Master of Business Administration

Master of Business Administration

Department of Graduate Programs - Overview

The Department is dedicated to developing leaders who embody the values of the School of Business and Technology and demonstrate consistently the highest levels of ethical decision-making, social responsibility, global awareness, and professional excellence.  These values-as reflected in the Benedictine heritage-include:

• Respect by valuing the dignity and worth of all people and utilize all resources responsibly;
• Fairness in treating all justly and equitably;
• Courage by acting in accordance with one's beliefs;
• Love of Learning through investigating and integrating the broad spectrum of human experience to the enrichment of life;
• Innovation to create and implement new ideas; and,
• Community through shared responsibility and developing a sense of unity while valuing the uniqueness of the individual.

The graduate management programs are designed to produce the following general outcomes in graduates:1) communicate effectively and professionally in business situations through writing, speaking, listening and electronic media; 2) appreciate globalization and its impacts on people, businesses and the economy; 3) conceptualize organizational dynamics including structure, functions and systems; 4) integrate personal values with professional ethical standards and their application to real world issues; and, 5) identify, analyze and solve strategic business problems by reflecting, creating, innovating and acting.

The MBA program is designed for students who want a broad knowledge base in all areas of business, strong technical skills, professional and personal effectiveness and capabilities in leadership and change management. Understanding of organizations in a global environment is fundamental to the program. Ethics, social responsibility, personal awareness and cultural acumen in a global setting are integrated throughout the curriculum. Students have international learning opportunities through our Capstone Abroad Seminar. 

 

Detailed Program Description

Format

The 40-semester-credits program is offered in an evening format that allows professionals to maintain their current work schedules while enhancing their knowledge and skills. The MBA can be completed in 16 to 24 months, depending on whether a student takes one or two courses per eight-week term. The nature of graduate studies is such that a significant amount of out of class assignments, research and team work will complement class instruction and, therefore, the number of contact hours is justified by the more responsible, self-directed nature of adult learners.

 

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the MBA program, students should be able to:

1. Utilize analytics and technology to formulate and implement strategy;
2. Apply knowledge of organizational management to accomplish business and organizational goals;
3. Demonstrate change leadership skills that contribute to the profitability, strategic health and vitality of a commercial enterprise; and,
4. Utilize analytic management skills to create value for stakeholders. 

 

Admission Requirements for the Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The Master of Business Administration program considers applicants who:

1. Submit a completed Graduate Admission Application form;
2. Have an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;
3. Submit all official transcripts of baccalaureate and graduate coursework that is relevant to consideration for admission to this program;
4. Have an earned minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.8;
5. Submit a Graduate Management Programs Written Essay per the instructions that are shown below; and,
6. Submit two Graduate Recommendation forms.

PLEASE NOTE:

• All students are expected to have completed with a grade of B or better coursework in macro- & micro-economics at the undergraduate level; and,
• Students applying for the MBA Program will need to have taken at least one course in the principles of accounting at the undergraduate level and attained a grade of B or better.
• Students admitted to either graduate management programs may elect the DUAL DEGREE option within the first 12 credits of coursework.  Thereafter, this option may only be added with the permission of the graduate program director.

International applicants will need to complete additional admission requirements.

Note: Meeting minimal entrance requirements does not necessarily guarantee admission.

Topical Essay

Please prepare a 600-word (minimum) essay, typed and double spaced, using 12-point Times New Roman font and one-inch margins.  Applicant may choose a topic of interest (e.g., organizational behavior, communications, finance, management, or economics) but it should be relevant to the MA in Management or MBA program to which s/he is applying. The essay should represent your highest level of academic writing and demonstrate an ability to participate in a rigorous, fast-paced academic program.

NOTE FOR DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM APPLICANTS:  Those applicants who are applying for the dual degree option should include an additional passage of about 250 words that addresses a topic of interest that is relevant to the second degree.  

Degree Requirements

A total of 40 semester credits are required for graduation. Credit toward the degree will be given for courses with a grade of "C" or better; students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. A maximum of six graduate semester credits may be transferred from another accredited college or university if approved by The College of St. Scholastica. The MBA program must be completed within seven years, and students must make sufficient academic progress toward the degree during their enrollment. (Credits more than seven years old as of the date of graduation will not count toward the degree.) Evidence of regular progress in the program generally means registration in at least one course each semester during the academic year. Students will be allowed to register for courses only when they have met course prerequisites and have demonstrated sufficient academic progress toward the degree.

