Mar 28, 2024  
2008-09 NSU Graduate Catalog 
    
2008-09 NSU Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Master of Business Administration M.B.A.


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(36 Semester Hours)

Evening Program

Northeastern State University offers a comprehensive program of study leading to the Masters of Business Administration. The program is designed for students who wish to prepare themselves for decision making positions in business and industry.

Purpose

The purpose of the MBA Program is to graduate professionals who:

  1. Use an analytical and systems approach in problem solving and decision making;
  2. Communicate effectively;
  3. Have current, relevant knowledge in functional areas of business;
  4. Understand the economic, social, political, legal, and technological environment of business in a global context;
  5. Are prepared to be dynamic leaders and effective team members;
  6. Are professional in their attitude and approach to a career; and
  7. Appreciate the civic, social, and ethical responsibilities of business organizations and of business professionals.

Objectives

  1. To provide an academically rigorous and integrated approach to the study of business.
  2. To foster a comprehensive understanding of theory, research methods and application to business problems.
  3. To develop knowledgeable, accomplished individuals who wish to pursue careers in business.

Program of Study

The MBA program is a 36 semester hour program which integrates all of the functional areas of business. The program is highly structured, with all students enrolled in essentially identical core sequences each semester. The program imposes a heavy workload that requires a high degree of discipline and commitment on the part of the student. By combining the use of case studies and interactive computing with research projects and lectures, the MBA program prepares decision makers of the highest caliber for the nation’s businesses, industries, academic institutions, and government.

Admissions

Northeastern State University seeks highly qualified applicants for the MBA program. Neither an undergraduate degree in business or management nor previous business-related courses are required for admission to the program. The admission decision is based on an evaluation of all application materials submitted by the Individual. Previous academic records, current resume, GMAT score, and recommendations are assessed during the admission process. To be considered for admission to the MBA program, the student must submit by May first for the fall semester (which may require summer enrollment for prerequisite courses) or November first for the spring semester (Only if no prerequisites are required. Beginning the program in spring may result in less than a full load of courses the first semester):

  1. a transcript showing undergraduate degree completion;
  2. an official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score report;
  3. a current resume showing all academic honors and work experience; and
  4. an approved application for graduate admission.

Letters of recommendation are optional but highly recommended. In some cases an interview may be scheduled before admission to the program.

Background Requirements

Before beginning required MBA courses it is necessary to have sufficient background in core business subjects. It is also imperative that any student entering the program have excellent language skills and computer literacy. MBA students are subject to proficiency examination before entering the program and subject to entrance proficiency requirements for core courses and computer usage. Even students with business degrees may be required to remove deficiencies by taking business foundations courses. This may be accomplished by taking the undergraduate level three hour business courses which comprise the common professional component (CPC) core business classes or deficiencies may be removed by taking any or all of the MBA Business Foundations courses:

  • MBA 5013, Business Foundations I: Statistics and Management
  • MBA 5023, Business Foundations II: Law, Economics, and Marketing
  • MBA 5033, Business Foundations III: Accounting and Finance

The record of each student entering the MBA program will be evaluated based upon completed courses (on official transcripts), work experience shown on a resume supported by letters of recommendation, assessment instruments, or other appropriate documentation as well as entrance examinations for the core MBA courses. Appropriate course work to fully meet the CPC requirement will be determined before enrollment in graduate courses. Any CPC hours must be completed and the students will receive credit, however, these hours will not be used to satisfy the 36 hours of MBA degree requirements. Appropriate foundation CPC courses will be determined prior to course enrollment.

