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National University Volume 86-2 Catalog - September 2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Master of Business Administration, MBA
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Master of Business Administration
Description of Program
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) includes exposure to a variety of business disciplines. Students in this program will critically analyze a broad range of theories, current trends, practices, and knowledge specific to their discipline.
Click here for potential career opportunities within the MBA.
Learning Outcomes
- Diagnose the health of an organization
- Relate media appropriate to purpose, occasion and audience - ideas and arguments associated with business issues
- Evaluate the challenges and opportunities presented by the global business environment
- Interpret legal compliance, ethical concerns of stakeholders, and social responsibility in terms of their impact on the conduct of business
- Justify effective business solutions
Basis for Admissions
Admission to the Master of Business Administration program requires a conferred bachelor’s and/or a conferred master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution. In addition to these general requirements, MBA applicants have two options for entering the program:
- Direct Entry - Individuals with a previously completed bachelor’s degree in business from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution may immediately begin the MBA program.
Note: Students who complete the University’s BBA bridge path in Business Management may be eligible to apply four graduate-level courses from the BBA program to the MBA program. Graduate-level courses completed in the BBA bridge path must be completed with a grade point average of 3.0 (grade of “B”) or better.
- Evaluation Track - Individuals who do not meet direct entry requirements will begin their degree plan with MBA-5102 - Changing Times - Business in the 21st Century , followed by SKS-5001 - Comprehensive Strategic Knowledge Studies , and upon successful completion of SKS-5001 take the remaining courses in their degree plan.
Students who feel that they have the business background and knowledge are allowed to take a test-out exam that covers the major business areas. The student must score 70 or above on the exam and can be taken no later than two weeks prior to the beginning of SKS-5001 course. This can be discussed with your enrollment or academic and finance advisor.
Students who enter through the evaluation track and do not immediately test out of SKS-5001 prior to having the course placed in their degree plan are not permitted to participate in the Accelerated MBA program.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Business Administration requires 30 credit hours for degree completion. The MBA program includes 18 credit hours of foundational courses. The foundational courses are taken by all students regardless of their undergraduate degree to form and strengthen fundamental business skills. The next 9 credit hours in the program encapsulate a specialization aligned with a student’s career goals and interests. Specialization courses must be appropriate to the student’s degree program. Students end the program with a 3 credit-hour capstone course.
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. Students’ Academic and Finance Advisors can assist with any questions related to program requirements.
The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the Master of Business Administration for graduate course work completed at an external accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. See the Transfer Credit Policy for additional information.
Note: Students with a conferred BBA degree from the University who complete graduate-level coursework with a grade of “B” or better to satisfy undergraduate specialization credit hours may be eligible to apply up to 12 graduate-level credit hours from the BBA program to the MBA program. Please see the Bachelor of Business Administration program for program-specific course requirements.
Time to Completion
The University allows 5 years to complete all Master’s programs of 36 credits or less.
The median time to completion for this program is 20 months.
Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most students are working adults, balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic and finance advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.
Students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 18 months.
Accelerated MBA Scheduling Track
Within the MBA program, the School of Business and Economics offers an Accelerated MBA scheduling track. The Accelerated MBA is not an alternative program, but is a scheduling option designed for students capable of completing an intense, fast-paced, and highly challenging graduate course structure. Students considering the Accelerated MBA track are strongly encouraged to first think about their availability for study-time, work schedule or any other outside activities that may interfere with course participation, and their ability to learn in a rapidly moving academic environment. Students who enter and successfully complete the Accelerated MBA track will graduate in 12 months with a Master of Business Administration degree.
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Course Sequence
The Master of Business program can be completed with a minimum of 30 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 Time to Completion policies. Students who do not complete their program in accordance with these policies may be dismissed.
Students who complete at least 9 semester credit hours in a single area of specialization at the University (not counting foundational courses) may elect to have the specialization recorded on their transcript and diploma.
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.
