The Masters of Management: Co-operatives and Credit Unions (MMCCU) is a master's degree offered through the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The degree offers co-operative managers and others wishing to an ability to improve their understanding of management within the context of the co-operative economic model. Similar to the more traditional MBA, students are introduced to economics, accounting, human resources, marketing , technology, best practices as well as equity management. The MMCCU also teaches the history and philosophy of the co-operative management model and the special tools required manage a democratically controlled co-operative business.The course work is delivered exclusively on-line; however, participants proceed as a cohort and meet in person three times during the process: Orientation Week in Halifax, Field Trip in the second year and Convocation upon completion.

Background

Accreditation

The Sobey School of Business, the home of the MMCCU, has earned the AACSB Accreditation. ^[1]

Method of Delivery

The MMCCU is an on-line only program. Students receive orientation in Blackboard learning software. With the exception of the orientation and field trip, the classes only meet on-line. This allows students to keep their current employment (most likely as co-operative managers). It is intended that the students will put their lessons to practice in their co-operatives and credit unions.

Admissions criteria

The admission requirements consist of the following: ^[2]:

• Completion of an undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience;
• Transcripts from previous educational work;
• Support (in writing) from one's employer;
• A two page essay on the student's expectations to use the education to improve their co-operative or credit union;
• An updated resume;
• Proficiency in the English language;
• A completed application and application fee.

Program content

First Year

In the first semester, students complete the following:
The first course, Philosophical Philosophical Origins and Historical Evolution of Co-operative Governance and Business Practice offers a survey of the historical development of co-operation from the dawn of the Industrial Age and market capitalism to the present-day. Students learn about and practice creating a Social Audit.

The second course, The Emerging Global Economy and Society from a Co-operative Perspective I provides an overview of globalization and its effect on the world economy. In addition, students examine examples of global co-operation.

During the second semester, the course work offered includes:
The first course, Comparative Co-operative Practice I: Variety and Range of Co-operative Business. This course builds off of the history of the first semester. Students learn about the different sectors of co-operation: consumer, producer, housing, financial and worker and multi-stakeholder co-operatives.
The second course, Co-operative Financial Analysis and Management I provides students with a basic understanding of managerial accounting and financial accounting. Students learn the basic of an income statement, balance statement, cash flow analysis and equity statement. Student learn to conduct a financial analysis.

Second Year

The first course builds off of the first semester of the first year with The Emerging Global Economy and Society from a Co-operative Perspective II.
The second course includes the field trip: Field Research: Study Visits to Exemplars of Excellent Co-operative Business Practice. Students learn about the region of the visit and the co-operative society prior to their visit. The remainder of the course examines the lessons learned during the trip and how it might relate to their co-operatives.
The second semester pairs studies in innovation with technology. The first course, Comparative Co-operative Practice II: Co-operative Innovations and Best Practice considers different co-operatives on an individual level in order to understand how different co-operators solve similar problems.
The second course, Technology, Communication and Co-operation examines the role of technology in society and how co-operatives might use it to succeed.

Field Trip

The field trip currently alternates between two locations. The first is the Mondragon Co-operative in the Basque region of Spain. Students spend 10 days studying the Mondragon Co-operative and learning about the culture of the Basque with side trips to Guernica.

The second location involves the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Students tour and study the worker co-operatives and co-operative federations of the region.

Third Year

The first semester includes the course: Marketing the Co-operative Advantage: Co-operative Education, Member Relations and Marketing. This course examines basic marketing strategies and examines how co-operatives may use these as well as the co-operative identity to succeed.
The second course of the fiarst semester, Co-operative Financial Analysis and Management II, focuses on the unique role of equity in a co-opertive. Students learn about equity development and how it interacts in a co-operative as opposed to a traditional corporation.
The second semester discusses The Co-operative Management Approach I: Governance, Planning and Strategic Analysis. Students learn about these three important areas of management through a co-operative lens including the description of a co-operative paradigm.
The last class of the degree, The Co-operative Management Approach II: Leadership, Personnel and Management Style, examines the role of human resources in a co-operative. As a movement based on putting people first, this may be one of the most signficant courses for the entire degree.

Master's Project

The last year of the master's program has been dedicated to the project. Students are expected to develop a change in their co-operative based on the lessons learned through their program. This project should improve their co-operative as a business and in terms of the Statement on the Co-operative Identity.

See Also

Other methods of training in co-operatives exist:

• CooperationWorks! trains cooperative developers in the United States.
• The University of Toronto offers an undergraduate program in co-operatives.
• The University of Wisconsin offers a survey course on Co-operatives.

General Information

Currently, the program is only offered through Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The applications deadline is May 31 with the orientation occuring in mid-August. Classes begin in September.
Students move through the program as a cohort, so once a student starts they must commit to the entire program or drop-out.

Co-operative Management Education Co-operative

The program is a joint effort between Saint Mary's University and the Co-operative Management Education Co-operative (CMEC). This co-operative consists of co-operatives, individuals, as well as educational and support institutions.

Other related business degrees and certifications

Certifications

• Certified Business Manager (CBM), a professional credential based on the MBA curriculum
• Certified MBA (CMBA) a professional certification designed as an "objective measure of a student's grasp of the MBA skill set".

Undergraduate

• Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc or BAcy), a specialised accountancy degree
• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), a bachelor's degree in business administration
• Bachelor of Business Science

Graduate

• Master of International Business (MIB), an emerging alternative to the MBA degree
• Master of Management (MM), a postgraduate business degree
• Master of Nonprofit Organizations (MNO or MNPO), the postgraduate degree for philanthropy and voluntary sector professionals
• Master of Public Administration (MPA), a postgraduate public administration degree
• Master in Sustainable Business (MSB).

Doctoral

• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), a doctorate in business administration
• Doctor of Management (D.M.)
• PhD in Management (PhD), a business doctoral degree

Financial Aid Options

The Sid Pobihushchy scholarship is available. Other means of financial aid will depend upon competitive grants and scholarships such as the Lemaire Scholarship provided by the Canadian Co-operative Association, a special loan program through the Development Institute, private grants and the specific awards available in one's home country.

Reference and notes

External Links

Saint Mary's University
Masters of Management: Co-operatives and Credit Unions

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