Master of Business Administration (MBA)
2005-2007 Graduate Academic Catalog | Catalogs

The MBA degree is designed for students who wish to prepare for executive and managerial positions in both the private and public sectors. The degree includes broad preparation in business administration, while allowing for a concentration in a specific business or related area. Emphasis is placed on the development of problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

To earn the MBA, students must successfully complete 37 semester hours. Typically, this includes 13 courses: a one-semester-hour orientation course, eight core courses, three courses in an area of concentration, and one elective. Students whose academic preparation or work experience has given them a sufficient degree of expertise in a specific subject may petition to take a more advanced course in lieu of a particular core course. A student must take at least six of the core courses; therefore a student will be approved to make substitutions for a maximum of two core courses. Of the twelve courses required for the degree, at least nine must be courses offered in the College of Business Administration. If the concentration selected is outside the College of Business Administration, then the elective must be a business course.

Three courses in a given area constitute a concentration. Within the Walter E. Heller College of Business Administration, students may choose from the following areas: accounting, economics, finance, human resource management, information systems, international business, leadership, management, marketing, real estate, risk management and insurance, and strategic management. Students also have the option of choosing a concentration from another graduate program within the University. These options and variations open a variety of career paths not formerly accessible to MBA graduates. These concentrations are as follows: hospitality management, integrated marketing communications, managing nonprofit organizations, public administration/health services administration, telecommunications, and training and development.

Students may also propose an individualized concentration composed of at least three graduate-level courses offered anywhere in the University. These proposals must be described in detail with a solid rationale for the appropriateness of the plan. The College will give serious consideration to any individualized concentration that is challenging, coherent, and creative.

Mgmt 489 is usually taken in the final semester. Students should plan their programs of study so that all other core courses are completed prior to enrollment in Mgmt 489.

Degree requirements

Core courses

Concentration

Elective

Catalogs | 2005-2007 Graduate Catalog