Nov 13, 2024  
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Business Administration


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Graduate Business Programs
238 Elliott Hall  (map)
(248) 370-3287 • Fax (248) 370-4964
http://www.sba.oakland.edu

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Program coordinator:
Paul Trumbull
238B Elliott Hall
(248) 370-3277
trumbull@oakland.edu

 

Program description

A program leading to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with special emphasis in information technology and international business is offered by the School of Business Administration. It is designed to educate students for managerial roles in private, public, or not-for-profit sectors of the economy.

The MBA program is designed for undergraduate majors from any discipline, including business or management. It is preferred that students with an undergraduate degree in business or one of the functional areas of management have two years of work experience before entering the MBA program. A typical entering class may consist of undergraduate majors from engineering, the natural sciences, the social sciences, computer science, mathematics, business, health care, education and the humanities.

The program is based on the belief that an education in management should:

  • Prepare students for careers involving problem identification, problem solving, decision making and leadership in any type of organization
  • Emphasize the determination of goals and the effective utilization of scarce resources
  • Help students understand and effectively interact with the emerging workplace issues of globalization and diversity
  • Assist students in understanding the effects of, and successfully deal with, the changing social, legal, ethical and technological environments of the organization
  • Stress understanding of human behavior and the organizational setting, for much of management relates to people – understanding them, communicating with them, working with them, and leading them
  • Stress the importance of the management of information technology resources in the successful operation of an organization.

Students in the MBA program may choose to focus their elective work in one of the ten areas of concentration offered at Oakland University or select to choose from a variety of elective courses for more general study. Currently, the MBA program at Oakland University has areas of concentration in accounting, business economics, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources management, international business, management information systems, marketing, and production/operations management and supply chain management.

Program delivery

Courses are offered Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings at the Rochester campus and Monday through Thursday evenings at Oakland University site locations.

Length of program

The length of the MBA program varies from 36 to 48 credits (not including prerequisites), depending on the student’s prior preparation.

Full-time students normally take 12 credits (four courses) in the fall and winter semesters and three credits (one course) in each summer session. The full-time student can finish the complete 48-credit program in less than two years. Students with sufficient background in business courses may be able to complete the minimum 36-credit MBA program in 16 months of full-time study.

Part-time students taking six courses per year can finish the complete 48-credit program in two and two-thirds calendar years (32 months) in a year-round program.

Satisfactory progress

The MBA program must be completed within six years from the date of entry into the program. The scheduling of MBA classes is based on the assumption that students will be enrolled in a standard part-time program: six courses per year (two courses in each of the 15-week fall and winter semesters, and one course in each of the eight-week summer sessions).

In accordance with university regulations, all course credits used to meet requirements of the MBA program must be earned within six years of the date that the MBA is awarded.

Application terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

  • July 15 for fall semester
  • November 15 for winter semester
  • March 15 for summer semester
Readmission and program transfer

Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.

International application deadlines

International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission and by September 1 for winter admission. International applicants are not eligible for Special Graduate classification.

Special Graduate classification

Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission.  The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department.  Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.

Students may request special graduate classification beginning  with the dates below.

  • August 1 for fall semester
  • December 1 for winter semester
  • April 1 for summer semester

Note: Special Graduate classification will not be granted after the first week of classes in a semester.

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following University and Program application documents by the published application deadlines:

University graduate application requirements
  • Application for Admission to Graduate Study        
  • Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
  • Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
    • As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
  • Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.   

Program application requirements
  • Supplemental Application Form
  • Official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores. The GMAT scores must be five years or less at the time of the applicant’s intended enrollment at Oakland University.
    • Applicants who have earned a master’s degree (or higher) may request a waiver of the GMAT score. To request a waiver, an applicant must include a GMAT waiver form for consideration as part of their admission packet. The request for waiver is subject to the approval of the Graduate Admissions Committee. 

Admission review and assessment

Admission to the Master of Business Administration degree program is selective and depends on several elements, including scholarship and an ability to communicate effectively. In making admission recommendations, the admission committee assesses the potential of applicants for success in the MBA program by examining their undergraduate records, their GMAT scores, their responses to questions on the supplemental application, their work experience, and their recommendation forms.

