Indiana University East’s first cohort in the Master of Science in Management program began this weekend. The School of Business and Economics welcomed 22 graduate students to the program. Students will meet on weekends during the next 15 months to complete the program.

Fredricka Joyner, director of the M.S. in Management and an associate professor of business administration and organization behavior, said students in the program bring a diverse background in undergraduate education, careers, employers or working in the nonprofit or for-profit sectors.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with this first cohort. It’s a fabulous group of students who will bring a lot of different perspectives,” Joyner said.

The M.S. in Management is distinguished from a Master of Business Administration by its special focus on organizational management, strategic thinking, and leadership skills, and is open to graduates from any bachelor’s degree program who meet the other qualifications.

The program is designed for individuals who have at least two years of work experience and who are current or emerging leaders in area organizations.

Carol Wels of Liberty, Ind., recently moved back to the United States after living in Germany for the past 21 years as a civilian employee with the military. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Tourism degree from Indiana University Bloomington, Wels went to Germany through an internship with the military and stayed on through various positions including recreation, marketing, and fitness.

Wels currently works at the Union County Foundation. She said the master’s program appealed to her as a way to reorient herself to the community and to the skills she has already established.

“I think this master’s program for me will be good way to tie all of those skills together,” Wels said.

Adam McQueen of Richmond is also a member of the first cohort; McQueen works for the Wayne County Probation Department.

“The broadness of the degree is what appealed to me. We all come from different backgrounds in our careers. This program will be applicable to so many things that we do,” McQueen said.

The second cohort will begin in August 2012.

For more information about the Master of Science in Management, contact the School of Business and Economics at (765) 973-8366 or go online to iue.edu/management.