 Every student must complete one of the following final program options: 1) faculty-directed conceptual or applied project; 2) Capstone Abroad Seminar; or 3) academic research thesis.

Curriculum

A student must complete a required common and program-specific core curriculum (27 credits), a final capstone project, and sufficient elective courses to meet the program's 40 credit hour graduation requirement.  A maximum of six graduate semester credits may be transferred from another accredited college or university if approved by The College of St. Scholastica. Transfer credits may only be used to satisfy elective course requirements.

 

Summary of Curriculum

Common Core Curriculum (21 credits):
MGT 6412: Management Writing & Resources 3 cr.
MGT 6413: Management Communication & Cultural Competence 3 cr.
MGT 6420: Organizational Behavior 3 cr.
MGT 6307: Economics for Decision-making (Managerial Economics) 3 cr.
MGT 6450: Marketing: Consumer Behavior 3 cr.
MGT 6455: Strategic Leadership for Change 3 cr.
MGT 6431: Research Methods (Statistics) 3 cr.

Program Core Curriculum (6 credits)
MGT 6530: Managerial Applications of Technology 3 cr.
MGT 6440: Financial Management 3 cr.

Elective Concentration Curriculum (3 courses for a total of 9 credits)
Business Leadership Concentration
MGT 6301: Global Operations Management 3 cr.
MGT 6520: Business Law 3 cr.
MGT 6465: Global Leadership and Ethics 3 cr.
Finance Concentration
MGT 6460: Managerial Accounting 3 cr. 
MGT 6777: Corporate Finance 3 cr.
MGT 6777: Mergers and Acquisitions 3 cr.
Marketing Concentration
MGT 6777: Marketing Research 3 cr.
MGT 6777: Strategic Marketing 3 cr.
MGT 6777: Applied Marketing 3 cr.
IT Leadership Concentration
MGT 6105: Strategies of Information Technology3 cr.
MGT 6318: Business Process Analysis 3 cr.

Capstone Program Options (one option completed; 4-6 credits)
MGT 6800: Faculty-directed Conceptual or Applied Project 4 cr. -or-  
MGT 6490: Capstone Abroad Seminar 4 cr.  -or-  
MGT 6810: Academic Research Thesis 6 cr.
MGT 6820: Supplemental Dual Degree Course 2 cr.

Course Descriptions for the MBA Program

 MGT 6105: Strategies of Information Technology
3 credits
An exploration of the modern information technology department and partnerships with the functional units of the firm.  Topics include organizational structures and governance, current technology solution models, financial planning, and the entrepreneur approach to creating value. (IT Leadership Concentration)

MGT 6113: Strategic Marketing
3 credits
Addresses the inherent complexity in the art and discipline of strategic marketing. In clearly defining strategic marketing-as distinct from tactical marketing-students will be uniquely equipped to digest the concepts involved in applying strategic marketing to real-word, commercial contexts.   The course makes a conscientious distinction between strategic marketing and tactical marketing, keeping in mind the commonalities among them and their inherent, often counter-intuitive, relationship.  Students emerge from the course with a competitive advantage in addressing the multi-faceted, interrelated marketing challenges with which virtually every organization is faced.  (Marketing Concentration)

MGT 6301: Global Operations Management
3 credits
This course covers the tools, techniques and methodologies used by managers to plan for, design, implement and control systems that create/produce services and/or goods in an organization. The decisions for which operations managers are held accountable, methods used to make those decisions, and the factors affecting productivity, effectiveness and efficiency in an organization are covered. Topics include strategic considerations in operations management, operations decision-making, quality management, forecasting, JIT inventory management, the impact of culture on the management of operations, and facility location for an international network. (Business Leadership Concentration)

