge through
Engineering), and MA (International Business). electives and extracurricular activities
n Prepare for a career in business
n Enhance career options and advancement
MODULES
The program is structured in a modular format, consisting of potential for non-business careers
eight-week “mini-semesters” in the fall and spring terms. Students n Graduate Business Career Services
typically take three courses per module, allowing for more intense
n Joint and concurrent degree options allow
concentration on the subject matter at hand. Two MSM modules
sharing of credits
are completed during each UF semester. Summer terms are only six
n Integrated bachelor’s/master’s option for
weeks in length.
UF undergraduates
International students are required to submit additional documents.
The MSM Program has formal joint degree agreements with specified
programs on campus, which track students in a highly specified
curriculum plan and allow for a significant number of shared credits.
Students who are not in those specific programs can instead elect
to complete MSM as a “concurrent degree” with another graduate
program on campus. Under a concurrent degree plan, the timeline
and curriculum requirements are more individual, and a smaller
number of credits can be shared between the two programs. More
information on joint and concurrent degrees can be obtained from
the MSM web site, and students are encouraged to speak with an
MSM advisor about their individual situations.
The staff members in the Graduate Business Career Services Office Students interested in a joint or concurrent degree with MSM
focus not only on career advising and professional development for should speak to an advisor about the application process; it can be
all Warrington graduate students, but they also travel on a regular abbreviated if a student is already enrolled in another graduate or
basis, visiting with companies and organizations to build and professional program on campus.
maintain strong relationships. They host company presentations, a
fall career fair, and interview sessions solely for graduate business
students. The University of Florida Career Resource Center, which
serves all students at UF, offers an array of services and activities to
aid students in professional development, conducting an effective
career search, and negotiating through the process to get to that
highly-sought first day on the job. Those motivated students who
take advantage of all the career services offered to them typically
have several job offers to choose from upon graduation.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Warrington College of Business fosters a climate for learning
not only in the classroom, but through extracurricular activities as
well. Students are encouraged to get involved with such groups as
National Association of Women MBAs, the International Business
Society, the MSM Ambassadors, and the Student Investment
Club. Additional participation can be in the form of speakers or
roundtable discussions hosted by the Poe Center for Business
Ethics Education and Research, the Center for Entrepreneurship
and Innovation (CEI), the David F. Miller Center for Retailing
Education and Research, and the Center for International Business
Education and Research (CIBER). In the spring term, MSM
students are able to develop their teamwork and leadership skills
(and have fun!) by participating in the day-long ropes course at
Lake Wauburg. Given that UF has more than 48,000 students of
very diverse interests and backgrounds, there is never a lack of
activity and development opportunities at the University of Florida.
ELIGIBILITY
Individuals applying to the MSM Program must follow a detailed
application process, as outlined in the application section of our
web site. The full time MSM option has two official start dates,
January and late June. Please fully review the application section of
our MSM web site for details regarding application deadlines and
requirements. Students will be required to submit:
n online application
n undergraduate transcript
n essay question responses
n resume or CV
n GMAT or GRE score
n recommendation letters (two minimum)
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS CURRICULUM
Several certificate programs are offered to MSM students. These The MSM Program requires 32 credits total, and courses are all
certificates are designed to give students in-depth knowledge in two credits each. There are 11 core courses (total: 22 credits),
one industry area. They are not official concentrations or degrees, and students take five elective courses (total: 10 credits). Joint
but rather a way to channel students in certain courses or guest and concurrent students are exempt from a specified number of
speaker sessions for comprehensive study. Please see our MSM elective credits. University of Florida
web site for details and specific certificate requirements. As of Warrington College of Business
December 2006, the certificate options for MSM students were: Core courses: P.O. Box 117164
Finance I 249 Stuzin Hall
n Certificate in New Venture Creation (Entrepreneurship) Financial Accounting Gainesville, FL 32611-7164
n Certificate in Hospitality Management Global Strategic Management
n Franklin Fellow Certificate (Ethics) Intro to Managerial Statistics Tel: 352.273.0344
Fax: 352.392.7347
n Certificate in Supply Chain Management Managerial Accounting
Email: msm@cba.ufl.edu
Managerial Economics
Managers & the Legal Environment
INTEGRATED MSM OPTION Marketing Management
The Integrated Option, otherwise known as a combined degree Organizational Behavior
option, enables UF undergraduates from any non-business Production & Operations Management
major to begin pursuing MSM before receiving their bachelor’s Professional Writing & Communications
degree. Students choosing this option may apply a maximum of
12 credits of graduate coursework toward free electives for the Typical elective options:
undergraduate degree. Undergraduate students receiving pre- Advanced Managerial Statistics
paid tuition, or scholarships such as Bright Futures, can apply Art & Science of Negotiations
these funds to a portion of the graduate tuition, and they need Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
only pay the difference between the two tuition rates (graduate Business Plan Formation
vs. undergraduate). This is an especially attractive option— Compensation in Organizations
financially and academically—for Florida’s highest performing Customer Relations Management
undergraduates. Entrepreneurship
Finance II: Capital Structure & Risk Management


Global Entrepreneurship
International Advertising Master of Science


International Marketing
Latin American Business Environment MANAGEMENT
Alumnus Careers Managing Innovation & Change
Managing Technology in Organizations
MSM alumni have begun careers in a variety of positions
Open Economy Macroeconomics
in varied industries, including:
Organizational Staffing
Power & Politics in Organizations
Accenture, Staff Consultant
Social Entrepreneurship
BB&T, Business Banking Associate
Training & Development in Organizations
Bed, Bath & Beyond, Buyer
Venture Analysis
Gartner, Inside Sales Executive
Venture Finance
Jackson Memorial Hospital, Senior Corporate Analyst
JP Morgan Chase, Operations Risk Manager
Orange County Public Schools, Business Teacher
Pulte Homes, Customer Relations Manager
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Employee Relations
Visibb Genetics, Product Specialist
W&M Environmental Group, Environmental Consultant
Westinghouse Electric Co., Senior Engineer
YMCA, Program Development Director