STEM Designation
The MBA/MSM is a dual degree program with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) designation. Due to the demand of graduates with expertise in STEM fields, the Department of Homeland Security permits international students graduating from STEM programs to apply for a 24 month extension of their initial year of Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more detailed information, please visit the ISSO webpage.
MBA/MSM with a Concentration in Business Essentials
23-25 Courses
58.5-64.5 Credits
Program Length:
Full-time in as few as 16 months
Part-time in as few as 24 months
Contextualize: From Boston to the World (8 credits)
Must be taken in the first semester.
Business Fundamental Courses (10.5 credits)
If waived, MKT-815 must be substituted with an MKT elective.
| MBA-641 | Financial Information for Business Management | 1.5 |
| MBA-651 | Financial Management for Business Decisions | 1.5 |
| MKT-815 | Marketing Foundations and Strategy | 3 |
| MBA-671 | Operations Management in a Competitive Global Environment | 1.5 |
| MBA-715 | Integrate Business Fundamentals | 3 |
Understand Business Fundamentals (3 credits)
Travel Seminar Requirement (3 credits)
Choose one.
| MBA-740 | Immerse- Travel Seminar | 3 |
| HLTHIB-870 | Global Travel Seminar: Comparative Analysis of the Healthcare Systems in England and United States | 3 |
MSM Core Courses (9-12 credits)
MKT-810 may be waived.
| MKT-810 | Marketing Research for Managers | 3 |
| MKT-819 | Global Perspectives in Consumer Marketing | 3 |
| MKT-850 | Customer Centricity and Creativity in Marketing | 3 |
| MKT-860 | Qualitative Methods and Customer Insights | 3 |
Marketing Analytics Courses (6 credits)
Choose two courses from the options below. A student can choose to use the third course as an elective, if it interests them.
| ISOM-631 | Data Analytics with Python | 3 |
| MKT-869 | Machine Learning for Marketing With Python | 3 |
| MKT-870 | Advanced Marketing Analytics With R | 3 |
Marketing Experiential (3 credits)
Choose one. May be waived. Required for students with no prior relevant work experience, may possibly be used as an elective for all other students.
Construct the Big Picture (7 credits)
| MBA-745 | Contextualizing Values Based Decision Making | 1 |
| MBA-750 | Building Global Connections | 3 |
| MBA-760 | World Class Strategies | 3 |
MSM Capstone (3 credits)
Choose 1 from the following.
Lead and Implement Change (3 credits)
Must be taken as late in the program as possible.
| MBA-770 | Leading and Implementing Change | 3 |
Marketing Elective Courses (6 credits)
Select two (2) courses from the approved MSM electives list. If MKT-815 is waived, this course must be substituted with an MKT elective. If not taken to fulfill the Marketing Analytics Course Requirement or the MSM Capstone Requirement, ISOM-631, MKT-869, MKT-870, and MKT-818 may be taken as an elective.
Approved Electives by Discipline
Marketing
| MKT-818 | Global Product Innovation | 3 |
| MKT-845 | Advanced Digital Analytics | 3 |
| MKT-855 | Digital Marketing Challenges | 3 |
| MKT-869 | Machine Learning for Marketing With Python | 3 |
| MKT-870 | Advanced Marketing Analytics With R | 3 |
| MKT-877 | Neuromarketing | 3 |
| MKT-888 | Artificial Intelligence in Marketing Strategy and Practice | 3 |
| MKT-910 | Directed Study in Marketing | 3 |
| MKT-920 | Marketing Internship | 3 |
| MKT-930 | Marketing Practicum | 3 |
Advertising, Public Relations, and Social Media
Graphic Design
This course can only be taken with instructor permission and is only open to students who have declared a concentration in Customer Experience.
