MBA Individual-Based Model
Overview
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, and marketing. In addition, students are equipped with the skills needed for effective team-building , quantitative and qualitative decision-making, and creative problem-solving.
Disclaimer: Students in the Master of Business Administration program can choose between two online delivery modalities, the individual-based instruction model or the group-based instruction model. Once students begin their program, they will remain in the same instructional modality for the duration of the program and will follow the institutional policies aligned with that modality.
Course Sequence
The Master of Business program can be completed with a minimum of 30 semester credit hours, but may require additional credit hours, depending on the entry track requirements. If needed, additional courses will be added to the student degree program in alignment with the SAP and Academic Maximum Timeframe policies. Students who do not complete their program in accordance with these policies may be dismissed.
All Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs require the foundation courses to be completed prior to enrolling in specialization courses. The program capstone will be completed as the last course in the degree program.
In some cases, specialization courses listed on the initial degree plan can be changed at the student’s request. Please contact your Academic Finance Advisor for more information.
The Admissions and Evaluation team will schedule any additional courses needed to satisfy entry track requirements.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Business Administration, MBA, requires 30 – 33 semester credit hours for degree completion. The MBA program includes 21 – 24 semester credit hours of foundational courses, which include the Capstone course. Students end the program with 9 semester credit hours of a specialization aligned with a student’s career goals and interests.
Students in the MBA program are required to demonstrate competency in the areas listed below:
- Research – MBA students are required to show competency in writing skills for research purposes through their coursework.
- Computer Competency – MBA students are required to use appropriate computer skills that are necessary in writing research papers. Students must be able to prepare documents using APA formatting and advanced word processing skills, such as the creation of title pages, abstracts, tables and figures, headers and footers, page breaks, tables of contents, and hanging indents.
Students assume full responsibility for understanding both the foundational, specialization, and capstone requirements of the program. Switching programs after completing coursework may result in reevaluation, monetary loss, loss of credit hours and/or the need to take additional credit hours. Academic and Finance Counselors can assist with any questions related to program requirements.
MBA students without an undergraduate degree in business will be allowed to test out of SKS 5001. Students who score 70 or above will not have to take the SKS course; however, students who score below 70 will be required to take the SKS course and purchase the required materials. Students claiming they have a good grasp of business can demonstrate this by taking the Exam. All students are eligible for this process.
The University may accept a maximum of 3 semester credit hours in transfer toward the Master of Business Administration for graduate coursework completed at an external accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. See the Transfer Credit Policy for additional information.
Core Requirements for MBA
(7 – 8 courses, 21 – 24 semester units)
SKS-5001 for students without a business degree
In this course, you will consider the impact of current trends such as 21st century leadership related to globalization and sustainability through the utilization of management and technology tools. The subsequent core courses will provide a greater in-depth knowledge of business concepts and areas in an integrated fashion.
In this course, students have the opportunity to gain foundational knowledge in 15 different areas important to business and management including accounting, finance, law, ethics, marketing, global business, information systems, research, leadership, strategic management, operations management, human resources, organizational behavior, and micro and macroeconomics. This course serves as a foundation for success in future courses.
This course is designed to prepare you to lead in today’s global environment. You will examine concepts and strategies regarding global leadership. You will acquire skills relevant to managing human capital and teams, ethical decision-making, navigating organizational change, and budgeting/allocating resources across borders and cultures.
A study of corporate financial management, through problem solving, case studies and/or term projects, this course covers issues such as sources of long-term financing, cost of capital, capital budgeting, dividend policy, globalization of finance, ethical standards, information technology, and financial strategy.
The competitive marketplace gives consumers choices. Marketers need to understand the dynamic nature of consumers’ needs and wants, gather relevant data, conduct analyses of both consumers and the competition. To maintain their competitive edge, marketers need to launch innovative products at opportune times. In this course, you will research what makes a product innovative and the challenges marketers face to make innovative products available in the marketplace with the right marketing mix and effective marketing strategies. You will study the need for performance measures to determine if marketing objectives will be met in a timely manner.
This course presents a customer-oriented view of operations within an organization. Guided by the organization’s strategic plan, operations deliver the products and services to the customers. This course explores how this delivery is accomplished with efficiency and effectiveness. Components of the course include issues of quality, physical design, and systems management.
Students focus on major corporate applications of information technology, learning how business decisions are facilitated by these tools. Specific applications include the effective and efficient management of projects, inventory and transportation. The course concludes with the evolution of logistics into the broader scope of supply chain management, focusing on how enterprise-wide information systems enable this cross-functional, inter-firm collaboration that leads to new competitive advantages.
You will develop skills to effectively formulate strategic plans utilizing R&D, marketing, production, finance, human resources, and TQM to determine strengths and weaknesses. This will include the use of SWOT and PEST analysis techniques for assessing market position and direction for growth.
Specializations
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Evaluate financial statements and quantitative information for decision making using appropriate information systems and tools.
- Assess the global supply chain and develop strategies that reach accross different countries and cultures.
- Diagnose the systems, processes, and human capital of an organization.
- Understand decision making processes and use those processes to make effective decisions.
- Demonstrate effective communication strategies through the use of media and presentations that includes slide decks, personal presentation, and the creation of audio/visual files.
- Interpret legal compliance, ethical concerns of stakeholders, and social responsibility in terms of their impact on the conduct of business.
- Assess the economic environment within an industry and decide appropriate financial decisions for the firm.
Accreditations
This model is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), which promotes continuous improvement in business education and emphasizes quality teaching and lifelong learning. Learn more at ACBSP https://acbsp.org/