Master of Business Administration Degree

Purpose and Philosophy

The MBA at Columbus State University is designed as a general purpose graduate management degree. The curriculum of the MBA program develops and enhances analytical, conceptual, technical, and communication skills of the student. The MBA program provides the student with a base in the traditional business functional areas of accounting, finance, marketing, and operations management. Interdisciplinary topics such as corporate policy and strategy and management information systems are emphasized. The importance of international business aspects and the societal and ethical responsibilities of management are addressed. The curriculum accommodates students with accredited baccalaureate degrees in engineering, the arts or sciences, education, and other fields, as well as business.

Admission

An applicant seeking admission to the MBA program must submit an official baccalaureate degree transcript from an accredited institution and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) results before the application can be considered. Only scores from the GMAT taken within the past five years are accepted. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit evidence of English language proficiency.

Admission to the program is determined by the MBA admissions committee; applicants must demonstrate high promise of success in graduate study to gain admission. MBA students are admitted to the program in either the regular or provisional classification. Regular students have satisfied all program admission requirements, but may have to remove background deficiencies (typically by completion of all or part of the prerequisite courses). Provisional students must complete the first nine semester hours of graduate study earning a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to continue in the program.

All graduate students in business will plan individualized programs of study in cooperation with an advisor in the Abbott Turner College of Business.

Curriculum

Individuals with a business baccalaureate degree normally can obtain the MBA by completing 36 semester hours (12 courses) of study. Students not possessing baccalaureate degrees in business may be required to complete as many as 57 semester hours (19 courses) to obtain the degree. The curriculum is segmented into two cores: the basic core (prerequisite courses) and the advance core (MBA).

Prerequisite Courses

These seven course provide a business background for students who have earned non-business baccalaureate degrees. At the time of entry, the director of the MBA program will determine which of these courses, if any, the student must complete. (The 500 level courses are not open for credit to undergraduates pursuing the BBA degree.) Undergraduates pursuing non-business baccalaureate degrees who are within three quarters of graduation may (with the permission of the director of the MBA program) enroll for 500 level courses.

Area 1 MBA Core

These nine courses are required of all MBA students and are designed to provide the student with the analytical techniques and managerial concepts to assume positions of administrative responsibility. These are exclusively graduate courses and are open only to MBA students and graduate students who have satisfied designated prerequisites. The MBA core is segmented into the following components: foundations, functions, and applications.

Foundations — These four courses provide the MBA student with advanced study in accounting, economics, organizational behavior, and enhancement of the individual’s professional communication skills.

Courses - Required Hours: 12

• MBA 6117 Managerial Accounting
• MBA 6145 Managerial Economics
• MBA 6188 Professional Communication Skills
• MBA 6795 Seminar in Organizational Behavior

Functions — These courses provide the MBA student with conceptual, analytical, decision-making, and communication skills in the traditional disciplines of business: finance, marketing, and production/operations.

Courses - Required Hours: 9

• MBA 6157 Managerial Finance
• MBA 6165 Operations Management
• MBA 6176 Marketing Management

Applications — These two courses provide the MBA student with the opportunity to assimilate and apply acquired skills, concepts, and techniques. Intensive case and computer analyses are emphasized.

Courses - Required Hours: 6

• MBA 6126 Strategic Management
• MBA 6138 Management Information Systems

Area 2 Electives - Required Hours: 9

Each student in the MBA program has three elective courses. Each elective must be approved by the candidate’s graduate business advisor. Candidates normally will elect business courses numbered 6000 or higher.

Total Hours Required: 36

The MBA program offers a concentration in accounting specifically designed for those with an undergraduate degree in accounting who wish to meet the five-year requirement to sit for the CPA exam. Students who wish to concentrate in accounting, and have an undergraduate degree in accounting, will take ACCT 6135 in lieu of MBA 6117 and then use as their electives ACCT 6156, ACCT 6148, and ACCT 6137.

Transfer Credit — A maximum of nine hours with a minimum grade of B may be accepted for transfer. Transfer credit will not be utilized in computing the student’s grade point average.

Application for Graduation — Approval of an application for the MBA degree is contingent upon the successful completion of an approved program with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all MBA core and graduate elective courses. All courses used to remove background deficiencies must be completed satisfactorily with a grade of C or better. Applications for degree conferral must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar one semester prior to completion of degree requirements. Students have a maximum of six years from first quarter enrollment to complete all MBA degree requirements.