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2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Business Administration, M.B.A.
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 Return to: Programs of Study
Mandeville Hall
Telephone: (203) 576-4647
The UB MBA Value Proposition
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a valuable education for aspiring and practicing managers in any industry or field of endeavor. The graduate program provides early to mid-career professionals with the breadth and depth of theoretical and practical knowledge and skills that are necessary for effective leadership in an increasingly international and dynamic environment. Our innovative, interdisciplinary, and interactive MBA experience emphasizes leadership, teamwork, analytical thinking, business and management competencies, and communication to give you a competitive edge for success.
Program Characteristics
Although students with work experience will find maximum benefit from the MBA; no previous work experience is required. The curriculum is designed to recognize and accommodate substantial diversity in preparation and experience as well as the different goals and career expectations of students. For this reason, some students may be required to complete preparatory coursework to successfully graduate from the 36-credit MBA program. Flexible course delivery enables students to proceed at their desired pace. Most students complete the MBA program in 18 to 24 months.
Learning Outcomes
Students will demonstrate
- knowledge in all - and proficiency in at least one of - the basic business disciplines (accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources, information systems, leadership, management, and marketing);
- the ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely in oral and written structures, and in formal and informal settings;
- interpersonal and professional skills that enable them to contribute within diverse sets of teams and build internal and external relationships that facilitate success in contemporary organizations;
- information literacy, proficiency with technology, and analytical techniques for decision-making;
- critical and logical thinking that integrates concepts across disciplines with creativity and integrity enabling them to successfully lead in a dynamic global environment.
Assessment
- Papers, presentations, responses to cases, and projects are evaluated using formal rubrics as measures.
- Students, and the program as a whole, are evaluated and benchmarked across the basic business disciplines (formative - with the use of standardized academic tests, and summative - with the use of independent third-party tests).
- Students, working in teams, are evaluated based on team performance and individual contribution.
Language Requirement
Conditionally accepted international students with an undergraduate degree that was taught in a language other than English are required to successfully complete additional language-related coursework and third-party assessment testing before joining the program.
Academic Preparation
Students with undergraduate preparation in a non-business field may be required to complete up to 6 credits of preparatory coursework. Students with a strong academic record (B or better in each case) from an accredited university, or significant relevant work experience, may be able to waive preparatory foundation courses. ACCT 500 - Accounting, Business Law & Ethics requires both managerial and financial accounting, as well as any course labelled business law that included contracts and tort law. MGMT 500 - Management & Marketing requires organizational behavior, operations management, and marketing or any similarly named course that includes consumer behavior.
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Preparatory Courses: Acquiring the Foundation for Success - 6 Credit(s)
This coursework provides the basic fundamentals across the business disciplines that serve as a necessary foundation for the MBA program.
MBA Program Curriculum - 36 Credit(s)
- Three Components: Core, Concentration, and Capstone
Core Courses - 18 Credit(s)
In the six Core courses you will apply the theory from the Foundation coursework through cases and real-world exercises.
Concentration Courses - 9 Credit(s)
Because many careers require specialized and in-depth knowledge and skills in specific business areas, the program provides students with the opportunity to complete three courses of in-depth study in an area of their choice. Students can choose from seven concentrations.
- Accounting
- Analytics Intelligence
- Finance
- Health Care Management
- Human Resources Management
- Management
- Marketing
Capstone Courses - 9 Credit(s)
The Capstone experience provides the final integration of student learning across the disciplines and the application of concepts learned to practical and competitive situations.
Eligibility for Transfer Credits in the 36-Credit Upper-Level Program Courses
For students who have earned graduate credit from a regionally accredited university that is not included in a conferred degree: No more than two (graduate) three-credit courses may be transferred into the MBA program. For students who have earned graduate credit from the Trefz School that is not included in a conferred degree: all applicable (graduate) three-credit courses may be transferred into the MBA program.
MBA/MS Dual-Degree Program
The Trefz School offers students the opportunity to acquire concurrent (students must not be eligible to graduate from either program until the final semester) graduate degrees within the Trefz School in which students may apply up to 15 credit hours to both programs. A minimum of 51 credit hours must be completed to satisfy the requirements of this dual-degree program.
Multiple MBA Concentrations
Students may gain additional concentrations by successfully completing three courses in any of the eight concentrations (courses may not be counted twice toward concentrations). Students may receive a double concentration in their original concentration by taking three additional advanced courses in the discipline.
MBA/Engineering Partnership
In an arrangement, with the School of Engineering, approved Engineering courses offered by the College of Engineering are available for students in the MBA degree. Specific courses for this study are selected with - and approved by - the student’s advisor.
Progression/Sequence of Coursework
Preparatory coursework is the first step: Students start their studies by completing all necessary Preparatory courses. Once all the Preparatory courses have been completed, students may enter the formal MBA program. In some cases, students may take a combination of Preparatory and Core courses during their transition into the Program, but students should not take a Preparatory and advanced class in the same discipline at the same time (e.g. ITKM 500 and ITKM 505 ).
Students begin the formal MBA program by completing the six Core courses (in any order). The three Capstone courses should be taken in the final semester, or final two semesters, and must only be taken once all Core courses have been successfully completed (not concurrently).
Fulltime Status
Fulltime status requires at least three classes per semester (spring and fall) for international students and at least two classes per semester for domestic students. International students on an F1 or J1 visa may take fewer than 9 credits only once during their graduate tenure (spring and fall semesters), which is only permitted in their final semester.
Grading Policy
A grade of C or better is required for credit toward graduation in all preparatory and program coursework. Students are expected to maintain a semester GPA of 3.0 or better throughout their studies. Those students who earn a semester GPA below 3.0 will be placed on probation and must comply with the associated formal process to successfully maintain proper status.
Requirements for Graduation
To qualify for the award of the degree of Master of Business Administration, a student must fulfill the following minimum requirements:
- Admitted to candidacy for the degree in the School of Business.
- Satisfactorily complete all academic requirements with a cumulative grade point average grade of “B” (CGPA = 3.0) or better.
- File an application for the award of the degree at the Registrar’s Office on or before the date published in the University Calendar.
- Complete all academic requirements within five (5) years from the date of first registration, unless a petition for extension is granted. Extensions are granted only for compelling reasons.
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