MGT 6307: Economics for Decision-making
3 credits
This course focuses on economic decision making in business, where the application of economic theory guides an organization in achieving its aims or strategic objectives. The tools and applications are used to make decisions, assess outcomes and adjust strategy in a global context. The importance of information, competing with a market structure, pricing strategies for firms with varying market power and the nature of industries are covered. A global competitive analysis of a firm in a global market is conducted. A previous course that covers macro- and micro-economic theories is a pre-requisite before taking this class. (Common Core Curriculum)

MGT 6318: Business Process Analysis3 credits
A detailed study on the skills and techniques used to partner with functional departments to analyze, model, and improve the business processes across the organization.  Students will examine the methods used to create collaborative relationships with functional units, model business processes, and evaluate system options to support integrated data management and business process management.  (IT Leadership Concentration)

MGT 6412: Management Writing & Resources
3 credits
Provides students an opportunity to develop and practice their writing skills for graduate coursework. Differences between academic and business writing are examined in terms of audience, purpose, format, and demands. Course includes examples of good academic writing and previews the final project and final project proposal for the MA in Management.  (Common Core Curriculum)

MGT 6413: Management Communication and Cultural Competency
3 credits
Prepares students to develop and direct employees using culturally sensitive interpersonal communication. The course incorporates theory with practice and helps students develop the awareness and skills necessary to manage effectively across cultures in both the domestic and global workplace. (Common Core Curriculum)

MGT 6420: Organizational Behavior
3 credits
Explores the behavior of people within organizations in terms of the factors that most influence it. Those include factors related to individuals, groups, and the larger organization system. The course utilizes an experiential learning process that helps students understand their strengths and weaknesses as learners. This course is required for students who join the MA in Management and MBA programs.  (Common Core Curriculum)

MGT 6431: Research Methods 3 credits
Studies the basic principles of descriptive and inferential statistics, focusing on their application in conducting business research and understanding the research of others. Topics will include: Probability, frequency distributions and graphs, measures of central tendency, measures of variance, correlations, linear and multiple regression, and hypothesis testing (t-test, analysis of variance, and chi square). (Common Core Curriculum)

MGT 6440: Financial Management
3 credits
Covers a wide variety of financial topics that are required tools for managers and officers of both large and small organizations. Covers the topics of value tracking and capital budgeting as well as financial decision-making within dynamic organizations.  A previous course in accounting is a pre-requisite before taking this class.  (Program Core Curriculum)                                           

MGT 6450: Marketing: Consumer Behavior
3 credits
Provides an overview of marketing principles and practices with emphasis on applications for new managers. The course will emphasize marketing from a strategic perspective, with subsequent focus on key concepts such as consumer behavior and marketing mix. Although the focus will be on participant's application in their own organizations, consideration will also be given to international applications.  (Common Core Curriculum)

MGT 6455: Strategic Leadership for Change 3 credits
Explores the complex connections among strategy, leadership, and change management. Set in a global environment characterized by rapid technological change, it emphasizes the importance of a leader's capacity to anticipate, envision, and work collaboratively toward a viable organizational future.  The course serves as a core curriculum capstone for the MAM and MBA programs and requires students to synthesize and integrate lessons learned in their previous courses.  (Common Core Curriculum)

MGT 6460: Managerial Accounting
3 credits
This course focuses on cost accounting. It enables students to analyze and interpret historical and estimated data used by management to conduct daily operations, plan future operations and develop overall company strategies. Students become familiar with standard cost accounting methods and systems. They also analyze the ethical issues that arise from cost accounting.  (Finance Concentration)

MGT 6465: Global Leadership & Ethics
3 credits
Provides practical frameworks to understand and analyze differences in ethical and leadership issues as they arise in domestic and global business settings. The tools and their application by organizations and individuals to effectively make decisions, solve problems, management change and adjust strategy are covered. Topics include cultural comparisons of ethics, social responsibility and leadership, the crucial and distinctive functions of management versus leadership in ethics in an international setting, and the role of leadership in balancing firm profitability with social and individual responsibility in the context of different cultures.  (Business Leadership Concentration)

MGT 6490: Capstone Abroad Seminar
4 credits
Serves as a final demonstration of a student's capacity to apply theoretical lessons from the MBA program to organizational issues or problems. An international field project will be embedded in this course to give students an opportunity to assess organizational issues or problems in a cross-cultural and global context. Students write a significant paper that includes a review of literature, an analysis of the issue or problem, and prescriptions or conclusions that emerge from the analysis in the context of the international experience.  (Capstone Option)

MGT 6510 Corporate Finance
3 credits
Examines the principles of corporate finance and the tools and practices used in financial decision making. Investigates the treasury function of an organization and the decisions made by the treasurer.  Topics include long term financing, capital budgeting decisions, beta, debt-equity options, dividend policy and IPO's.

