Sarah Davies, Staff Writer
Merrimack’s growing graduate programs have become an important focus for the college.
The only graduate program previously offered by Merrimack was in the School of Education which offered multiple licensing programs approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. There are currently 200 students currently enrolled in this master’s program, explained assistant dean and chair of graduate programs, Theresa Kirk.
Kirk has served as assistant dean at Merrimack since 2009.
The School of Education has been approved for accreditation, and thus has expanded its licensure and non-licensure programs. These programs focus on obtaining a master’s degree in second education, master’s in reading, early childhood, dual licensing in special and elementary education, and English language learners. The two newest programs include higher education and community engagement.
The full-tuition fellowship programs through the School of Education engage students to work directly at a school, college, or nonprofit organization gaining hands-on experience, while also taking graduate courses at Merrimack. Graduates will earn their master’s in one year and receive a stipend while enrolled in the program.
“Merrimack provides a wonderful opportunity for those who do not want to drive to Boston with a small class and practitioners who have worked many years in schools as administrators and teachers,” said Kirk. “The fellowship program at Merrimack has expanded its offerings to charter schools and Catholic schools providing a wide audience and school districts within a 50-mile radius.”
These seven chosen areas of educational studies are further explained on the Merrimack website under “Graduate Programs,” along with course schedules and the cost of attending.
Within the past couple of weeks, Merrimack has expanded its master’s program to not only include education, but engineering, and most recently, a master of science in management for business students which will launch this fall.
The master of science in management is a business management program designed to prepare graduates for leadership positions and be creative thinkers and integrate integrity and responsibility into their everyday lives, according to college officials. The business environment can be a vast and complex place; therefore this management program helps prepare students for making managerial decisions and gaining skills to be used in finance, marketing, management, and global economics.
All courses in the master of science in management program aim to provide teaching methods that emphasize on applications of business knowledge and specific areas of management. Leadership electives are offered for a total of four credits for two chosen classes. These electives include personal leadership, leading effective teams, leading organizational change, and leading creativity and innovation in organizations.
Girard School of Business Program Coordinator Leticia Porter explained, “The master of science in management is intended to give our students an edge in the marketplace for entry level jobs, and hopefully also improve the student’s earning potential.”
In order to obtain their master’s, students must complete 32 credit hours. No prerequisites are required to enter the program, but it is recommended that students take a statistics or economics course prior to entry if they have no already in their undergraduate business courses. The courses required for the master of science in management include marketing analysis and decision making, global economy, and effective managerial communication, to name a few.
Applicants interested in this program must have a GPA greater or equal to 2.75; no GMAT is required.
Those interested in either of these two approved programs can stop by the Education Department in Austin Hall or O’Reilly’s fourth floor to speak with Porter.