Information Systems and Operations Management
| ISOM-631 | Data Analytics with Python | 3 |
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-821 | Data Management and Modeling | 3 |
| ISOM-835 | Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning | 3 |
| ISOM-840 | Security and Privacy | 3 |
| ISOM-845 | Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Storytelling | 3 |
| ISOM-861 | Project Management: Gaining Competitive Advantage | 3 |
International Business
Management & Entrepreneurship
| MBA-730 | Innovative Thinking | 3 |
| MBA-920 | Master of Business Administration Student Business Clinic | 3 |
Organizational Behavior
Strategy
Statistics
MBA/MSM
19-21 Courses
51-57 Credits
Program Length:
Full-time in as few as 16 months
Part-time in as few as 24 months
Contextualize: From Boston to the World (8 credits)
Must be taken as early in the program as possible.
Understand Business Fundamentals (6 credits)
If MKT-815 is waived, this course must be substituted with an approved MKT elective.
| MKT-815 | Marketing Foundations and Strategy | 3 |
| MBA-730 | Innovative Thinking | 3 |
Travel Seminar Requirement (3 credits)
Choose one.
| MBA-740 | Immerse- Travel Seminar | 3 |
| HLTHIB-870 | Global Travel Seminar: Comparative Analysis of the Healthcare Systems in England and United States | 3 |
MSM Core Courses (9-12 credits)
MKT-810 may be waived.
| MKT-810 | Marketing Research for Managers | 3 |
| MKT-819 | Global Perspectives in Consumer Marketing | 3 |
| MKT-850 | Customer Centricity and Creativity in Marketing | 3 |
| MKT-860 | Qualitative Methods and Customer Insights | 3 |
Marketing Analytics Courses (6 credits)
Choose two courses from the options below. A student can choose to use the third course as an elective, if it interests them.
| ISOM-631 | Data Analytics with Python | 3 |
| MKT-869 | Machine Learning for Marketing With Python | 3 |
| MKT-870 | Advanced Marketing Analytics With R | 3 |
Marketing Experiential (3 credits)
Choose one. May be waived. Required for students with no prior relevant work experience, may possibly be used as an elective for all other students.
Construct the Big Picture (7 credits)
| MBA-745 | Contextualizing Values Based Decision Making | 1 |
| MBA-750 | Building Global Connections | 3 |
| MBA-760 | World Class Strategies | 3 |
MSM Capstone (3 credits)
Choose one from the following.
Lead and Implement Change (3 credits)
Must be taken as late in the program as possible.
| MBA-770 | Leading and Implementing Change | 3 |
Marketing Elective Courses (6 credits)
Select two (2) courses from the approved MSM electives list. If MKT-815 is waived, this course must be substituted with an MKT elective. If not taken to fulfill the Marketing Analytics Course Requirement or the MSM Capstone Requirement, ISOM-631, MKT-869, MKT-870, and MKT-818 may be taken as an elective.
Approved Electives by Discipline
Marketing
| MKT-818 | Global Product Innovation | 3 |
| MKT-845 | Advanced Digital Analytics | 3 |
| MKT-855 | Digital Marketing Challenges | 3 |
| MKT-869 | Machine Learning for Marketing With Python | 3 |
| MKT-870 | Advanced Marketing Analytics With R | 3 |
| MKT-877 | Neuromarketing | 3 |
| MKT-888 | Artificial Intelligence in Marketing Strategy and Practice | 3 |
| MKT-910 | Directed Study in Marketing | 3 |
| MKT-920 | Marketing Internship | 3 |
| MKT-930 | Marketing Practicum | 3 |
Advertising, Public Relations, and Social Media
Graphic Design
This course can only be taken with instructor permission and is only open to students who have declared a concentration in Customer Experience.
Information Systems and Operations Management
| ISOM-631 | Data Analytics with Python | 3 |
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-821 | Data Management and Modeling | 3 |
| ISOM-835 | Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning | 3 |
| ISOM-840 | Security and Privacy | 3 |
| ISOM-845 | Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, and Storytelling | 3 |
| ISOM-861 | Project Management: Gaining Competitive Advantage | 3 |
International Business
Management & Entrepreneurship
| MBA-730 | Innovative Thinking | 3 |
| MBA-920 | Master of Business Administration Student Business Clinic | 3 |
Organizational Behavior
Strategy
Statistics
Concentrations
Concentrations may be an option for students who waive MKT-815. If waived, MKT-815 must be substituted with an MKT elective. This elective, combined with the 2 other MSM electives required in the dual degree, could be used towards a concentration in Artificial Intelligence and Marketing, Marketing Analytics and Insights, Digital Marketing, or Customer Experience. Students may declare a concentration with three (3) electives from the same functional area. The schedule of when courses within a concentration are offered vary by semester.
