Lead Faculty: Dr. Bruce Buchowicz
The mission of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is to prepare students for leadership positions in business, and to provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully manage organizations in an ever-changing business environment. The MBA program imparts the conceptual understanding and application of problem-solving tools contained in basic business disciplines, including accounting, economics, data analysis, finance, management, leadership, and marketing. In addition, students are equipped with the skills needed for effective team-building, quantitative and qualitative decision-making, and creative problem-solving.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the MBA program, students will be able to:
Self-Paced Foundation Courses (Optional)
The following non-credit, self-paced, and self-study courses are offered online, free of charge to registered MBA students. Self-assessment tests are available for students to ascertain their level of competency.
BUS 500A - Intermediate Algebra Foundation (strongly recommended before taking ECO 607)
BUS 500C - Macro and Microeconomics Foundation (strongly recommended before taking ECO 607)
Two-Week Foundation Courses (Required)
The following two foundation courses are required for all MBA students, but may be waived if a score of 75 percent or above is achieved on a challenge exam. Rather than being self-study and self-paced, these courses are scheduled in normal fashion with qualified instructors. Each is two weeks long: ACC 501 is offered in the first two weeks of an academic month, and FIN 501 is offered in the second two weeks. The two courses are offered online and at certain onsite campus locations. Grading is “S” for Satisfactory, or “U” for Unsatisfactory. Although these courses do not provide academic credit, they have substantial content that is not covered in the related core courses. They must be successfully completed in order to graduate from the MBA program.
ACC 501 - Accounting Fundamentals
FIN 501 - Finance Fundamentals (Prerequisite: ACC 501)
MBA Transition Program
National University students who completed a transition program as part of their undergraduate degree and who satisfy MBA transition program requirements described in the catalog description of various undergraduate programs must complete a minimum of 49.5 quarter units for their MBA degree. The number of units required for the MBA program is dependent on the coursework completed in the Bachelors transition program and the grades earned.
(14 courses; 63 quarter units)
To receive an MBA degree, students must complete at least 63 quarter units of graduate credit. A total of 13.5 quarter units of graduate work completed at another regionally accredited institution may be applied to this degree, provided the units were not used in earning another advanced degree.
Refer to the section on graduate admission procedures for specific information regarding application and evaluation.
Core Requirements (10 courses; 45 quarter units)
LED 601 - Theories, Practices, and Ethics of Leadership
ECO 602 - Global Context of Business
MKT 602 - Marketing Management
MNS 601 - Statistics for Business
ECO 607 - Economics for Managerial Decision-Making**
ACC 604 - Managerial Accounting (Prerequisite: ACC 501)
FIN 609A - Financial Management (Prerequisite: FIN 501)
MNS 606 - Decision Systems for Managers
MGT 602 - Strategic Decision-Making
(Prerequisite: Completion of 27 quarter units of MBA Core Requirements)
MGT 610C* - Graduate Business Project
(Prerequisite: Completion of 31.5 quarter units of MBA Core Requirements)
* The Graduate Business Project course MGT 610C is conducted in the manner described below. MGT 610C is two months in length.
** It is strongly recommended that students take BUS500A and BUS500C prior to taking ECO607
The Graduate Business Project (MGT610C) is a comprehensive project that integrates prior course material. Therefore, students should schedule MGT 610C toward the end of their degree program, and after completing their area of specialization, if any. The minimum requirements are the completion of at least 31.5 quarter units of core requirements in the MBA program. To complete the project satisfactorily, students apply extensive effort in research and writing over a period of two months. Due to the time and effort required for this project, it is recommended that students dedicate themselves to the completion of this project without distraction. For more information, refer to the Business Project Handbook in the School of Business and Management section of the university’s website.
General Electives (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
Students can select any four electives from graduate courses offered by the School of Business and Management, including BUS 691 Internship Project. As an alternative, students may enroll in an Area of Specialization (see below).
MBA Areas of Specialization
Requirements for Areas of Specialization
In lieu of general electives, student can choose an area of specialization. In order to graduate with an area of specialization, students must complete all courses specified in the desired area in addition to all of the MBA program requirements. Students must take at least three-fourths of the courses in the area of specialization while in residence at National University.
