Business Administration, MBA

Master of Business Administration

Normal Completion Time: 24 Months

This program is offered at the Main Campus and online.

Students in the Master of Business Administration program progress through a core curriculum of courses that lay the foundation for their concentration specialty and the capstone course. Core courses include areas of finance, project management, leadership, analytics, quantitative analysis, business strategy and planning, marketing, and organizational dynamics. Students further their education by selecting one of the following areas of concentration: Corporate Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Healthcare Systems Leadership, Leadership, Marketing, Multidisciplinary, or Project Management. A capstone course is a culminating project developed within the student's area of concentration. Graduates will be poised for career advancement and may seek employment as a director, manager, supervisor, corporate officer, or corporate executive. This degree program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Corporate Innovation

The Corporate Innovation concentration in the Master of Business Administration program of study builds on the core and foundation, to provide specialized knowledge and applied skills in leading and managing change and complexity in organizations, fostering conditions that create and unleash innovation in organizations and applying financial tools to manage the innovation process. Graduates of this concentration learn skills that will provide opportunities for career entry or advancement in corporation and organizations. Job titles may vary widely, but generally include managers, directors and executives responsible for strategy, change and innovation. This degree program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Concentration Outcome: Evaluate methods to manage and lead complex organizational change to create a plan, including financial tools used to manage innovation, that can transform an organizational culture to embrace and create innovation throughout an organization.

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Entrepreneurship

The Entrepreneurship concentration in the Master of Business Administration program of study builds on the core and foundation, to provide specialized knowledge and applied skills to create and manage new business ventures, develop new products and services, write business plans, and buy and sell businesses. Students learn how to apply entrepreneurial skills to corporate entrepreneurship. Graduates of this concentration learn skills that will provide opportunities for career entry or advancement in small and large business environments including owner, partner, franchisee, manager, or executive in an entrepreneurial or entrepreneurial organization. This degree program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Concentration Outcome: Analyze for profit or non-profit opportunities to create a business plan that solves a problem while mobilizing people and resources to create value.

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance

The Finance concentration in the Master of Business Administration program of study builds on the core and foundation, to provide specialized knowledge and applied skills in management of finance, analysis of financial statements, creation and management of financial portfolios and a working knowledge of the impact of public policy to application of financial principals. Graduates of this concentration learn skills that will provide opportunities for career entry or advancement in the finance field including, but not limited to financial analyst, banker, controller, money manager, financial manager, finance executive. This degree program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Concentration Outcome: Analyze and evaluate the tools, skills, methods, and complexities of corporate finance to lead successful and responsible fiscal performance. 

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Healthcare Systems Leadership

The Healthcare Systems Leadership concentration in the Master of Business Administration program of study builds on the core and foundation to provide specialized knowledge and applied skills in areas specific to a rapidly evolving healthcare world, allowing students to gain an understanding of the interrelatedness of clinical, technological and financial components of the business of healthcare. This concentration introduces students to the dynamic nature of broad system change, the need for fundamentally different leadership that integrates innovation, collaboration and effective communication, and the expectation that quality and person-centered-ness are not add-ons, but are ultimately at the core of the work. This degree program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Concentration Outcome: Analyze and evaluate healthcare organizational effectiveness by examining the interdependence of the social, clinical, technological, financial, and leadership that creates value in a socially responsible manner.

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Human Resource Management
The Human Resource concentration in the Master of Business Administration program builds on the core and foundation. It provides specialized knowledge and applied skills to help prepare students to become practitioners in Human Resources or to utilize skills to be more effective leaders. The skills learned in the concentration include the following:

• Analyzing trends in human resource management practice
• Synthesize job analysis processes
• Employ human resource strategic planning
• Describe the impact of legislation on human resource management functions
• Critique methods used for selection, training placement, compensation and performance using data analytics
• Analyze issues facing different diverse groups
• Evaluate various practices for managing and embracing diversity
• Apply leadership attributes
• Evaluate the differing change management models

Concentration Outcome: Evaluate human resource initiatives in the quest to drive change and meet organization goals and objectives.

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Leadership

The Leadership concentration in the Master of Business Administration program of study builds on the core and foundation, to provide specialized knowledge and applied skills in leading and managing change and complexity in organizations. Students learn to apply ethical values, beliefs and behaviors in making decisions for the socially responsible organization. Students explore and discover the leader within through study of academic models and assessments. Graduates of this concentration learn skills that will provide opportunities for career entry or advancement in corporations and organizations. Job titles may vary widely, but generally include team and unit leaders, supervisors, managers, directors and executives responsible for leadership and change. This degree program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Concentration Outcome: Analyze and evaluate personal and organizational values, beliefs, and behaviors to lead others in a socially responsible manner.

