Simon Business School Just Elevated Their MS Programs

Rochester Simon’s campus- courtesy photo

The University of Rochester’s Simon Business School just unveiled some key enhancements to their full-time MS programs. These updates bring even more AI and technology content, reduced tuition, a shortened degree completion time, and even more specializations and experiential learning opportunities.

AI IN MS CURRICULUM

Simon’s been steadily riding the AI wave since the beginning. Rather than resisting, they’ve made an informed decision to embrace the AI continuum, using the new technology as a university-wide learning opportunity.

The school launched their generative AI initiative shortly after OpenAI ‘s debut of ChatGPT.

Simon students on campus – courtesy photo

“As the faculty and dean’s office started experimenting with generative AI, we recognized that this technology was really transformative,” says Simon’s Dean, Sevin Yeltekin.

Along with adding their new Artificial Intelligence in Business MS program, they’re ramping up AI experiences across the board in their other four MS programs – the MS in Accountancy, MS in Artificial Intelligence in Business, MS in Business Analytics, MS in Finance, and MS in Marketing Analytics.

‘RELEVANT AND VALUABLE’

Recognizing that AI’s neural network reaches most businesses in some fashion, Simon has interwoven AI practice throughout their MS curriculum even in courses without a tech title.

“We see these technological advances, and our goal is to give the greatest value and the most cutting-edge education to our students,” says Yeltekin. “We want to think about what’s relevant in our curriculum and what’s going to bring value to our students.”

They’ve also incorporated more experiential learning into their programs in a win-win for both students and the industry. In the classroom, major companies solve their current problems in conjunction with Simon students who gain exposure using their established and newly learned skills.

MORE EXPERIENCES, FLEXIBILITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY

By way of supporting more flexibility, Simon has also recently removed their pre-program micro-semester.

“The micro-semester was designed to serve certain needs, but it had made it difficult for students who had internships coming into the program to make their exit and start their MS programs, and it was adding another six weeks to the program,” says Yeltekin. “Now, students can complete their MS in just two semesters.”

Simon students on campus – courtesy photo

In the same vein, they’ve examined the core requirements of the MS programs and restructured them to allow for greater degree customization. Additionally, to make the MS programs more accessible, they’ve reduced tuition.

“We reduced the tuition for the MS programs by $10,000 or more compared to our historic tuition rates,” shares Yeltekin.

All-in-all, Simon’s inspiration for change was a collaborative effort in workshopping ideas within faculty, students, the dean’s office, professors and the industry to maintain the most relevant and valuable MS programs they can offer.

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