Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

The Master of Accountancy program at Weatherhead is a 30-credit-hour specialized master’s degree designed to build upon the skills and knowledge acquired in an undergraduate accountancy program. Based upon a student’s professional interests, they will choose between two tracks, the Professional Track and the Analytics Track, that are specifically tailored to develop their ability to prepare, interpret and communicate accounting information as required by that profession. Through a common set of courses, the program enhances a student’s critical thinking and communication skills, positioning graduates for long-term success in careers that span business, government and non-profit organizations.

Upon completion of Weatherhead’s MAcc program, graduates will have satisfied the accounting educational requirements to sit for the CPA examination in the state of Ohio. Depending on a student’s previous studies, they may or may not satisfy the general business educational requirements. If students wish to sit for the examination in a state other than Ohio, they are encouraged to review the educational requirements before beginning their studies in order to plan accordingly.

Undergraduate Opportunities

Undergraduate students at Case Western Reserve University have the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree and the MAcc at the same time through the BA/BS and Master of Accountancy Integrated Study Program. The Integrated program is open to students pursuing any undergraduate major, although students majoring in or with a secondary major in accounting are able to complete both degrees in the shortest amount of time, typically nine or 10 semesters. A select number of exceptionally well-qualified high school seniors who plan to study accounting are offered places in the Early Admission to the Integrated Study Program in Accountancy and may obtain both degrees in eight semesters.  

Eligibility to Apply

Applicants to the MAcc program must have earned, or are in the process of earning, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A bachelor’s degree in accounting is not required to apply to the MAcc. Students interested in the Analytics Track must have completed two semesters of college calculus (including exposure to multivariate functions) and have a basic understanding of linear algebra (high-level knowledge of vectors and matrices plus what’s involved in adding and multiplying them).

Prerequisite Courses

In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree, applicants must have earned a grade of C or better in the following courses or their equivalents. Students who have not completed these courses must fulfill these requirements at CWRU or at an approved substitute institution.  

Curriculum

The MAcc program requires completion of 30 credit hours of graduate study, typically comprised of ten 3-credit hour courses.  The program offers two tracks: (i) a Professional Track for students interested in careers in audit, tax or management accounting; and (ii) a STEM-designated Analytics Track for students interested in combining accounting with data analysis tools.  Completion of either track will meet the accounting educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam in the state of Ohio.

Core Courses:

Track Courses:

Students must complete one of the following two tracks;

1) Professional Track

 2) Analytics Track

For more information about the MAcc, contact Tiffany Welch, assistant dean, undergraduate and integrated study programs, at 216.368.2058; or Ashley Lu, program manager, MAcc, at 216.368.5376.

Master of Science in Management-Business Analytics (MSM-Business Analytics)

The Master of Science in Management-Business Analytics (MSM-Business Analytics) degree is a 16-month, 36-credit-hour, full-time program for students interested in learning advanced data analytics skills for application in general business areas, focusing specifically on both marketing and operations. The program prepares students to analyze big data for smart insights for executive decision making. The program includes three interlocking modules:

• Business core (10.5 credit hours),
• Analytics core (13.5 credit hours)
• Applied Business analytics (12 credit hours)

The Business Core provides students with a holistic understanding of the underlying business context necessary for succeeding in any industry. The Analytics Core equips students with the general data handling, data presentation and analysis skills. The courses in Applied Business Analytics build from these general skills to improve the students' ability to make decisions in the two focus application areas: marketing and operations.

The overlapping areas emphasize our program's goals:

• Learning the language of business
• Building analytical skills
• Applying appropriate analytical tools to today's business data

The program is delivered through a range of open source and commercial statistical software (e.g., R, Python, SPSS, SAS), preparing students with the necessary user expertise to excel in analyst positions across industries.

Prerequisites

Students are required to have taken two calculus courses at the college level and one course in linear algebra. A course in statistics is strongly preferred.

Curriculum

For more information about this program, visit the website or contact Meredith Richardson, admissions manager, at 216.368.7586.

Master of Engineering and Management (MEM)

The Master of Engineering and Management (MEM) degree is offered through an innovative collaboration between the Case School of Engineering and the Weatherhead School of Management. The one-year, 14-course program of study builds on the technical and analytical skills gained through an undergraduate engineering degree and provides a real-world framework for applying them along with master's level business management tools. Individualized coaching emphasizes self-assessment and emotional intelligence. Interdisciplinary team projects enhance the people skills needed as a business leader today. The MEM program positions students to become more productive faster and, in the process, accelerate their careers. 