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing

The Marketing concentration builds on core principles by developing skills in writing integrated communication and marketing plans, exploring new strategies for targeting consumers based on buying motivations, discovering how to use marketing research, technology, and analytics to quantify marketing results, and gaining insight into managing brand initiatives. Graduates often pursue careers as marketing analysts, sales supervisors or managers, business development managers, project researchers, product developers, marketing strategists, directors, or executives. This degree program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Concentration Outcome: Analyze and evaluate market research, buying motivations, and branding methods that connects with and encourages targeted audiences to act.

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Multidisciplinary

The Multi-disciplinary concentration in the Master of Business Administration program of study builds on the core and foundation, to provide specialized knowledge and applied skills from courses selected by the student from any BUS600 level course, ACC500 level course, PMG600 level course, EGM500 or PAD600 level course based on their specific career goals. This program of study is crafted in advisement with, and must be approved by, the Program Chair for this concentration. Generally, graduates of this concentration learn skills that will provide opportunities for career entry or advancement in targeted opportunities, based on the approved degree plan. This degree program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Concentration Outcome: Analyze and evaluate the interdependency of the multidisciplinary courses that creates organizational value.

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Project Management

The Project Management concentration in the Master of Business Administration program of study builds on the core and foundation, to provide specialized knowledge and applied skills in leading project teams, defining and managing project risk, using project management systems, assessing project scope, schedule, and cost to produce a high-quality product or service on time and to the specifications of client. The complexities of modern product development and project management require a professional with specific technical knowledge with strong project management and leadership skills. Generally, graduates of this concentration learn skills that will provide opportunities for career entry or advancement in targeted opportunities, based on the approved degree program. This degree program is programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Concentration Outcome: Analyze and evaluate the tools, skills, methods, and complexities of organizational projects to lead successful projects.

Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Supply Chain Management

The Supply Chain Management concentration in the Master of Business Administration program builds on the core and foundation.  It provides specialized knowledge and applied skills in the area of supply chain management to apply the skills to support operational effectiveness. The skills learned in the concentration include the following:

• Integration of the supply chain management to manufacturing operations, sales/marketing, and customer experience
• Planning supply chain operations and the impact of AI (artificial intelligence) and automation
• Logistics operations models
• Global sourcing and procurement practices
• Warehouse and Transportation planning methods
• Lean methods in supply chain planning and SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference) Model
• Intricacies of international trade, regulations, letters of credit, and the financial aspects of supply chains
• Supply chain management and logistics trends

Concentration Outcome: Evaluate supply chain management fundamentals and related aspects, such as procurement, logistics, and transportation, in the quest to meet operational goals and objectives.

 

Master of Business Administration Program Outcomes

1. Creativity and Innovation: Students will apply principles of creativity and innovation to for-profit and/or not-for-profit organizations.
2. Communication: Students will communicate professionally, using graduate-level written and oral skills essential to success in the business environment.
3. Leadership: Students will develop and cultivate their own vision and leadership approach, as it relates to the rapidly evolving globalization of business practices, based on both proven and innovative business approaches that address predictable and unique organizational challenges.
4. Transformation of Organizations: Students will use innovative strategies and change management principles to lead the transformation of new ventures, organizations and global environments.
5. Strategic Business Planning: Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct strategic business planning supported by market analyses evaluated to meet existing and evolving global market analytical needs.
6. Creation of New Ventures, Products, and Services: Students will apply innovative tools to evaluate organizational needs for developing and implementing new ventures, products, and services.
7. Quantitative Reasoning: Students will identify, analyze, evaluate, and apply financial models, analytical decision tools, and planning models to solve complex organizational problems.
8. Ethics: Students will examine and apply ethical and professional behaviors to business situations.
9. Future thinking: Students will be challenged to critically analyze and develop new philosophies (values, beliefs, and viewpoints) that drive change, transform thinking, and advance the field of study.
10. Concentration-specific: Students will identify, analyze, evaluate, and implement research-based business practices applicable to their area of concentration.

Please note: the following prerequisites are required for students who do not possess an undergraduate business degree:

1. Financial Accounting (ACC 111 )
2. Macroeconomics (ECO 201 )
3. Principles of Finance (FIN 201 )
4. Business Law I (LAW 204 )

Alternately, students who do not possess an undergraduate business degree may take the following prerequisites:

1. Financial Accounting (ACC 111 )
2. Economic Foundations of Accounting and Finance (BUS 501 )