Indiana University East first graduating cohort in the Master of Science in Management program will receive their diplomas during the 42nd Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 10. The M.S.M program is a part of the School of Business and Economics.

The cohort – composed of 18 graduate students – began coursework in January 2012 and met on weekends during the next 15 months to complete the program. Students in the cohort come from nine different undergraduate majors and 10 different organization or business backgrounds.

“We are so excited to send our first cohort of masters-prepared graduates out into the region. Their graduation is the culmination of years of dreaming, work and planning by many people at IU East and our partners throughout the region,” said Fredricka Joyner, director of the Graduate Program and an associate professor of business administration and organization behavior.

The M.S.M. is designed for employed professionals seeking a graduate-level business degree. This graduate degree provides a highly interactive learning environment that includes analysis, communication, leadership, and innovative thinking. The learning outcomes are designed to help individuals sharpen their entrepreneurial and leadership skills to take their careers to the next level. This is accomplished through focused self-assessment, project-based learning and peer interaction.

Adam McQueen of Richmond works as an adult probation officer for the Wayne County Probation Department. He was attracted to the M.S.M. program not only for the cost and convenience but also because he felt it could help him become a more well-rounded person.

“Specifically, my bachelor’s degree was in criminal justice and I could have very easily gotten a master’s degree in the same field, but I did not want that. I wanted something different and did not know what that was until I entered this program,” McQueen said. “The reach of this degree is expansive. The themes and content of this program are applicable to almost any field.”

Amy Houpey, of Liberty, Ind., received her undergraduate degree from IU East. She said the time frame for the program was appealing because she was not looking for a program that would take years to complete. She works for McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital in Oxford, Ohio.

“The M.S.M. program has given me the tools I needed to advance my leadership skills. In addition, I have further developed my technical skills, presentation skills, and communication skills,” Houpey said.

Phil Williamson of Aurora, Ind., matriculated to the graduate program after completing his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2010 through IU East’s off-campus program in Lawrenceburg. He said IU East’s program appealed to him because of the cohort structure, which was similar to his undergraduate experience, and feels this structure is the most effective method of education.

The program, from the beginning, also provided Williamson with tools he could use at his job as a maintenance coordinator for Duke Energy.

“I left this program with so many memorable experiences that to name one that is more significant than another would be very difficult. I will always look back and cherish my time in this program. What I hold of most value, is the incredible relationships that were built with my fellow classmates and faculty members,” Williamson said.

Currently, the M.S.M cohort is accepting applications for its third cohort to begin August 2013.

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