Major in Decision Sciences

David M. Barrett, Jr., Faculty Adviser

The decision sciences major provides the requisite expertise for analytically oriented careers in business with emphasis on applications of information technology.  Applications of information technology include decision support systems, business intelligence, data mining, and knowledge management.  Analytical areas span data analysis, business modeling, management science, statistical modeling, and financial modeling.  

The mission of this program is to prepare professionals to take on leadership roles in information analysis.  Potenetial career paths include business development, market analysis and research, financial planning, data analysis, operations management, and strategic planning.  M.S. graduates with the decision sciences majors are ideally positioned for careers in any functional area of business that requires business analysis and information technology skills.  

Regulations for the Degree

1. All Master of Science students will complete the Business Communication Skills Requirement explained earlier in this chapter.  The regulations, policies, and procedures given in the "Master's Enrollment" and "Master's Programs" sections in this chapter apply to the M.S./D.Sc program.  A maximum of six hours of transfer credit is permitted in this 30-hour program.
   
2. Course Requirements. The course requirements for the degree of Master of Science with a major in decision sciences and the format of the program follow:
   
   
   1. Foundation Courses. The courses in this section are in addition to the 30 semester hours required for the M.S. degree with a major in decision sciences. They are assigned as part of the admissions process based on a review of each student's transcripts. They can be exempted if equivalent work has been previously completed with minimum grades of C. The foundation courses must be completed as early as possible in the program and, at the latest, before students take their third 8000-level course. See the "Course Descriptions" later in this catalog for descriptions of each graduate course.
      
      Undergraduate foundation course descriptions and prerequisites are shown in the Georgia State University Undergraduate Catalog.  This catalog is available from the Georgia State University Bookstore and on the web at www.gsu.edu; click on Students then Catalogs.
      
      Accounting/Finance: MBA 8121, or financial and managerial accounting principles and corporate finance principles (Acct 2101, Acct 2102, and Fi 3300).
      Behavioral Science: Management principles (Mgt 3500), organizational behavior (Mgt 4010), or marketing principles (Mk 3010).
      Economics: Microeconomics principles (Econ 2106).
      Mathematics: Calculus (Math 1220).
      Statistics: MBA 8011 or Math 1070.
      Management Science: DSc 3120.

2. Course Requirements continued.
   2. Required Courses in the Major (15 hours).
      
      DSc 8020*    Decision Support and Business Intelligence (3)
      DSc 8130*    Problem Solving and Decision-Making Processes (3)
      DSc 8140*    Management Sciences Model Building for Decision Making (3)
      DSc 8240*    Business Modeling for Decision Support Systems (3)
      DSc 8450    Statistical Modeling (3)
      
      *Students who have completed DSc 4020, DSc 4120, DSc 4130, and/or DSc 4240 or their equivalents will replace DSc 8020, DSc 8120, DSc 8130, and/or DSc 8240 (as appropriate) with other 8000-level decision sciences courses selected from section C below in consultation with the decision sciences faculty adviser.
   
   
   
   3. Electives in the major (9 hours)
      
      Select three courses from the following list:
      DSc 8030    Knowledge Management (3) (Same as CIS 8260.)
      DSc 8200    Business Forecasting Methods (3)
      DSc 8300    Applied Regression Analysis (3)
      DSc 8330    Data Mining (3)
      DSc 8350    Risk/Benefit Analysis (3)
      DSc 8760    Statistical Quality Assurance (3)
      DSc 8780    Knowledge-based Decision Support Systems (3)
      ECm 8400    e-Supply Chain Management (3)
      Mgt 8440    Work Team Design and Development (3)
      Mgt 8550    Applications of Simulation in Management (3)
      Mgt 8560    Principles of Quality Management (3)
      Mgt 8580    Project Management (3)
   
   
   
   4. Application Area (6 hours). The student selects, with the approval of the faculty adviser, two related courses outside decision sciences. The application area may be in a traditional business function, such as finance, operations, or marketing, or it may be some other coherent interdisciplinary course grouping that defines the student's area of interest.



3. Program of Study. Each student's program must be planned in consultation with the faculty adviser in decision sciences and a copy of the program filed with the Office of Academic Assistance and Master's Admissions for review and approval. Progress toward the degree, including clearance for graduation, cannot be confirmed without an approved program of study. The program of study should be planned before the student takes a non-required course. Any changes in the program must be approved by the faculty adviser and a copy of the changes sent to the OAA.
   
   Students always must consult the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog to determine if they have met the prerequisites for any course to be taken.



4. The time limit for completing the M.S./D.Sc. is five years from the first semester a course in section B, C, or D (above) is taken.