Additional information regarding the MEM program is available in the Case School of Engineering section of the Bulletin.

Master of Science in Management-Finance (MSM-Finance)

The Master of Science in Management-Finance (MSM-Finance) degree is a rigorous program designed to equip students to meet the needs of financial sector companies in today's intense and competitive business climate. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to make immediate contributions to careers in corporate finance, investment banking, equity research, investment management, risk management and corporate consulting, or to pursue higher studies.

The program's 30 credit hours can be completed in as little as two semesters, or students can stay longer to work toward an additional nine-credit-hour departmental certification in a specialization track—corporate financial analytics, corporate finance, risk management analytics or financial big data analytics—by taking appropriate additional electives. 

Curriculum

The 30-credit-hour MSM-Finance program is a two-semester, full-time curriculum.

The curriculum is comprised of the following components:

Core Courses

The core courses provide students with the tools and techniques that build a strong foundation in finance.

Before the first fall semester begins, all entering MSM-Finance students must take MSFI 401, Financial Orientation, which is the mandatory preparatory/refresher course.

Track Electives

Track elective courses develop expertise in a particular track: corporate financial analytics, corporate finance, risk management or financial big data. Enrollment in elective courses may be contingent upon appropriate performance in the program. 

Corporate Financial Analytics Track (STEM Eligible)

Corporate Finance Track

Risk Management Analytics Track (STEM Eligible) 

Financial Big Data Analytics Track (STEM Eligible)

Other appropriate electives, as approved by the program faculty director.

Departmental certification is available upon successful completion of 39 credit hours in a specific track.

For more information visit the website or contact Marybeth Keeler, program manager, at 216.368.3688; or Ted Evans, director of admissions, at 216.368.2069.

Finance in China 

The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and the School of Economics and Management at Tongji University (SEM-Tongji) have partnered to offer the Master of Science in Management-Finance (MSM-Finance) in China program. This is the first master’s degree in finance offered by a world-class U.S. university in mainland China. This innovative program, taught in Shanghai and Cleveland, provides students with both broad general management skills and depth of knowledge in finance. Graduates come away with a global way of thinking and the latest insights on the financial markets and instruments.

Students enrolled in this program take 30 credit hours of Weatherhead MSM-Finance courses through two semesters of part-time study on the Tongji University campus in Shanghai, plus a one-month-long residency in the U.S., which includes classes on the Case Western Reserve University campus in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as a residency in New York City to interact with financial institutions on Wall Street.

Upon graduation from the program, students will obtain the MSM-Finance degree from Weatherhead.

Program Features

• Obtain the first MSM-Finance degree offered from a highly ranked U.S. university in mainland China
• Gain cutting-edge knowledge and skills in global finance
• Take advantage of the opportunity to prepare for CFA, FRM and other certifications
• Specialize in corporate finance, risk management and capital markets
• Network with financial sector players in the U.S.; intern in Shanghai’s Lujiazui/Pudong international finance and trade area

To learn more, contact Yuan Wu, project manager, at 216.368.2077.

Master of Science in Management-Healthcare (MSM-Healthcare)

The Master of Science in Management-Healthcare (MSM-Healthcare) program provides rising healthcare professionals with the skills necessary to become effective managers and future healthcare leaders. The MSM-Healthcare program provides foundational training in the essential elements of business management through coursework tailored around the issues and challenges facing modern healthcare organizations. 

Outcomes

In completion of the MSM-Healthcare program, students will:

• Gain a sophisticated understanding of the modern healthcare economy—its players, the incentives those players operate under and the role played by institutions and public policy in shaping those incentives 
• Receive foundational training in essential elements of business management, including accounting, finance, strategy and operations
• Learn to speak and understand the language of business
• Gain exposure to a wide range of established healthcare professionals operating in diverse parts of the healthcare economy
• Acquire a network of regional and national contacts in the healthcare sector 

Curriculum

The MSM-Healthcare is a 30-credit-hour program that is completed in six semesters with one summer semester completely dedicated to an independent project.

The MSM-Healthcare program may also be completed full-time in one year.

Accelerated Curriculum Plan

For additional information about this program, contact Deborah Bibb, assistant dean of admissions, at 216.368.6702.