Specialization in Accountancy (730-000-850)
Faculty Advisor: Forrest Young - (858) 642-8478 - fyoung@nu.edu
Designed for students who wish to prepare for entry into the accounting profession and may be considering one of the recognized professional accounting designations other than the Certified Public Accountant (CPA). CPA Exam candidates should consider the B.S. in Accountancy or Masters in Accountancy programs which provide much greater in -depth preparation for the CPA Exam. CPA Exam candidates in California must have completed 24 semester units (36 quarter units) in accounting or tax and 24 semester units (36 quarter units) in business which includes business law, mathematics, statistics, computer science, and information systems.
Before taking any of the courses in the Accountancy Specialization students are strongly advised to contact a full-time accounting faculty member for a brief interview to review the student’s career objectives and provide guidance as to the courses to be selected.
Prerequisite for Specialization (1 course; 4.5 quarter units)
ACC 601M - Foundations of Financial Accounting
Program Requirements (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
To receive a Specialization in Accountancy, students must complete any four graduate courses with the prefix ACC, in addition to ACC601M, for which the required prerequisite has been successfully completed. It is strongly recommended that students consult with fulltime accounting faculty before enrolling in the specialization in Accountancy.
Specialization in Alternative Dispute Resolution (730-000-898)
Faculty Advisor: Jack Hamlin - (858) 642-8405 - jhamlin@nu.edu
This area of specialization is designed for students who wish to complete an MBA while focusing their graduate studies in Alternative Dispute Resolution, one of the fastest growing fields in the U.S. and the world at large. The program provides students with a broad knowledge of Alternative Dispute Resolution subjects and enables students to not only become effective mediators and negotiators but to also use these skills to resolve conflict in the workplace. Expertise in Alternative Dispute Resolution is in high demand in the business community, local, state and federal governments, and neighborhood communities.
Program Requirements (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
ADR 600 - Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADR 605 - Negotiation
ADR 610 - Facilitation
ADR 615 - Mediation
Specialization in Electronic Business (730-000-874)
Faculty Advisor: Mohammed Nadeem - (408) 236-1150 - mnadeem@nu.edu
This specialization enables students to become familiar with the principles and theories of electronic business and has a strong managerial and business focus. It is built upon the requirement of business leaders to be able to take a holistic and strategic approach to transforming their organization and its business processes for E-Business. Online marketing, E-Logistics, and Cyber Law are some of the topics covered in the curriculum.
Program Requirements (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
ELB 620 - Principles of E-Business
ELB 624 - Internet Marketing (Prerequisite: ELB 620)
ELB 635 - E-Logistics and Supply Chain Management (Prerequisite: ELB 620)
ELB 656 - Cyber Law and E-Public Policies (Prerequisite: ELB 620)
Specialization in Financial Management (730-000-851)
Faculty Advisor: Gurdeep Chawla - (408) 236-1138 - gchawla@nu.edu
The field of finance has undergone great changes in the last decade and now represents one of the most dynamic activities within companies of all sizes, as well as within nonprofit and governmental organizations. Executives with a background in finance head about one out of every three corporations today.
The financial management program is designed to provide both a sound theoretical and a conceptual framework for financial managers. Special emphasis is placed on growth and diversification policies, evaluation and management of securities portfolios, investment banking and merger strategies, analysis of foreign exchange rate movements, formulation of plans to reduce foreign exchange risk exposure and case and/or research projects dealing with contemporary financial issues.
Program Requirements (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
FIN 631 - Security Analysis and Portfolio Management (Prerequisite: FIN 609A)
FIN 632 - Managing Financial Resource (Prerequisite: FIN 609A)
FIN 633 - Financing Capital Requirements (Prerequisite: FIN 609A)
FIN 635 - International Finance (Prerequisite: FIN 609A)
Specialization in Human Resource Management (730-000-852)
Faculty Advisor: Bernadette Baum - (858) 642-8404 - bbaum@nu.edu
This area of specialization focuses on managing people, the human resource of the organization. Moving beyond common sense and good interpersonal skills, these courses provide students with the knowledge to recruit, select, train, evaluate and compensate employees. Students learn how changes in the workplace, such as governmental regulations, global competition, developing technologies and organizational transformations, influence the performance and productivity of workers. Technical knowledge and practical skills for dealing with a multicultural workforce offer students new ideas on leadership and effective tools for managing human resource.
