Could you please draw the following courses to the attention of anyone who
might be interested.
UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE
BUSINESS SCHOOL
MSc/PgDip in DECISION SCIENCES
MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (subject to validation)
OPERATIONAL RESEARCH
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Full-time and part-time study routes available
Further details
===============
Scheme tutor: Neil Spencer (e-mail: [log in to unmask])
Web pages: http://www.herts.ac.uk/extrel/PGP/business/DecisionSci.html
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MSc Decision Sciences, Management Science,
Operational Research, Information Systems
This suite of MSc courses shares a common set of initial modules. Your
choice of routes which follow on from the start of these may be delayed
until you start your part two modules.
With a climate of changing organisational practices, these schemes recognise
the importance not only of encountering the latest methods and techniques,
but also of seeing such activities in the context of the decision making
process which they are trying to influence. All three routes focus on
understanding and influencing decision making in business, government and
other organisations and are specifically aimed at anyone with a science,
social science, economics or engineering background wishing to go into
business and apply modal building techniques in business.
MSc Decision Sciences Route
===========================
This route concentrates on understanding and influencing decision makers and
processes in organisations. It aims to extend significantly the ideas in the
initial common modules by taking both systems and behavioural perspectives.
Methods for generating understanding and consensus on change are a major
feature of this programme. For this pathway you must take part two courses
on Problem Structuring methods and Decision Implementation, plus two options.
MSc Management Science Route (subject to validation)
====================================================
This route concentrates on those aspects which are at the heart of modern
business practices: systems, information technology and quantitative
methods. It aims to show how scientific methods can be used in management to
improve efficiency and performance. For this pathway you must take part two
courses in Buniness Forecasting, Problem Structuring Methods, Simulation
plus Advanced Operational Research Techniques or Decision Implementation.
MSc Operational Research Route
==============================
This route concentrates on the role of modelling in understanding the causes
of, and potential solutions to, problem and decision situations. The aim is
the creation of improvement through reflection on and knowledge if the
structure of the processes and systems of which the problem or decision is
part. For this pathway you must take part two courses in Advanced OR
Methods, Business Forecasting, Simulation, plus one option.
MSc Information Systems Route
=============================
The route concentrates on the modern computing/IT tools which will improve
the efficiency of the decision makers and the decision making process. A
particular feature is a thorough consideration within the context of the
strategic management process of the role and capability of information
systems in achieving strategic advantage. For this pathway you must take
part two courses in Advanced Decision Support and Expert Systems, Relational
Database Systems, Strategic Advantage and Information Technology, plus one
option.
Overall Aim
===========
Our overall aim with these schemes is to meet your needs, equipping you with:
l. practical skills of problem recognition and system structuring and
modelling;
2. design capabilities for information and decision support systems;
3. strong interpersonal skills;
4. sound project and account management skills.
We do this by offering you:
l. a balance between controlled and structured teaching and a high degree
of self-managed learning;
2. courses which require you to spend substantial amounts of time outside
the teaching sessions on background reading, preparation for classes,
exploration of areas of the syllabus which will not feature in the
formal scheduled teaching and undertaking practical work to consolidate
newly introduced concepts;
3. the ability to attend as a full-time or part-time student;
4. the opportunity to work with other course members in syndicate groups.
You will be expected and encouraged to participate actively in these
groups outside scheduled teaching times;
5. a team of experienced staff whose aim is to stimulate your interest,
enabling you to achieve success.
Programme Structure
===================
This programme operates in two parts. Part One courses operate in Semester
A, the first half of the academic year and Part Two courses operate in
Semester B, the second half of the academic year. Your final choice of route
may be delayed until you start your Part Two modules. Part Two contains
specialist courses for each subject area and a dissertation.
A student studying over a two year period would typically take 2 Part One
courses and 2 Part Two courses in the first year of study (i.e. 2 courses in
each semester) and the same in the second year of study to make up the total
of 4 Part One courses and 4 Part Two courses. Students studying over a
longer period of time have an increased flexibility. It is of prime
importance that students make their choice of modules such that (i) when
embarking on a Part Two course they have already studied any prerequisite
course, (ii) courses that are left for study in future years will be running
in time slots that the student will be able to attend.
To be eligible for the award of MSc you must successfully complete courses
worth 120 credit points (8 taught courses worth 15 credit points each) and a
project (worth 60 credit points). To be eligible for the award of a
Postgraduate Diploma you must successfully complete courses worth 120 credit
points. To be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate you must
successfully complete courses worth 60 credit points.
Start Date and Location
=======================
Late September, Business School, Hertford Campus
Entry Requirements
==================
An honours degree or equivalent, normally including some study of both
business or information systems, and quantitative methods or operational
research. Students with suitable backgrounds in business studies, social
sciences, mathematics, engineering, and science, but without the relevant
study may be considered.
Study Route
===========
Full-Time: One year for MSc, nine months for Postgraduate Diploma and
Postgraduate Certificate.
Part-Time: Over a two year period. This will consist of one afternoon and
evening, plus one other evening in the first year. Your
attendance in the second year will depend on your subject area
and your options studied. You may also study at a slower rate:
the maximum study period is five years for the MSc, four years
for the Postgraduate Diploma and 3 years for the Postgraduate
Certificate.
Dissertation and Research Methods course
========================================
A student studying over a two year period will typically undertake their
dissertation in the second year of their studies. For students intending to
complete their studies over a longer period of time, the dissertation will
typically be undertaken in their final year. For example, a student studying
over three years may complete their taught courses in two years and leave
the dissertation until the third year or may carry out the dissertation at
the same time as finishing off their taught courses in their third year.
The Research Methods course runs in Semester A. It is not formally assessed
as other modules are, but is indirectly assessed through the dissertation.
It is recommended that students attend this course in the year in which they
are planning to carry out their dissertation.
Prospectus and Application Form
===============================
For a university postgraduate prospectus and application form please contact
Central Admissions Office, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane,
Hatfield, Herts., AL10 9AB. Tel: 01707 284800, Fax: 01707 284870
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Dr Neil H Spencer,
Senior Lecturer in Statistics,
Department of Economics, Statistics and Decision Sciences,
University of Hertfordshire,
Hertford Campus, Mangrove Road,
Hertford, SG13 8QF,
ENGLAND.
Telephone: +44 1707 285529
Fax: +44 1707 285489
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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