Master of Business Administration

The MBA program is designed for individuals with work experience who aspire to organizational or entrepreneurial leadership positions. The program enhances general management abilities and provides an opportunity to place emphasis on one or more functional areas of expertise. The primary objectives of the program are for students to develop and integrate: (1) analytical skills for decision-making that incorporate global, ethical, and culturally diverse dimensions; (2) skills in assessing organizational performance and developing approaches for improvement; (3) leadership skills; and (4) interpersonal skills that contribute to teamwork.

M.B.A. Orientation
All entering M.B.A. students are required to enroll in MBA 5000, M.B.A. Orientation, in their first semester of enrollment. This four-to-six-hour course is for zero hours credit, and there is no charge. It consists of several sessions required of all students followed by optional topics. It is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Generally four sessions of the orientation course are offered each semester. The specific offerings will be shown in the schedule of classes. Each session has a limited seating capacity. The sessions are offered at the downtown campus on Fridays and Saturdays. One session is usually offered in the evening. These are the objectives of the orientation program:

• To provide relevant information about the M.B.A. program to the students.
• To develop a sense of community and identification for the M.B.A. students.
• To introduce M.B.A. students to the case method of study and analysis.
• To demonstrate how teamwork enhances learning.
• To communicate the seriousness of commitment to the M.B.A. program.
• To begin the process of program planning and career planning.

Regulations for the Degree
The Master of Business Administration degree is awarded upon completion of a prescribed program ranging from 39 to 57 semester hours of credit (13 to 19 courses), depending on the academic background of students and on options selected by the students. The M.B.A. program is developed on the assumption that students enter the program with certain skills:

• Computing skills. Because computers are an integral part of business decision making, courses in the Robinson College of Business frequently incorporate assignments that require computing skills. The current computing skills prerequisites (CSPs) for all RCB courses are in this chapter. The college expects all entering M.B.A. students to be proficient at a minimum in CSP I, Basic Microcomputing Skills. Advanced or more specialized skills, as required by specific courses, must be developed before the courses are taken.
• Algebra skills. Math 1111 (college algebra) or equivalent mathematical knowledge is assumed for all entering M.B.A. students. A list of algebra topics that provide background for M.B.A.-prefixed courses is available from the Office of Academic Assistance. Also available is a self-administered diagnostic test to identify areas of weakness. As alternatives to taking Math 1111, students may study the Schaum's Outline Series publications or the Math 1111 text referenced on the algebra topics list. Students are expected to self select into Math 1111 or take other appropriate steps if they do not have a working knowledge of college algebra.
• Communication skills. All M.B.A. students must complete the business communication skills requirement explained earlier in this section.

Degree Requirements
The "Summary of Regulations--Master's Programs" section of this chapter applies to the M.B.A. program. The regulations, policies, and procedures given in the "Master's Enrollment" section of this chapter also apply to the M.B.A. program.

The time limit for completing the M.B.A. program is five years.

The course requirements for the M.B.A. program and the sequence of courses follow. All M.B.A. foundation, core and required courses carry three semester hours of credit each.

Group A: Foundation Courses (0-9 semester hours). These courses, if assigned, must be taken first. They provide foundation for the rest of the program and are prerequisites to several core and required courses. They can be exempted if equivalent course work has been previously completed at an accredited school with grades of C or higher; consult the exemption criteria at the end of this chapter for more information.

Group B: Core Courses (9-12 semester hours). These core courses should be taken soon after completion of foundation courses. One course may be exempted based on having completed the equivalent of a undergraduate major or other specified substantial academic background; exemption criteria are given at the end of the MBA description.

Group C: Required Courses Beyond the Core (12 semester hours). These courses should be taken toward the end of the program. Any can be exempted according to the criteria given at the end of the MBA description but they must be replaced by an 8000-level RCB course for which prerequisites have been satisfied with the exception of MBA 8011, MBA 8121, MBA 8231, and a Group B course that has been exempted.

Students may begin taking courses in Groups D, E, and F after completion of 15 hours of core and required courses (Groups B and C).

Group D: Concentration (12 semester hours). Completion of 12 semester hours in a designated area constitutes a concentration. Requirements for each concentration are provided below.

Group E: 8000-Level RCB Electives (6 semester hours). The two three-semester-hour electives can be chosen from any 8000-level RCB course for which prerequisites have been satisfied with the exception of MBA 8011, MBA 8121, MBA 8231, and a Group B course that has been exempted. Students choosing to major in real estate or risk management and insurance must take one of their 8000-level RCB electives in their major area. (See description of the major in Group F below.) Students are encouraged to consider MBA 8880, Field Study in Business, as an integrative elective course for their program.

Optional-Group F: Major (6 additional hours). Students may choose to take six additional hours in a designated area to be awarded a major instead of a concentration. As mentioned previously in Group E, students choosing to major in real estate or risk management and insurance must take their 8000-level RCB elective in their major area.

Total semester hours required for the degree: 39-57. The total will vary depending on whether students have been exempted from foundation and/or core courses and on whether they choose to complete a concentration or major.