Business Administration, Specialized, M.B.A.*

Program of Study

Philosophy

The fundamental mission of the College of Business Administration is to educate the leaders of tomorrow’s business and non-profit organizations. The objective of our Master of Business Administration is to provide graduates with the skills and knowledge essential for management and leadership in 21st-century organizations. We use a variety of pedagogical techniques in the classroom to facilitate learning. Our curriculum integrates traditional business disciplines and recognizes the importance of both theory and practice. The program emphasizes skills and values that are essential to effective leadership, including:

• Ethics
• Communication
• Global and Environmentally Conscious Viewpoint
• Problem Recognition and Solving
• Teamwork
• Use of Technology

The program makes use of information technologies in the delivery of the courses and requires that students develop a significant level of proficiency in the application of technology. Information literacy and library research skills are salient in the dynamic world of global business and are emphasized in the program. The curriculum stresses the importance of good communication skills for successful management; thus written and oral presentations are part of every course.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Engage in effective business communication.
2. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to support critical arguments and business decisions.
3. Apply tools, theories, methodologies, and models relevant to solving business problems.
4. Integrate diverse cultural and community perspectives into business decision-making.
5. Identify potential ethical dilemmas in business and develop responses.
6. Evaluate the ramifications of business decisions in a global context.

Description of the Program

The program consists of 36 units in three phases: the Core, any of the Specializations, and the Culminating Experience. The specializations include: Business Analytics (BA), Business Intelligence (BI), Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), International Business (IB), or Supply Chain Management (SCM).

*The MBA, Specialized is offered through the Office of Extended Learning.

Program Schedule

The program has been designed for students with 0-to-3 years of work experience, and is offered during weekday evening hours, to accommodate working professionals. The program can be completed in 12 months if studied full-time, or 24 months for part-time students.

General Admissions Requirements

Applicants must have completed a four-year college course of study or an appropriate baccalaureate degree (or equivalent preparation) from a regionally accredited institution or from an international institution that meets CSUSM accreditation standards. Applicants must be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended. A Grade Point Average (GPA) of B (3.0) or better in the last sixty (60) graded semester units, from a WASC-equivalent university. Only regular courses from four-year colleges and/or universities are used in calculating an applicant’s GPA — no extension courses or community college courses will be included. For a complete list of the admission criteria see college website.

Important Notes

All graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English must demonstrate competence in English. English proficiency may be demonstrated by tests such as TOEFL or IELTS. International graduate students must meet university proficiency minima as defined in this catalog.

The admission committee reviews applications not meeting all minimum requirements for an admission decision.

Graduation Requirements

Completion of the MBA degree requires: (1) an overall GPA of at least 3.0 (B average) in all coursework within the program, (2) a minimum grade of 2.0 (C) in each course, (3) fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement – Graduate Level (GWARGL) , (4) advancement to candidacy and (5) fulfillment of the culminating experience requirement.

Advancement to Candidacy

In order to be considered for advancement, MBA students must be in good standing with an overall graduate GPA of at least a 3.0, have fulfilled the master’s student Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement, and have no more than seven (7) units (including BA 685  or GBM 685 ) remaining toward the completion of the MBA program. Students will be reviewed for advancement to candidacy before they are enrolled in the culminating experience.

MBA Bridge (1 Unit)

Before beginning the program, all students will be required to complete a one-unit MBA Bridge course focused on basic skills, including Excel essentials, business communication, and career development. Admission to the bridge requires admission to the MBA Program.

BA 601  – MBA Bridge Units: 1

The Core (20 Units)

The Core is a multi-disciplinary, graduate 600-level set of eleven courses. Admission to the Core requires successful completion of the MBA Bridge.

Students who continue in the program to earn the MBA degree must complete the Core with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

• ACCT 601 - Principles of Accounting for Managers Units: 1
• ACCT 602 - Accounting for Managers Units: 2
• BA 602 - Statistics for Business Decisions Units: 2
• BA 675 - Strategic Management in Global Environments Units: 2
• FIN 601 - Foundations of Finance Units: 1
• FIN 602 - Corporate Finance Units: 2
• MGMT 604 - Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management Units: 2
• MGMT 606 - Managing the Sustainable Enterprise Units: 2
• MIS 602 - Management Information Systems Units: 2
• MKTG 602 - Marketing Management Units: 2
• OM 602 - Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials Units: 2

Specialization (12 Units)

There are five specializations –– Business Analytics, Business Intelligence, Hospitality and Tourism Management, International Business, and Supply Chain Management –– that each consist of six (6) advanced-level, two-unit courses. In an information-driven global economy, there is a great need for MBA graduates with these specializations.

Culminating Experience (3 Units)

After completing their specializations, students will be required to complete a culminating experience. BA, BI, HTM, and SCM specialization students will take a three-unit Master’s Project, tailored to their specialization. IB Specialization students will participate in a three-unit international experience. Completion of the Culminating Experience will lead to the completion of the MBA degree.