UMPI Master of Science in Business

[Jonathan Whatley]

[Update in July 2025: The Master of Science in Business landing page is now up, describing the first three concentrations noted below and accepting applications for courses starting in Fall 2025.]

The University of Maine at Presque Isle's proposal to add a Master of Science in Business (MSB) program by the YourPace competency-based education modailty is advancing through the University of Maine System. The proposal was approved by the Academic & Student Affairs Committee of the UMS Board of Trustees on December 16. The next step will be approval by the full UMS Board of Trustees on January 12-13. [Update: That approval was granted.]

A UMPI press release states these first three concentrations "are expected to be offered when MSB classes start in Fall 2025, and the remaining concentrations will roll out in future sessions:"

• Communication [name was changed at launch from the name during planning, Communication Management]
  
• Entrepreneurship
  
• Human Resource Management
  

In the December meeting, President Rice stated the remaining concentrations are expected to become available in the next 18 months after that:

• Business Intelligence
  
• Finance
  
• Supply Chain Management
  
• Corporate Social Responsibility
  
• Global Business Management
  
• Healthcare Management
  
• Project Management
  

[Edit: In a later meeting, one other future concentration was discussed:

• Artificial Intelligence Policy and Strategy (it seems likely the Master of Artificial Intelligence Management proposed separately earlier has been repositioned into an MSB concentration)]
  

All students would complete core courses in:

• Managerial Accounting and Finance
  
• Strategic Leadership
  
• Business Analytics and Decision Support Systems
  
• Sustainability, Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
  
• Change Management and Organizational Adaptation 
  

The teaching staff will include existing faculty at UMPI and the University of Maine at Fort Kent, including two new full-time faculty at UMPI, one hired already, one hiring upcoming.

The proposal is available on pages 5 to 48 of the pdf pagination in this set of documents prepared for the December 16 meeting. Note that since preparation of that plan, the anticipated launch of the MSB was pushed to Fall 2025, not Spring 2025. The meeting is available on YouTube: the section discussing the MSB runs from 12:07 to 49:46 here.

[bjcheung77]

Basically, I really like the way UMPI setup their programs, even though this is very similar to the MBA with concentrations, they're naming it differently to MSB. Not everyone is looking for the generic MBA, this will allow people who want something most similar to the MBA to have concentrations in other fields. People who go for the MAOL may want to go for this MSB afterwards if you can finish in one session!

[Avidreader]

So, is this healthcare administration masters the same as a regular MHA? Because I am already 25% into that specific degree and wonder how much overlap it has.

[Jonathan Whatley]

So, is this healthcare administration masters the same as a regular MHA? Because I am already 25% into that specific degree and wonder how much overlap it has.

The pdf linked in the OP (this one) includes proposed course descriptions for the MSB core and each concentration. The core courses begin on p. 22, the Healthcare Management concentration courses on p. 42 of the pdf pagination.

[Avidreader]

Thanks for sharing! The courses are quite different from the ones I have taken. More focus on Ethics and Finances and less more clinical courses like Public Health. Both degrees have a Leadership class. Looks promising and I bet lots of people will sign up.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

This is great news! I am interested in seeing what would transfer into the Master of Science in Business for those that completed the MAOL through UMPI. I also wonder if some of my doctoral courses would transfer towards it. I have been very impressed with UMPI so far. I recently did the Financial Management course at UMPI with Dr. Trudel and he mentioned to me during the Fall Semester that both this and the AI Management path were pending. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that he said he helped develop the curriculum behind some of them. I am however looking forward towards UMPI's upcoming Computer Science major as well. If they keep this up, I foresee UMPI's enrollment to exponentially increase - I look forward to what 2025 has to offer students!

[ss20ts]

Good to see more master's are coming soon! It took 114 years for UMPI to offer their first master's. I was really hoping it wouldn't take another 114 years for another one. Not an MBA but I didn't expect one because I was told by several people at UMPI that they do not want to cannibalize the MBA program already in the U of M system. It's great to see multiple master's in business with a variety of concentrations. I hope they add more bachelor's degrees and certificates in the future as well.

[SpartacusPM]

This sounds promising. I might have to look into this once the program goes live.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

Now I'm curious if some of the courses I've been taking at TESU's DBA program could be transferred towards the MSB program here at UMPI. I'll have to wait until after the holiday season for anyone to review these transcripts.

[ss20ts]

Now I'm curious if some of the courses I've been taking at TESU's DBA program could be transferred towards the MSB program here at UMPI. I'll have to wait until after the holiday season for anyone to review these transcripts.

The MSB is not live yet and won't be for many months. Looks like it's coming Fall 2025. That could change. I don't think they could evaluate transcripts for the degree until it's announced. They are probably still working on the details of the degree.