MBA foundation requirements

Students admitted to the Master of Business Administration program must demonstrate proficiency or complete coursework in the following areas:

  • A college course in the principles of microeconomics
  • A college course in the principles of macroeconomics
  • A college course in financial accounting
  • A recent college algebra course or mathematics at a higher level
  • A college course in calculus or a continuing education course in quantitative methods which included basic calculus

These requirements must be completed prior to beginning MBA coursework.

Degree requirements


The Master of Business Administration degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 36-48 credits in an approved program of study.

The MBA program consists of four parts: the foundation requirements, the core program, the integrative business policy course (MGT 535) and a set of at least five electives. Each part of the program is detailed below.

Course requirements


Core course exemptions

Students may be exempted from some of the core courses if the applicant passed an equivalent undergraduate course with a grade of 2.0 (C) or above within the previous seven years and the student is current in the subject matter. Exemption from a core course may reduce the total credit requirement for the MBA. Students exempted from some or all the core courses will be required to take a minimum program of 36 MBA credits. As part of his or her program, the MBA student must take at least one graduate level course in each of the functional areas (i.e., at least one graduate course in ACC, FIN, MKT, and POM/QMM) either as one of the five MBA electives or in addition to these electives. Exemptions from core courses are determined by the Office of Graduate Business Programs after an evaluation of the student’s transcript. A student will be allowed to take a core course from which he/she had been exempted only with prior written approval from the Office of Graduate Business Programs. Repeating waived courses may increase a student’s MBA program beyond the minimum of 36 credits.

b. Electives


MBA candidates complete their program by selecting a minimum of 15 credits of MBA electives. Of these, one course must be an information technology elective and one must be an international business elective. The remaining 9 credits may be drawn from MBA elective courses offered by the School of Business Administration or from approved courses offered by other units of Oakland University. MBA electives are numbered 500 and above for accounting and MIS electives and 600 and above for all other areas.

c. Concentrations


If MBA students want a more structured set of electives, they can take one of the MBA concentrations. A maximum of two concentrations can be noted on their transcripts. The MBA concentrations consist of the electives structured as noted under each MBA concentration listed below. A single class may not be counted toward more than one concentration. All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted.

2. Business Economics concentration

To provide more background in the application of economics in business, the student would be required to complete three electives from the following program for a concentration in business economics:

3. Entrepreneurship concentration

To provide more background in the strategic aspects of entrepreneurship, startups and small businesses, the student would be required to complete the following program for a concentration in entrepreneurship:

4. Finance concentration

To provide more background in finance, the student would be required to complete three electives from the following list for a concentration in finance:

5. Human Resources Management concentration

To provide more background in human resources management and personnel, the student would be required to complete the following for a concentration in human resources management:

8. Marketing concentration

To provide more background in marketing, the student would be required to complete three electives from the following list for a concentration in marketing:

9. Production/Operations Management concentration

To provide more background in production and operations management, the student would be required to complete the following for a concentration in production/operations management:

10. Supply Chain Management concentration

To provide more background in supply chain management, the student would be required to complete three electives from the following list for a concentration in supply chain management. POM 642 will be required for all students who do not have previous coursework in supply chain management.

d. Exit (integrative business policy course)


The integrative business policy course, MGT 535, draws on all the coursework in the core of the MBA program in the analysis of real world cases in a team setting. MGT 535 is required of all MBA candidates.

Master’s project (optional)


The optional master’s project (equal to 6 elective credits) requires the application of classroom training and extra-classroom study to a practical management problem. It must involve collection and analysis of data in an actual organizational setting, as well as cogent recommendations to management for resolving the problem. It should be organized around a management problem that requires input from several functional areas of management.

The master’s project is not designed to be a theoretical master’s ‘‘thesis.’’ Therefore, it does not need to comply with the guidelines on the preparation of a master’s thesis or be submitted to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning
 

Satisfactory academic progress


Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing


All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

  • Holding a Graduate Assistantship
  • Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
  • Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
  • Going on a leave of absence
  • Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements:  In accordance with the university requirements for graduate students, a grade-point average of 3.0 is required for graduation. Students, therefore, should maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Students may be dismissed if they do not maintain a GPA of 3.0 or appropriate progress toward the degree as determined by the Office of Graduate Business Programs. Any course resulting in a grade below 2.0 must be repeated.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information


Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Note:  Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

 

 

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