- SKS-5001 for students without a business degree
Criminal Justice Specialization
The Criminal Justice specialization explores the dynamic nature of law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and the juvenile justice system in the United States and explores the nature of crime both domestically and internationally. This specialization focuses on developing advanced competencies and analytical capability for those seeking management and leadership positions in corrections, law enforcement, and the court system.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Entrepreneurship Specialization
This forward-looking entrepreneurship specialization curriculum takes students beyond the classroom, allowing them to build and test their entrepreneurial ideas in real-world settings. The entrepreneurship courses will integrate many business disciplines, including marketing, finance, operations, and strategy. The courses are designed to help students develop skills in building businesses, investing in businesses, raising capital, and evaluating business development opportunities. Specifically, the students in this specialization will focus on analysis, decision-making, and business planning. Students will benefit from the latest business trends and techniques in recent entrepreneurship literature and experienced faculty feedback.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Select 3 courses from the following:
Financial Management Specialization
This specialization explores relevant financial analysis of financial and non-financial organizations. The focus is assessment of financial statements, foreign exchange issues, risk, and investment management.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
General Business Specialization
The General Business specialization allows students to select courses from a broad range of electives to fit their personal and professional goals.
Students must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours and may take business courses at the 5000 and 6000 level to fulfill their specialization requirements.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Select 3 courses from the following recommended* course list:
Note
*Recommended courses for the general business specialization are listed above. Courses listed are examples and upon acceptance to the program, the initial degree plan will include these courses. However, students are encouraged to choose their elective courses based on personal and professional goals, and to work with their Academic and Finance Advisor to revise their degree plan.
Global Business Management Specialization
This specialization covers the essential elements required to understand and manage global organizations. Individuals interested in global management positions and/or teaching in post-secondary institutions of higher education would benefit from this program. The specialization focuses on topics such as global leadership issues and characteristics, trends and strategies in global business strategic management, and the challenges of positioning global brands and pricing approaches.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Health Services Specialization
Graduates of health services management programs are in demand in hospitals, health maintenance organizations, health insurance companies, government and public health agencies, and social service agencies. The focus of this health services specialization is to develop essential knowledge and skills necessary for effective healthcare management, including legal and ethical issues and the examination of the development of health policies.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Homeland Security Specialization
This specialization is designed to prepare senior managers of law enforcement, public safety, and emergency medical care and disaster preparedness agencies for positions of executive leadership in the field of homeland security. Courses will span the spectrum of management, budgetary rules, personnel, and critical issues relating to crisis management and terrorism.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Human Resources Management Specialization
This graduate-level specialization focuses on the interrelationships between human resource capital, leadership, and the business organization. Students will explore all aspects of human resource management, and address the increasing human resource issues in the global economy.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Select 3 courses from the following:
Inclusive Leadership Specialization
This specialization will equip you with the insights, knowledge, and skills to go beyond traditional leadership and will prepare you to be a leader who can empower, energize, and inspire individuals, and unify diverse employees. You will become an agent of change who has the enhanced skills to lead an organization while being a champion and advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and social and economic justice. After completing this program, you will be able to make decisions that help to advance a unified and collaborative global workforce that functions effectively and efficiently, optimizing the organization’s effectiveness.
Specialization Courses - 9 credit hours
Select 3 courses from the following:
Information Technology Specialization
Technology can be intimidating—yet beneficial—for many organizations. It is important for leaders to know how to take advantage of new technologies and ideas or be trapped in stagnation. The Information Technology Specialization helps prepare professionals to be champions of positive change through new ideas and new technologies.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Management of Virtual Organizations Specialization
This specialization focuses on acquiring knowledge and skills to support the management of virtual organizations. Students focus on a wide range of topics relevant to the manager overseeing virtual organizations. From theory to tactics, experienced professionals and entry-level candidates will build expertise in such diverse areas as virtual leadership, building trust in virtual teams, and legal and other implications that may arise in virtual organizations.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Project Management Specialization
This specialization explores principles, concepts, tools, and techniques to improve project performance and organizational effectiveness. Project Management is one of the fastest growing professional disciplines. Students examine all aspects of company projects including cost estimates, budget management, cost control, risk assessment, bid negotiation and contracts, and performance reporting critical to the success of any organization. The graduate specialization provides curriculum for students aspiring to take on project management responsibilities. This specialization focuses on risk management, procurement, monitoring, and multi-project management.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
Select 3 courses from the following:
Strategic Marketing Specialization
The Strategic Marketing Specialization at the graduate level transcends traditional marketing by focusing upon emerging trends in the 21st century in marketing management and marketing research. Students will focus on thought leadership-driven strategic marketing, encompassing contemporary and emergent marketing management methods, global product management, precision pricing, advanced promotional methods, and proven distribution techniques. At the conclusion, students will be well prepared for the marketing workforce of tomorrow.
Specialization Courses – 9 credit hours
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