Master of Science in Management in Operations Research and Supply Chain Management (MSM-ORSC)

The MSM-ORSC degree is designed for individuals with quantitative training who seek to obtain a position in operations management or a management position in manufacturing, healthcare, service or consulting firms that are part of sophisticated national or global supply chains. The MSM-ORSC curriculum provides students with the fundamentals of business as well as depth and focus in the principles and concepts of operations and supply chain management. This unique program produces highly knowledgeable professionals well prepared to make organizations more efficient and competitive.

The MSM-ORSC degree attracts individuals with a quantitative undergraduate degree who have an interest in gaining expertise in the field of operations research and supply chain management. Typical undergraduate majors include:

• Engineering
• Statistics
• Computer science
• Economics
• Mathematics
• Business

Students beginning this program must have a working knowledge of undergraduate calculus, including differentiation and integration, and one semester of undergraduate linear algebra. Work experience is beneficial but not required for admission; many students pursue the MSM-ORSC immediately following the completion of their undergraduate degree.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the MSM-ORSC program, students will:

• Be equipped with analytical and supply chain skills to become an agent of positive change at their organization within the first few years of work
• Speak and understand the language of business
• Have a working knowledge of all functional areas of an organization and the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues in these areas
• Have a network of regional, national and international business contacts

Curriculum

The 39-credit-hour MSM-ORSC is a three-semester, full-time program beginning in the fall semester of each year. The curriculum comprises the following three components:

Business Core (9 credit hours)

The Business Core introduces students to business fundamentals and includes a professional development course, a unique feature of the Weatherhead MSM-ORSC not found in most competitors' programs.

Operations Research Core (12 credit hours)

The Operations Research Core provides the mathematical, statistical and computational skills needed by analysts in research and development groups in manufacturing and service companies and consulting firms.

Supply Chain Courses (18 credit hours)

Supply chain courses build upon the business and quantitative foundation to provide advanced knowledge in operations and supply chain management.

Required:

Elective Options:

Students must choose four departmentally approved elective supply chain courses based on availability, which currently include the following (check with department administrator for current offerings):

For more information, contact George Vairaktarakis, PhD, professor of operations and faculty director of the MSM-ORSC, at 216.368.5215; or Deborah Bibb, assistant dean of admissions, at 216.368.6702.

Master of Science in Positive Organization Development and Change (MPOD)

The Master of Science in Positive Organization Development and Change (MPOD) is the premier program created and offered by the world-renowned Organizational Behavior Department at the Weatherhead School of Management. The curriculum remains on the cutting edge of positive organization development, results-driven change management, leadership development, coaching, gender, diversity and multi-culturalism (inclusive leadership) and interpersonal and team-effectiveness. 

The MPOD program emphasizes strength-based and positive approaches to managing change, designing sustainable institutions, formulating effective strategy, creating high engagement work cultures, leading through emotional intelligence and coaching for high performance and deep personal and professional development. The MPOD program is of value to organizations with aspiring managers who wish to:

• Broaden their knowledge of leading-edge theory and practice in Appreciative Inquiry, strength-based organization development and positive organizational change
• Develop emotional intelligence competencies needed to coach and foster leadership skills and personal growth for oneself and others 
• Form high performance teams and flourishing enterprises that foster economic prosperity, ecological advancement and social responsibility
• Build consultative capabilities in strategic-level change interventions that create value for organizations, customers and communities
• Maximize organizational gains by managing the diversity and complexity that characterize today's organizations
• Engage in lifelong experiential learning to become agents for positive change

The MPOD program is grounded in the basic belief that a person can be a powerful instrument for change, and that personal and professional development go hand in hand. The learning experience enables participants to become more effective at designing and conducting positive change interventions that have much better chances of success than traditional approaches, have experiential opportunities to become more self-aware, practice and experiment with new change management skills and conduct coaching that can be life changing.

Curriculum

The MPOD program is spread over 18 months and conducted in five separate week-long residencies including an international study tour. This residency design makes the program flexible enough to accommodate the busy schedules of leaders, managers and staff professionals, and enables students to attend school while continuing to work full time. The intervening periods (between program residencies) will involve project and group work, self-study, assignments, reading and on-line guidance done in collaboration with the faculty at Case Western Reserve University.

MPOD Residencies

For more information, please visit the website or contact Patricia Petty, associate director, at 216.368.4642.