Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Program
The basic disciplines underlying managerial decision making are the main focus of the Master of Business Administration program. This program gives the student a grasp of the techniques and fundamentals of management as well as the breadth necessary to prepare for general management responsibility. Students can elect a broad (general) program or one with special emphasis on related areas in which they have particular interest. Specializations are offered in Accounting, Finance, Health Care Administration, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Operations Management.
The M.B.A. curriculum may be built either upon a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or any other baccalaureate degree. The length of the program will vary depending upon the nature of the undergraduate degree.
The Master of Business Administration degree is granted to students who satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of 6000-level or above graduate course work in business administration beyond the B.B.A. degree with a 3.0 or better GPA. The required graduate program for all students consists of basic core courses, advanced core courses, specialization courses, and an elective. Students who have an undergraduate degree in business administration or equivalent courses may be able to waive some or all of the basic core courses.
Admission Procedures to the Master of Business Administration Program
All decisions regarding admission to the M.B.A. program in business are made through the College of Business Administration Graduate Studies Office. Applicants should apply by the established deadline for the semester they plan to attend.
Admission to the program is available to those students who can demonstrate high promise of success in a graduate business degree program. The College has adopted qualitative admissions standards in which applicants are considered on the basis of their own merits with weight given to the quality of prior academic achievement, the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores, professional experience indicating increased levels of responsibility, and other relevant information that the candidate may share with the Admissions Committee. Although GMAT scores and GPA are important indicators of success, they will not be the sole basis for admissions decisions. Each candidate's qualifications must also meet the admission standards set by AACSB The International Association for Management Education.
Student applications will be reviewed on the following criteria:
1.Academic record and GPA as well as the trend and comparison of grades over a period of time.
2.Verbal, quantitative, written and total scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or other appropriate tests. An official GMAT score must be sent directly from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) to the College of Business Graduate Studies Office, and can be no more than five years old.
3.Managerial, professional and leadership potential as exhibited by work experience, extracurricular activities, or community service.
4.The statement of purpose as required on the graduate application form.
5.In the case of students whose native language is not English, performance on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is mandatory unless the student has a degree from an American university.
6.Letters of reference.
7.A voluntary personal interview through the College of Business Administration Graduate Studies Office.
Annual deadlines for submission of completed applications are as follows*:
Fall Semester: August 1
Spring Semester: November 15
Summer Semester: April 15
* International students should submit completed applications as follows:
Fall Semester: May 1
Spring Semester: October 1
Summer Semester: March 1
All materials do not have to be submitted as a package, but a final decision on admission will be withheld until the package is complete. No materials submitted to the university will be returned to the applicant.
Transfer of Credits
Ifyou have taken graduate course work at another AACSB accredited university within ten years of your prospective graduation date, you may, upon recommendation of the Graduate Studies in Business Office, be permitted to transfer up to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours of business-related course work into a graduate program.
Financial Assistance
Graduate assistantships are available each year for qualified students. Graduate assistants receive a stipend and waiver of instructional fees. Applications for assistantships for the following year are due by April 30th. However, competition for assistantships is intense and students are encouraged to submit their applications well before the April 30th deadline, preferably by January.
M.B.A. Curriculum
Preliminary Background (9 hours maximum)
The M.B.A. Program requires an introductory knowledge of computer and basic math skills. Students without these skills will be required to take one or more of the following undergraduate courses:
Course No. Title ISOM 1020 Microcomputer Applications in Business 3 MATH 1260 Modern Business Math I 3 MATH 1270 Modern Business Math II 3
Basic Core (21 hours maximum)
These courses represent the minimum background required of students prior to taking 6000-level courses in the M.B.A. program. Students admitted to the M.B.A. program can meet the requirements by taking the 5000-level courses or by proficiency examination. If a student can demonstrate that he/she has completed an equivalent course(s) at the undergraduate level prior to admission to the M.B.A. program and has earned a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in the course(s), the corresponding 5000-level course may be waived. Course No. Title ACCT 5000 Financial & Managerial Accounting 3 MGMT 5110 Management of Organizations 3 MKTG 5210 Economics for Business Decisions 3 FINA 5310 Managerial Finance 3 MKTG 5410 Marketing Systems 3 ISOM 5510 Business Statistics with Computer Applications 3 ISOM 5520 Analysis of Manufacturing and Service Systems 3
Advanced Core (18 hours)
These courses are required of all students. They are reflective of business techniques, methodology and processes. They are designed to be cross-functional and integrative.
Course No. Title BUAD 6010 Assessing Emerging Business Opportunities 3 BUAD 6020 Accounting and Organizational Performance Measurement 3 BUAD 6030 Designing Products and Operations 3 BUAD 6040 Marketing, Production and Distribution 3 BUAD 6050 Managing in a Dynamic Environment 3 BUAD 6060 Financial Decision-Making and Risk Management 3
Specialization Courses (9 hours)
Areas of specialization in the MBA program are Accounting, Administration (General), Finance, Health Care Administration, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Operations Management. No more than one independent study/research paper may be taken to fulfill a specialization requirement. The substitution of any courses for an area of specialization requires the written approval of the department chairperson.
Elective Course (3 hours)
Each student should select three hours of business electives. The selected course must be at the 6000-level.