Degree Requirements

A student must complete a minimum of either 36 semester hours of graduate course work or 30 hours and completion of a master’s research project; all with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to the MBA degree program does not imply admission to candidacy. Students are eligible to be admitted to candidacy if they have:

  1. Been regularly admitted to the MBA program;
  2. Been assigned an advisor by the Graduate College from the College of Business graduate faculty;
  3. Filed a degree plan signed by the student, the advisor, and the Dean of the Graduate College;
  4. Filed a Statement of Understanding signed by the student and the advisor with the Graduate College;
  5. Completed a minimum of twelve graduate hours as prescribed by the degree plan;
  6. Maintained a 3.0 average in all course work by the date of candidacy. Fifteen semester hours toward the master’s degree must be completed after being admitted to candidacy.

Requirements for Graduation (For students with degree plans signed after July 1, 2005) In addition to the requirements for admission to graduate study, admission to candidacy and the general regulations and requirements for graduation, the candidate for the Master of Business Administration Degree must comply with the following:

  1. Along with completing 30 hours of core business courses the student must take six hours of elective course work or enroll in MBA 5711 with the permission of an advising member of the graduate faculty to complete a Master’s research project. If the research project option is exercised they must remain continuously enrolled in MBA 5711 until their project is completed.
  2. Upon completion of the Master’s research project the candidate must present their research to and pass an oral exam over the project topic with a committee appointed by the program director.

Optional Requirements for Graduation until July 1, 2011 (For students with degree plans signed before July 1, 2005) In addition to the requirements for admission to graduate study, admission to candidacy and the general regulations and requirements for graduation, the candidate for the Master of Business Administration Degree with a degree plan signed by the Graduate Dean before July 1, 2005 may comply with the following:

  1. Substitute MBA 5113 Reasoning for Business Decision Making for MGMT 5253 Seminar in Business Foundations; MBA 5123 Analysis for Business Decision Making for BADM 5713 Business Research Methods; MBA 5213 Organizational Behavior for MGMT 5443 Organizational Behavior; MBA 5313 Managerial Accounting for ACCT 5223 Managerial Accounting; MBA 5323 Managerial Finance for FIN 5243 Managerial Finance; MBA 5333 Marketing Strategy for MKT 5013 Marketing Strategy; MBA  5343 Managerial Economics for ECON 5523 Managerial Economics; MBA 5413 Strategic Management for MGMT 5623 Strategic Management I; MBA 5423 Capstone Practicum and its requirements for Management 5863 Strategic Management II and the previously required business plan; and six hours of approved electives. 
  2. Students wishing to fulfill the programs previous Business Plan Capstone Experience can enroll in MBA 5640 as an elective independent directed study with the Program Director. This plan must be acceptable to the program director, the members of the advisory committee, and the Dean of the Graduate College. The plan must be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate College at least thirty days before the conferral of the degree. A student must maintain a continuous enrollment (every semester) in the MBA 5711 course from the time he or she completes MGMT 5863 (Strategic Management II) until the business plan is completed, or until the six year degree limit expires.
  3. If a student chooses the business plan option, oral presentation of the entrepreneurial plan including a comprehensive oral examination by a panel chosen by the program director must be completed before earning the MBA degree at NSU. Students who do not pass the comprehensive oral examination may be required to take additional courses to eliminate any deficiencies.

Required Courses


I. Prerequisite Business Foundations Courses


(as required of students with non-business undergraduate majors or any student who does not pass the entrance examinations in any subject area)

III. Elective Emphasis (A.) or Masters Research Project (B.) Tracks


Total semester hours for MBA degree 36 hours

B. Research


Total semester hours for MBA degree 31-36 hours**

Notes

*If a student fails to complete his/her masters research project by the end of any semester after it has begun, then they must enroll in MBA 5711 EVERY semester until the research is completed. Failure to enroll in this course will result in a student having to choose new readers and thus begin the research process again.

**A minimum of 30 graduate business hours must be taken to complete the degree requirements plus as many hours in MBA 5711 as necessary to complete the masters research project within three years. If the project is not completed within that time the student must begin again (and is likely to have to begin retaking graduate classes for them to count toward graduation given the graduate college time limit).

Total semester hours for MBA degree 31-36 hours**

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