Curriculum

*Does not meet full-time requirements for F1 student visa
**3 On-Campus Residencies, 18 Saturday Sessions, 2 Friday-Saturday sessions. See program diagram below

The Executive M.S. in Technology Management is a 16 month executive format program framed by three residencies in New York City. The curriculum includes core courses, elective courses, executive seminars, and the Master’s Project. Activities during the three 4 to 5 day residencies connect directly to the other program components. Throughout the program, coursework is supported by a cutting edge online learning platform designed to enhance and extend the face to face classroom experience. Therefore, full participation is critical for degree completion.

This diagram illustrates the program's timeline and sequence of residencies and courses (click to enlarge).

Core Courses

Core courses ground students theoretically, calling on them to consider from varied perspectives the key issues that technology poses to senior managers, equipping students with the tools they need to be effective managers. Case studies sharpen analytical skills and teach students to develop concrete solutions to challenges drawn from the workplace.

Electives

Electives offer students the opportunity to supplement their knowledge with courses designed expressly for the Executive Technology Management program as well as appropriate courses from other schools and departments of the University.

The Master's Project & Executive Seminars

The Master’s Project demonstrates students’ command of the best practices of executive-level technology management by presenting a technology-based response—usually in the form of a product or service—to a complex, real-world business challenge, objective, or scenario. Ideas are devised for the Master’s Project at the beginning of the program. Then work with the one-on-one mentor begins executive mentor to develop and strengthen the idea into a project plan that will ultimately produce a complete and entirely portable professional asset.

The projects are based on real-world business opportunities or challenges and are often centered on a business scenario the student knows firsthand from his or her own professional experience. Over the course of the program, and in partnership with the program’s community of faculty, peers, and industry leaders, students research, develop, test, and refine their solutions. The project will address the key components of technology management: product realization, strategic planning and marketing, and operations management.

Beginning in the second academic term, executive mentors “draft” students on the basis of their Master’s Projects. Typically, selections are based on his or her interest in, or experience with, the topic, industry, or challenge proposed in the project.

The master’s project is supported by monthly full-day Executive Seminars that take place on residential Saturdays. During the seminars, students work together to address difficult technology issues, examine new concepts, and develop and analyze methods for approaching the challenges in their master’s projects –central concepts, techniques, and stages of product development. The seminars immerse students in the world of high level technology management, taught by multiple instructors, all of whom are industry experts.

After each executive seminar, mentors review and discuss the progress of the project with the student, offering the opportunity to seek advice about any aspect of the project, from logistical business concerns to strategies for presentation and defense of the project before the review panel.

The mentor approaches and critiques the master’s project from the perspective of a seasoned executive, providing business context, identifying practical problems, honing solutions, challenging assumptions, offering guidance and contacts, and managing expectations. Meetings with mentors simulate the real-world experience of working out complex solutions with a senior colleague.

Residencies

The residencies offer the opportunity to get to know fellow students, receive individual coaching from faculty, and network with leaders in the field. Each of the three residencies is anchored by core course requirements. Between each residency students will attend class on designated Saturdays as well as several Fridays (including summer).

First residency, August 21-25, 2013
Wednesday through Sunday just prior to the start of the fall semester

Second residency, January 16-19, 2014
Thursday through Sunday at the start of the spring semester

Third residency, August 21-24, 2014
Thursday through Sunday just prior to the start of the fall semester

The online component of the program is a highly interactive experience that uses the School's innovative distance learning platform. Students and faculty communicate through a unique social networking function in ways that extend and enhance the impact of traditional learning experiences. Courses are flexible by design, and include a combination of live events, asynchronous community-driven activities and self-study. The online component as well as the additional Friday and Saturday sessions are separate from and do not substitute for the in-person residencies.

Detailed Residencies Overview

Residency 1: August, 2013 (August 21-25)
Students gather at Columbia for an intensive 4.5 day residency (Wednesday through Sunday) on the Columbia Campus. Instructional hours for Core 1 courses will begin, complemented by additional residency activities designed to immerse all participants in a collaborative exploration of technology leadership roles and their importance to organizations. Residency activities will involve the active participation of faculty, outside industry experts, selected program mentors, and alumni.

On-Campus Saturday sessions for fall 2013 term

• September 7
• October 5
• October 26
• November 16
• December 14

Residency 2: January, 2014 (January 16-19)

Students gather at Columbia for a 3.5 day residency (Thursday through Sunday) on the Columbia Campus. Instructional hours for Core 3 and Core 4 courses as well as Seminar 1 will begin, again complemented by additional residency activities designed to continue the collaborative process begun during the first residency.

On-Campus Saturday sessions for spring 2014 term

• February 15
• March 8
• April 5
• April 26
• May 17
• June 7 (Defense #1, individual appointments)

Summer Sessions (May 28-August 9)

Over the summer term, students select two elective courses that focus on areas of specific relevance to their work and career. Students may take these courses on the Columbia campus or online, depending on which courses they select. Additionally, students will continue to work on their Master's Projects and enroll in Seminar 2, which will meet on campus over the course of three Friday/Saturday combination sessions in June, July, and August.

On-Campus Friday/Saturday sessions for summer 2014 term

• June 20-21
• July 11-12
• August 8 (Friday)
• August 9 (Defense #2, individual appointments)

Residency 3: August 2014 (August 21-24)


Students gather at Columbia for a final Thursday through Sunday (ends at 1PM) residency on the Columbia Campus. Instructional hours for Core 5 and Core 6 courses as well as Seminar 3 will begin, again complemented by relevant residency activities designed to continue the collaborative process begun during the first residency and to provide guidance for the completion of the Masters Project.

On-Campus Friday/Saturday sessions for fall 2014 term

• September 20
• October 18
• November 8
• December 12 (Friday)
• December 13 (Defense #3, individual appointments)

Program Completion

In order to receive the M.S. degree, students must complete the requirements during the 16 month span of the Executive program, with an overall grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better. The 36 point program is composed of eight 3-point courses and three 4-point Executive Seminars.