Department of Management

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Management History

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1865, is a private, coeducational institution. The 62-acre campus is located in a suburban area 40 miles west of Boston. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 3869.

Graduate Management Programs was founded in 1971 and is located on the main campus. Courses also are offered worldwide on-line (MBA). The basic educational approach is to equip students with the tools and training necessary to lead people and technology in complex, rapidly changing global organizations, through a mix of case studies, projects, and lectures.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Management Academics

Graduate Management Programs offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Marketing and Technological Innovation (MSMTI), Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT), and Master of Science in Operational Design and Leadership (MSODL). Other programs include a dual BS/MBA degree for Worcester Polytechnic Institute undergraduates, interdisciplinary programs in engineering and science, internships, joint research, and foreign exchange with 10 countries. The strongest areas of study are management of technology, information security management, technology marketing, operations management, technological innovation, entrepreneurship, information technology, process design, and supply chain management. The most popular courses are New Venture Management and Entrepreneurship, Managing Organizational Change, Managing Technological Innovation, Marketing of Emerging Technologies, Telecommunications Management, Supply Chain Management, and Managing Creativity in Knowledge Intensive Organizations. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. The graduate management student organization brings in speakers on a variety of topics related to the management of technology.

Forty-nine total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 12 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Financial Accounting
• Finance
• Organizational Behavior
• Operations Management
• Quantitative Methods
• Principles of Marketing
• Management Information Systems
• Economics of the Firm
• Domestic and Global Economic Environment of Business
• Interpersonal and Leadership Skills for Technological Managers
• Creating and Implementing Strategy in Technological Organizations
• Designing Processes for Technological Organizations
• Business Analysis for Technological Managers
• Legal and Ethical Context of Technological Organizations
• Graduate Qualifying Project
• 4 elective courses

Required courses for the MSMTI include:

• Organizational Behavior
• Quantitative Methods
• Principles of Marketing
• Economics of the Firm
• Interpersonal and Leadership Skills for Technological Managers
• Creating and Implementing Strategy in Technological Organizations
• 6 elective courses

Required courses for the MSIT include:

• Management Information Systems
• Database Applications Development
• Systems Design and Development
• Foundations of Information Technology
• Telecommunications Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Interpersonal and Leadership Skills for Technological Managers
• Operations Management
• Designing Processes for Technological Organizations
• Then choose one of the following 3-course concentration areas:
• IT Project Management
• IT and Entrepreneurship
• IT Applications Development
• Information Security Management
• Marketing IT Applications
• Manufacturing and Service IT Applications

Required courses for the MSODL include:

• Management Information Systems
• Organizational Behavior
• Interpersonal and Leadership Skills for Technological Managers
• Operations Management
• Modeling and Optimizing Processes
• 7 elective courses

Foundation-level courses may be waived by exam or prior course work.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 1 year; maximum, 2 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 years; maximum, 8 years.

There are 24 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate; there are 5 part-time faculty, of whom 80% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated well above average for Category IIA institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 4; average business class size is 15.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Management Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 200,000 volumes and 2500 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 4000 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in technology management. Students have access to such databases and networks as EBSCO, Emerald Library, General Business File ASAP, Lexis/Nexis, Piranha Web, and Wilson Business Abstracts. Other opportunities for research consist of the institute’s on-line search services, which can access hundreds of databases.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of more than 350 PCs, including 24 UNIX workstations, a 40-PC-cluster ADP lab, and 13 high-end PCs in the management lab. The computer center is open 24 hours. A wireless network is accessible in many areas on campus.

Career and Job Placement

In spring 2006, 75 companies recruited on campus. Eighty percent were national corporations. Majors most in demand were technology focused. Average starting salary of the graduating class was $94,000; range was $52,000 to $155,000. The percentage of graduates finding jobs were:

• national corporations 60%
• regional corporations 25%
• local large enterprises 10%
• local small enterprises 3%
• self-employment 2%

Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include full access to the career development center and all services. Placement is available through the institute’s placement office. Ninety-five percent of the most recent graduating class found jobs within three months of receiving their degree.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. International students must score 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT). They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of the school’s own form, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 year of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of graduate assistantships. The application deadline for fall entry is July 1.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 14 weeks long; summer sessions, 7 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the evening only.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Management Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.5 and a GMAT score of 500. The formula for using the GPA and GMAT scores is (200 x GPA) + GMAT. Most important admissions factors are academic accomplishments and ability, work experience, and GMAT results. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 84; 65 were accepted; 41 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.35; average GMAT score was 611. Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited. The university is a member of NBMBAA and the National Hispanic Institute, and is active in SHPE. WPI is also a GEM institution.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $70, 3 letters of recommendation, and a resume. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; November 1, spring; April 1, summer. Students are notified of the admissions decision within 3 weeks of receipt of the completed application. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is June 1. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 1 year from their acceptance date, with a deposit.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Management Financial Aid

About 32% of graduate business school students receive financial aid from scholarships, loans, and graduate assistantships, for a total average of $4800 annually; maximum $31,440. The school’s own financial statement is required. The application deadlines are July 1 for fall entry; November 1, spring.

Tuition for all students is $997 per credit, or $23,928 per year. Books and supplies cost approximately $1200; personal expenses, $3000; and other fees, $85, for an estimated annual total of $28,213. Graduate student housing is available in university-owned residences as well as privately owned houses and apartments. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Management Students

Twelve percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 95% have had an average of 7 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. The greatest percentage of students are from Massachusetts (65%). Twenty-three percent are women, 5% are minorities, and 18% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 32; ages range from 21 to 57. Two percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 23% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 48%, engineering; 30%, math and science; and 12%, business. About 5% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 90% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 27 graduate business degrees were awarded.