Program Requirements (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
Students electing to specialize in human resource management must select four of the following courses:
HRM - 630 Legal, Ethical, and Safety Issues in Human Resource Management
HRM - 633A Seminar in Employee Relations, Labor Relations and Union Management
ODV 600 - Theory and Practice of Organizational Development
ODV 601 - Integrating Performance Management, Technology, and Organizational Communication
ODV 606 - Seminar in Training and Development
ODV 610 - Advanced Studies in Organizational Behavior in a Diverse Society
HRM 637 - Workforce Planning, Development, and Outsourcing
HRM 667 - Compensation and Benefits
MGT 651 - Managing Safety Issues and Regulations
Specialization in International Business (730-000-853)
Faculty Advisor: Juan España - (858) 642-8448 - jespana@nu.edu
Business activities have an increasingly global reach. Successful business professionals must have a thorough knowledge of international business environments and be able to operate within individual foreign markets.
In this specialization students have the option to travel to foreign locations where, under the guidance of National University professors, they attend lectures, visit universities, factories and cultural sites, thus achieving full immersion in a foreign environment such as China, Mexico, etc.
Specific issues covered in this specialization include cultural, economic and legal issues, as well as exporting, franchising, licensing, foreign direct investment and outsourcing. Students develop skills in areas such as international risk analysis, international human capital development, international communication, site selection, matching markets, and products/services, etc.
Program Requirements (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
Student should choose 4 courses from the following:
MGT 630 - Global Business Environment
MGT 637 - Comparative International Management
MGT 680 - Topics in International Business
IBU 653 - Global Business and Strategic Planning
IBU 640 - International Experience
Specialization in Marketing (730-000-855)
Faculty Advisor: Mohammed Nadeem - (408) 236-1150 - mnadeem@nu.edu
This area of specialization prepares students with the knowledge and tools they need to perform as a marketing department director or officer. The program emphasizes the global aspects of marketing, the preparation of various specialized plans for marketing, sales, and advertising and the relationship between the marketing department and other departments of the firm.
Program Requirements (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
MKT 620 - Consumer Behavior (Prerequisite: MKT 602)
MKT 631 - Global Marketing (Prerequisites: MKT 602)
MKT 634 - Market Research (Prerequisites: MKT 602)
MKT 660 - Strategic Operational Marketing
(Prerequisites: MKT 602, MKT 620, MKT 631, MKT 634)
Specialization in Organizational Leadership (730-000-888)
Faculty Advisor: Julia Buchanan - (858) 642-8453 - jbuchanan@nu.edu
The purpose of the area of specialization in organizational leadership is to provide students with the skills and theoretical concepts that will assist them when seeking promotions or positions in management and supervision. This area of specialization is designed to prepare diverse adult learners to become effective, change-oriented leaders in an international society by adding distinctive and challenging curricula.
This area of specialization is ideal for individuals who desire to understand the technical and reflective processes that often accompany opportunities to exercise leadership in profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Program Requirements (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
LED 602 - Developing and Implementing Groups and Teams
LED 603 - Organizational Leadership
LED 604 - Change and Adaptation within Organizations
LED 605 - Negotiation, Bargaining, Conflict Resolution
Specialization in Technology Management (730-000-857)
Faculty Advisor: Erica McCulloch - (858) 309-3423 - emcculloch@nu.edu
The field of technology management provides students with the essential management skills and understanding to take a proactive role in developing strategies to fully employ technology within their organization.
Program Requirements (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
TMG 620 - Principles of Technology Management
TMG 635 - Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation
TMG 640 - Managing Technology Change
TMG 625 - Systems Analysis and Design
Consult faculty advisor or the Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems.
This program is available online.
National University is an affiliate of the National University System.