Students who declare a concentration must submit an SBS Graduate Program Concentration Request form. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor before they declare a concentration.
The concentration appears on the transcript, not the diploma.
Artificial Intelligence and Marketing
Required Course (3 credits)
| MKT-888 | Artificial Intelligence in Marketing Strategy and Practice | 3 |
Choose two of the following electives (6 credits):
If not taken to fulfill the Marketing Analytics Course Requirement, MKT-869 or MKT-870 can be used towards the Artificial Intelligence and Marketing concentration.
| ISOM-900 | Special Topics in Information Systems | 3 |
| MKT-845 | Advanced Digital Analytics | 3 |
| MKT-869 | Machine Learning for Marketing With Python | 3 |
| MKT-870 | Advanced Marketing Analytics With R | 3 |
Marketing Analytics & Insights Concentration
Choose three courses. If not taken to fulfill the Marketing Analytics Course Requirement, MKT-869, MKT-870, or ISOM-631 can be used towards the Marketing Analytics and Insights concentration. At least one must be a marketing content course (MKT-845, MKT-869, MKT-870, or MKT-877).
| MKT-845 | Advanced Digital Analytics | 3 |
| MKT-869 | Machine Learning for Marketing With Python | 3 |
| MKT-870 | Advanced Marketing Analytics With R | 3 |
| MKT-877 | Neuromarketing | 3 |
| MKT-930 | Marketing Practicum | 3 |
| ISOM-631 | Data Analytics with Python | 3 |
| ISOM-801 | Solving Business Problems Using Advanced Excel | 3 |
| ISOM-821 | Data Management and Modeling | 3 |
| ISOM-835 | Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning | 3 |
Digital Marketing Concentration
Choose three courses. At least one must be a marketing content course (MKT-845 or MKT-855).
Customer Experience Concentration
Choose three courses. If not taken to fulfill the MSM Capstone Requirement, MKT-818 can be used towards the Customer Experience concentration. At least one must be a marketing content course (MKT-818 or MKT-877).
Waiver Policy
MKT-810 and the Marketing Experiential may be waived. If waived, MKT-815 needs to be substituted with an approved MSM elective. All waiver requests are evaluated upon a student's acceptance into the MBA/MSM Program and are waived during the student's first semester.
To waive a course, a student must have successfully completed equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven (7) years prior to MBA/MSM matriculation, and earned a grade of "B" or better. To substitute an approved elective for MKT-815, a student must have successfully completed equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven (7) year prior to MBA/MSM matriculation, and earned a grade of "B" or better. Official transcripts must be provided (with English translation, if applicable).
All MBA/MSM students must complete a minimum of 51 credits in the Sawyer Business School.
Transfer Policy
Any candidate seeking transfer credits, taken at the graduate level from an AACSB-accredited graduate program in business, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. These credits may be considered for transfer if the credits do not apply to a previously completed degree.
Transfer credits must have an earned grade of "B" or better and have been taken within seven (7) years prior to entering the Suffolk MBA/MSM program. However, at the discretion of the MSM program director, marketing core courses may not be transferred if the subject material has changed significantly since completion. A maximum of six (6) credits may be considered for transfer.
Students Who Leave Boston Before Their Degree is Complete
Occasionally, Suffolk MBA/MSM students must leave the Boston area having not yet completed their degree. The Business School has several options available to ensure completion of the Suffolk MBA/MSM. You may be able to transfer in six (6) credits of elective courses from an AACSB-accredited MBA or MSM Program close to your new place of residence. Courses must be pre-approved by Suffolk’s assistant dean of graduate programs and have a grade of “B” or better.
Students who leave the area may also be able to complete a portion of their Suffolk MBA on a part-time basis online. The MSM degree is not available online.