Master of Business Administration Degree Program

The M.B.A. is a non-thesis degree consisting of 34 hours, of which 24 are required core courses and 10 are for elective courses that are selected by the student. As many as 15 hours of prerequisite courses may be required based upon individual academic background.

All students, regardless of undergraduate degree or work experience, are required to demonstrate the quantitative skills needed to successfully complete the required core courses. Students may elect to take a prerequisite four-hour quantitative methods sequence (two hours of calculus and two hours of statistics). Alternatively, entering students can pass a quantitative skills test. In addition, all students will be required to demonstrate basic writing and computer skills or take undergraduate courses in these areas prior to starting the required courses.

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses are designed to provide the basic business concepts that would have been taken in an undergraduate degree program. The following courses comprise the 15-hour prerequisite track:

*All MBA students are required to demonstrate proficiency in basic business calculus and statistics before enrollment in core courses. Students may either self-study and successfully complete competency exams or enroll in MGT 6010 and/or MGT 6020.

Guidelines for Waiver of Prerequisite Courses

All or part of the prerequisite courses may be waived for those students who have completed specified undergraduate work. Waivers of these courses must be requested by the student upon admission to the program, reviewed by the M.B.A. Admissions Committee and approved by the Associate Dean. Only undergraduate courses completed with a "C" grade or better will be considered for waivers. Courses taken elsewhere for substitution of prerequisite courses, must be taken at four-year, baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. The Massey School may request proficiency exams to be taken.

Core Business Courses

The core M.B.A. courses are required for all students in the program. Once students pass the quantitative skills exam and complete prerequisite courses, if needed, they begin the core courses. The core business courses include:

Detailed descriptions for each core required course and elective are provided at the end of this section. Only three core business courses, MGT 6350, International Business Study Abroad; MGT 6600, Product/Service Cost/Price and Management Decisions; and MGT 6750, Strategic Management specify core sequencing.

Electives

Students may elect to follow a general M.B.A. track, selecting 10 hours of electives that are of interest or enhance their knowledge in more than one area. Alternatively, students may designate an area of specialization that provides a marketable documentation of concentrated academic work. Elective tracks allow each student to "customize" their M.B.A. program of study. Current elective tracks include Accounting, Finance, Health Care Management, Management of Business Processes and Operations, and Music Business. These tracks may be supplemented with additional tracks as determined by student demand. Electives may be taken once prerequisites are successfully completed.

Customized M.B.A. Program

The Massey M.B.A. program provides an opportunity for each student to customize the program to meet his/her needs. A student may complete the program in as little as 18 months or may take up to four years from the time the first core business course is taken. Realizing that one size does not fit all, the Massey program provides the flexibility to complete the degree in the time most effective for the individual. In addition, the program provides students the opportunity to customize the courses to fit their needs, whether the need is to enhance current career skills and knowledge or to prepare for an entirely new career. The student selects a particular elective track or merely selects various courses across tracks. Students will meet with an advisor when entering the program to determine the most appropriate plan of study for the student's needs. As needs change, so does the program of study, if required.