UMPI Master of Science in Business and Master of AI Management Proposals

[Jonathan Whatley]

I'm wondering if it's most likely to launch later this year, possibly Fall 1, or if next year is more likely.

President Rice stated in December that the MSB is expected to launch in Fall 2025.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

I'm wondering if it's most likely to launch later this year, possibly Fall 1, or if next year is more likely.

President Rice stated in December that the MSB is expected to launch in Fall 2025.

This is great news and I'm glad to see UMPI expand their masters programs. I think UMPI has been in great hands thus far with President Rice in its leadership capacity. He's an awesome guy to talk to too (he complimented my UMPI tie at graduation and we talked for a little bit about just how excellent the YourPace program has been). Competency/Proficiency Based Education at UMPI is truly something for other schools to model off of and I'm so glad I made the switch from WGU to UMPI as I feel like I took so much more away from it knowledge-wise.

Another thing I am curious to know if they'll allow others who have completed the BABA and or MAOL at UMPI to transfer credits towards their new program.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Update: A January 17 press release from UMPI states the Master of Science in Business program "is slated to begin in September 2025 during the Fall 1 YourPace session; applications will be accepted starting in July."

It states these concentrations are expected to be available at that time, with the remaining seven concentrations being rolled out in later sessions:

• Communication Management
  
• Entrepreneurship
  
• Human Resource Management
  

This is a change from the December meeting, at which time the anticipated first three concentrations were Finance, Supply Chain Management, and Human Resource Management.

All ten concentrations identified in December are still identified as upcoming now, except that one concentration title has been changed from "Communication" to "Communication Management."

[Samhain408]

Update: A January 17 press release from UMPI states the Master of Science in Business program "is slated to begin in September 2025 during the Fall 1 YourPace session; applications will be accepted starting in July."

It states these concentrations are expected to be available at that time, with the remaining seven concentrations being rolled out in later sessions:

• Communication Management
  
• Entrepreneurship
  
• Human Resource Management
  

This is a change from the December meeting, at which time the anticipated first three concentrations were Finance, Supply Chain Management, and Human Resource Management.

All ten concentrations identified in December are still identified as upcoming now, except that one concentration title has been changed from "Communication" to "Communication Management."

This is disappointing because none of those concentrations are particularly useful for me. They don't really align with the degrees offered at UMPI for undergrad. Project Management, Supply Chain and Finance should have been the first 3 degrees since they have 3 BBA concentrations that align with those ( Accounting, Supply Chain, Project Management)

[ss20ts]

This is disappointing because none of those concentrations are particularly useful for me. They don't really align with the degrees offered at UMPI for undergrad. Project Management, Supply Chain and Finance should have been the first 3 degrees since they have 3 BBA concentrations that align with those ( Accounting, Supply Chain, Project Management)

They could be going with these concentrations first because they don't have an undergrad program that is 100% related. They could be trying to entice other U of M grads. They could have the staff needed for these programs available and not the others.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Update: A January 17 press release from UMPI states the Master of Science in Business program "is slated to begin in September 2025 during the Fall 1 YourPace session; applications will be accepted starting in July."

It states these concentrations are expected to be available at that time, with the remaining seven concentrations being rolled out in later sessions:

• Communication Management
  
• Entrepreneurship
  
• Human Resource Management
  

This is disappointing because none of those concentrations are particularly useful for me. They don't really align with the degrees offered at UMPI for undergrad. Project Management, Supply Chain and Finance should have been the first 3 degrees since they have 3 BBA concentrations that align with those ( Accounting, Supply Chain, Project Management)

When you look at the proposed MSB Communication Management concentration course list, you'll see some alignment with Marketing:

• Strategic Business Communication
  
• Digital and Social Media Marketing
  
• Crisis Communication and Management
  
• Cross-Cultural Communication in Business
  
• Internal Communication Strategies
  
• Business Communication and Public Speaking
  

And on the flip side, it's possible course development for an MSB concentration in HR Management could contribute to developing a new BABA concentration in HR Management, for example. That would be a gain to the BABA program.

[Samhain408]

This is disappointing because none of those concentrations are particularly useful for me. They don't really align with the degrees offered at UMPI for undergrad. Project Management, Supply Chain and Finance should have been the first 3 degrees since they have 3 BBA concentrations that align with those ( Accounting, Supply Chain, Project Management)

They could be going with these concentrations first because they don't have an undergrad program that is 100% related. They could be trying to entice other U of M grads. They could have the staff needed for these programs available and not the others.

That may be true but I'd personally rather have the MAOL instead of one of those concentrations. Unless you work in HR the HR concentration is useless. Communications is probably the worst business degree to get from any school and Entrepreneurship is useless unless it's from Stanford, Berkeley or Harvard since that is where all the Venture Capitalist go to recruit. I understand why they might have chose these 3 but it still doesn't make a lot of sense. The majority of the first few cohorts will be returning UMPI students. I think that's who should have been catered to. I think I will do the 6 core classes all concentrations need and wait for the better concentrations to become available.

[ss20ts]

There are MANY entrepreneurs who have never set foot anywhere near Stanford, Berkley, or Harvard. Communications as subject is going through a transition. Marketing, social media, and digital advertising are now part of communications programs at many colleges. Plenty of people have taken courses and hold degrees in subjects which are useless. I mean I took a class on stained glass making and received college credit for it! I also took a PE course in walking. I literally spent a semester taking a 20 minute walk twice a week and received college credit for it. I have taken HR courses and have no deserve to work in HR but I learned something from it.

[Samhain408]

There are MANY entrepreneurs who have never set foot anywhere near Stanford, Berkley, or Harvard. Communications as subject is going through a transition. Marketing, social media, and digital advertising are now part of communications programs at many colleges. Plenty of people have taken courses and hold degrees in subjects which are useless. I mean I took a class on stained glass making and received college credit for it! I also took a PE course in walking. I literally spent a semester taking a 20 minute walk twice a week and received college credit for it. I have taken HR courses and have no deserve to work in HR but I learned something from it.

A course here and there are fine. I took history of infectious diseases for my BLS. But this is half of your degree. If you look at the curriculum. Half of your degree is your concentration. Your concentration should be something that is going to help you advance your career if it's going to be half of the course work you take. Also you don't need a degree to start a Business. I owned a plumbing company that brought in millions of dollars a year without a degree. Typically Entrepreneurship degrees or concentrations are for people who want to get into or interact with VC companies and that's best done at a top 20 college.

[Jonathan Whatley]

While they know YourPace has national and international reach, local and regional needs in Northern Maine and Maine generally are also important in UMPI's planning. Notably, small and medium enterprises are important to Maine's economy.