MGT 6515: Internet Marketing
3 credits
Focuses on the foundations, strategies, and tools of internet marketing used by business leaders and marketing professionals to find, create, keep, and engage customers. For behind the curtain of high technology, the internet is at its most basic level the purest form of a direct-response medium, a marketing strategy generally well-known to practicing marketing professionals. Thus the methods and tools of the internet-while new and rapidly evolving-are based on an established marketing model. Even though the principles remain the same, the technology of the tools requires a deep understanding of the structure and systems that constitute the Internet and the World Wide Web.  (Marketing Concentration)

MGT 6520: Business Law
3 credits
Focuses on how legal and regulatory systems affect firms, business strategy, and the decision making process of organizational members. Topics include agency, contracts, commercial transactions, employment law, intellectual property, real property and business organization and finance. The differences between domestic and international legal systems and impact on business operations and ethical perceptions are addressed.  (Business Leadership Concentration)

MGT 6525: Investments
3 credits
Builds on the basic concepts and finance theory studied in Financial Management.  It explores further into equity valuation, bond valuation, and portfolio theory.  This course will expand the student's qualitative understanding of the markets and analysis required to properly assess risk and return, and will also further develop the student's quantitative techniques for analyzing and optimizing investment portfolios.  Prerequisite: MGT 6440 Financial Management.  (Finance Concentration)

MGT 6530: Managerial Applications of Technology
3 credits
Provides an overview of the technological responsibilities of a manager in the area of finding strategic solution, business process solutions, project management solutions and technology solutions to daily business problems. The use of technology in decision making, strategy and attainment of competitive advantage is discussed. Other topics include aligning technology with organizational goals metrics and accountability development, vendor selection, needs assessment, project planning and facilitating and technology enhanced/enabled communications.  (Program Core Curriculum)

MGT 6535: Marketing Research
3 credits
This course is designed to make students knowledgeable research consumers and beginning practitioners. The focus is on qualitative (exploratory) and quantitative research execution and the application of research findings and analysis in decision making. The course is geared toward the practical application of research, though gaining a working knowledge of relevant terminology is also important.  (Marketing Concentration)

MGT 6800: Faculty-directed Conceptual or Applied Project
4 credits
Students have a choice of an Applied Project, a Conceptual Model Study, an Industry Analysis, or other applied projects with application to the students' interests, career employment or relevancy to individual goals. They carry out research that includes international or multi-cultural dimension in the gathering and analysis of data. Students write a final paper that describes their literature review and research methods, the results of their analysis, and a discussion of their conclusions.  Students are given 16 weeks to complete the project after proposals have been approved.  (Capstone Option)

MGT 6810: Academic Research Thesis
6 credits
Students will design and carry out a significant research project that includes a review of the literature, formulation of a problem statement or hypothesis, and design and implement methods for the gathering and analysis of data. It is desirable for the research to include a significant international or multi-cultural dimension.  They will write an academic report that includes their research methods, the results of their analysis, and a discussion of their conclusions.  Students are given 32 weeks to complete the project after proposals have been approved.  (Capstone Option)

MGT 6820:  Supplemental Dual Degree Capstone Course
2 credits
A supplemental course designed to be taken as part of one of three capstone options (MGT 6490, 6800, or 6810) available to students in the M.A. in Management (MAM) or MBA programs.  This supplemental course, when satisfactorily completed, will satisfy the capstone requirement for the Dual Degree Program.

MGT 6900: Continuing Enrollment: Final Capstone Project
0 credits
Required registration for continuing work on final projects. Students not completing the final project within the 16/32 week term in which that course is scheduled must register for MGT 6900.  Students may register only once for a continuing enrollment.  This may not be used to extend MGT 6490 Capstone Abroad Seminar.