The curriculum for the Master of Business Administration degree consists of 36 semester credits of graduate-level coursework, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for completion. Students who take three credit hours per session are full-time students. Complete course description and degree requirements are available in the current Academic Catalog.

Competencies in the specific emphasis areas are developed using a curriculum that combines theory and application, giving the learner the knowledge and skills to assess business practices against theories and models, understand the creation of customer value, and assess the impact of economic systems and regulations on functional responsibilities while developing leadership roles for a sustainable business.

MBA Core

The MBA core consists of five courses, creating the diverse business background expected in business today.

• BA 506: Organizational Strategy and Economic Change
• BA 508: Current Issues in Corporate Law and Ethics
• BA 511: Corporate Entrepreneurship and Sustainability
• FIN 513: Financial Management
• MKT 504: Marketing and Product Management

Program Capstone

The MBA program closes with a program capstone, encompassing knowledge gained from the core and emphasis courses.

• BA 590: Research Seminar

Emphasis Information

Each student will choose one of five areas of emphasis.

Accounting

The Accounting emphasis integrates management skills with accounting theory and practice. The Accounting emphasis provides an opportunity to work toward or obtain 150 credit hours required for the Uniform CPA Examination*.

Curriculum

• ACCT 533: Advanced Accounting Information Systems
• ACCT 547: Contemporary Topics in Financial Accounting
• ACCT 551: Taxation for Corporations
• ACCT 552: Forensic Accounting
• ACCT 553: Advanced Managerial Accounting
• Graduate Elective: To be chosen by student in conjunction with advisor

*Students interested in sitting for the CPA are responsible for understanding all requirements of the state they plan to obtain certification.

Corporate Financial Management

The Corporate Financial Management emphasis provides a broad understanding of financial management, institutions, and investment strategies. The emphasis focuses on evaluating investments, developing fiscal strategies and applying financial strategies to evaluate risk.

Curriculum

• FIN 531: Financial Markets and Financial Strategy
• FIN 536: Derivatives and Risk Management
• FIN 551: Financial Data Analysis
• FIN 552: Investment Management
• ACCT 553: Advanced Managerial Accounting
• Graduate Elective: To be chosen by student in conjunction with advisor

Potential jobs that have seen growth in recent years include Financial Advisor, Financial Manager, and Financial Analyst (source).

General Management

The General Management emphasis is the ideal opportunity for students to select the specific courses they want to complete their MBA. Made of five graduate electives, the General Management emphasis provides students the means to deep dive into courses that create the learning experience they want. Interested in Organizational Development and Human Resource Management? We can make that happen with our General Management emphasis.

• MBA 501: Managerial Communication
• Graduate Elective: To be chosen by student in conjunction with advisor
• Graduate Elective: To be chosen by student in conjunction with advisor
• Graduate Elective: To be chosen by student in conjunction with advisor
• Graduate Elective: To be chosen by student in conjunction with advisor
• Graduate Elective: To be chosen by student in conjunction with advisor

Human Resources Management

The Human Resource Management emphasis explores theories and methods to develop training and manage the personnel resources for an organization. The emphasis has been reviewed and aligns with Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) curriculum guidelines.

Curriculum

• BA 524: Managing in the International Environment
• BA 540: Labor/Management Relations
• BA 544: Organizational and Management Theories
• BA 546: Compensation and Benefits
• BA 548: Development and Management of HRM
• Graduate Elective: To be chosen by student in conjunction with advisor

HR Specialists were ranked at #16 by the U.S. News and World Report in Best Business Jobs. Having an MBA in HRM as well as other professional certifications will set you ahead of your competition.

Leadership

The Leadership Emphasis is intended for seasoned professionals desiring an MBA with a focus on leadership. Graduates of the Leadership Emphasis will gain skills in the holistic view of leadership including foundational groundwork, globalization, diversity, and conflict management from a leadership position.

• BA 509: Theories of Leadership
• BA 570: Team Building Techniques
• LDR 530: Globalization and Diversity
• LDR 550: Leadership and Business Operations
• LDR 560: Change Management
• LDR 570: Conflict and Negotiation

Organizational Development

The Organizational Development emphasis provides the skills and understanding of organizational structure, corporate culture and the ability to analyze, diagnose and develop recommendations supporting long-term change. The emphasis provides a perspective on process redevelopment and training for continual change.

Curriculum

• BA 520: Training and Development
• BA 553: Organizational Development
• BA 555: Organizational Culture
• BA 560: Organizational Diagnosis and Intervention
• BA 570: Team Building Techniques
• Graduate Elective: To be chosen by student in conjunction with advisor

Careers for professionals with an MBA in Organizational Development can vary greatly. Positions can range from Personnel Development Consultants to Leadership and Organizational Development Specialists. An Organizational Development emphasis can increase opportunities for executive-level management positions as well (source).