What will I study?
Students in the MSIM program progress through the curriculum as a cohort, taking all courses in Jabs Hall 207—the Risa K. Scott Collaboration Lab. This STEM-designated degree is completed over two semesters, each comprising 15 graduate-level credits. Courses focus on experiential learning, networking opportunities, and practical application of the material.
Fall Semester: 15 credits
BGEN 510 Innovation Sprint I, 1 credit
Students will be introduced to a dynamic real-world business problem that must be solved with a cross-functional team in a compressed amount of time and briefed to senior leadership. This will be completed in five consecutive days and include: introductory modules, a presentation of a problem by the founder/leader of a portfolio company, team research, ideation, Q&A sessions, in-progress reports, analysis, coaching, pitch preparation, and formal presentations to the leadership board on the final day. The course will culminate with after action reviews by both the individuals the following week to reflect, analyze, and understand lessons learned.
BMKT 580 New Product Innovation, 3 credits
Students begin the course by learning market research, customer input, and consumer behavior. Interdisciplinary teams will integrate with learning from other first-semester courses for the development of a new product concept, identification of target markets, assessment of competing products, and identifying distribution channels. The student teams formally present their concepts at the end of the semester and develop effective techniques to present to senior management and/or prospective investors.
BMGT 535 Applied Data Analytics, 3 credits
This course emphasizes the practical application of information technology to improve business efficiency and effectiveness. The course emphasizes both analyses of raw data and introduction to common business data analysis platforms. Descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics will be covered, along with practical exercises.
BMGT 570 Leading for Influence, 3 credits
Students learn the basic concepts of leadership, management, and teamwork. The course will introduce concepts such as motivation, leadership, teamwork, organizational design, and diversity. Students will learn the impact of personality styles, the essentials of emotional competence, and the value of self-awareness. Leadership and cognitive styles will be covered, and cognitive biases will be introduced, demonstrated, and discussed. Practical skills will be developed in giving and receiving feedback, fostering individual and team creativity, and communicating to inspire and influence without authority.
BFIN 530 Accounting and Finance for the Entrepreneur, 3 credits
This course is focused on analyzing the financial aspects of a new venture. Emphasis is on financial forecasting and access to funding. Topics include strategic financing, financing alternatives, financial contracting, venture valuation, cash flow projection, capital budgeting, capital structure, and risk-sharing. the course revolves around cases and culminates in a capstone project consisting of a complete business plan for an innovative new product or service.
BGEN 520 Life Design and Career Development, 2 credits
This course is a core foundation of the MSIM’s goal of developing the whole individual. A key differentiator in any organizational environment is the criticality of personal and professional growth: understanding our personal core values, developing as a leader and a contributor, defining career aspirations, building networks, continuing the process of learning, identifying industries and organizations that fuel and fulfill our passion, and developing as an individual that continues to learn, grow, and progress over the course of a career and life. Students will gain hands-on experience through either a service project or an internship.
Spring Semester: 15 credits
BGEN 515 Innovation Sprint II, 1 credit
Students will continue to advance their business acumen from the fall courses and Innovation Sprint I. Students will again take on an intensive, real-world business challenge in collaboration with their cross-functional team and present a solution to the company’s senior leadership team at the end of the week. The following week, students will participate in structured after-action reviews, individually reflecting on lessons learned, analyzing outcomes, and identifying strategies for future growth.
BMKT 585 New Product Introduction, 3 credits
Students continue to improve upon work done in the first semester. The student teams formally present their concepts at the end of the semester and develop effective techniques to present to senior management and/or prospective investors in a pitch competition.
BMGT 565 Operations and Supply Chain Management, 3 credits
This course introduces students to state-of-the-art techniques to design, control, and manage supply chain systems. Students learn how companies use mathematical, scientific, and statistical methods, models, and principles to make strategic operations and supply chain decisions rather than gut feelings and intuition.
BMGT 560 Innovation and Technology Strategy, 3 credits
Students gain the skills to lead technological innovation both within the technology sector and in a wide variety of other industries. The focus will be on Montana-based industries, ranging from photonics, software development and recreation to energy and land resources. Topics include understanding intellectual property and the role of technological innovation in entrepreneurial ventures as well as in established firms. Emphasis on presenting new product proposals to senior management and/or prospective investors.
BGEN 570 Business Law, Government, Society, and Ethics, 3 credits
This interdisciplinary course deals with the legal relationship between business and government, as well as the importance of corporate social responsibility and the role of ethical decision making. The course introduces basic business law but also emphasizes ethical behavior above and beyond legal requirements. The course will address a business' impact on a variety of stakeholder groups, including shareholders, customer, employees, and communities. The role of government regulation will be addressed, as well as the associated trade-offs in a market-based economy.
BGEN 525 Life Design and Career Development II, 2 credits
Life Design and Career Development equips participants with the tools and strategies to execute a fulfilling life and career. Using principles of design thinking, the class guides individuals in identifying their strengths, values, and aspirations to create a personalized roadmap for success. Through the continuation of their internship or service project, networking opportunities, interactive exercises, practical frameworks, and expert guidance, students will gain clarity, build resilience, and develop actionable steps to navigate career transitions, achieve their goals, and align their professional and personal lives.