Business Administration, M.B.A., Human Resource Management Concentration

Curriculum

The M.B.A. curriculum is focused primarily on advanced topics Students without previous studies in business will complete up to 18 credits in introductory core courses before proceeding to the 30–36 credits of advanced courses and electives.

For advanced electives, students may choose four courses from a variety of alternatives or they may select a concentration from six different areas, ranging from accounting to sports management.

Students begin their studies with six required core courses. Any of these six core courses may be waived on the basis of the student’s undergraduate course work or previous graduate courses, if taken at a regionally accredited institution within the last seven years. Waiver guidelines are outlined on the following pages.

After satisfying the prerequisites, students proceed to the next level in the program: the six advanced courses plus the four elective, or concentration, courses. No waivers are permitted for the 30–36 credits of advanced courses plus electives; however, transfer credit toward advanced courses and/or electives may be granted for graduate courses with a grade of B (3.0) or better if taken within the last four years at a regionally accredited institution, subject to the transfer policies of the Graduate School. After admission, any graduate courses taken for transfer must have approval with a signed Coordinated Course Form.

Completion of the elective portion of the M.B.A. program may be accomplished by taking graduate courses offered through the various departments or programs of the university, or by choosing a concentration in a specific area of study. Students should select courses that will enhance their career objectives. Concentrations allow students to develop specialized skills in a particular field, and they are described later in this section. Students taking non-business elective courses must contact the M.B.A. program director for approval and seek academic advice from the graduate program coordinator of the non-business department.

In appropriate cases having special approval, a student may elect to write a thesis. Candidates for the M.B.A. who elect to write a thesis must register for a minimum of six thesis credits in the appropriate business department and substitute the six credits of Thesis I and II for two elective courses in the program. The thesis must show ability to organize material in a clear and original manner and must present well-reasoned conclusions. Thesis preparation and submission must comply with the Graduate School policy on theses as well as specific departmental requirements.

Waiver Policy

Any of the six required core courses may be waived on the basis of appropriate undergraduate or graduate courses taken within the last seven years at a regionally accredited institution. Waivers are considered at the time of admission; waivers based on a B (3.0) or better in the appropriate courses are granted. Students who seek transfer credit must submit a written request (with a course syllabus, preferably, or course description of the previously completed course work) to the M.B.A. director during the first semester of attendance. Normally, waivers are decided within the first semester of study. Only courses with grades of B or better may be used in meeting waiver guidelines for required courses. Only required core courses may be waived.

A course that has been waived may not be taken for or used for elective credits. No tuition refund or cancellation is issued for courses taken and subsequently waived.

Waiver Guidelines

The minimum course requirements or waivers are as follows (courses must have been taken within the last seven years):

• ACCT 6620 - Financial Accounting for Managers One course the equivalent of A 220 - Intermediate Accounting I
• ECON 6601 - Macroeconomics and Microeconomics One course in macroeconomics and one course in microeconomics
• FINC 6601 - Financial Management One upper-division course in corporate finance
• MGMT 6637 - Management Process One upper-division course in management or organizational behavior
• MKTG 6609 - Marketing One upper-division course in marketing
• QANL 6604 - Probability and Statistics Two courses in statistics, or one course in statistics and one course in quantitative business analysis.

Concentrations

Within the M.B.A. program students may use the elective credits to concentrate their studies in a specific area. It is recommended, but not required, that concentrations be indicated on the application for admission to the M.B.A. program, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The M.B.A. concentrations and their course requirements are presented on the following pages. Concentrations consist of at least 12 credits. In certain circumstances, students may be allowed to substitute other appropriate courses for those listed as part of the concentration. Any substitution for a listed concentration course must be approved in writing by the student’s concentration advisor prior to enrollment in the course.

Selection of a concentration is optional; students may find that a variety of courses from several areas is more useful for their career training and interests. If they do pursue a concentration, they are encouraged to designate it as early as possible in order to plan the sequencing of courses for the concentration and to receive appropriate advisement from the concentration advisors listed below. Most courses in a concentration may be attempted as soon as prerequisites have been satisfied. Delaying start of the concentration may cause key courses to be missed on the annual rotation. Because accounting preparation often involves state or other coverage requirements, early consultation with an advisor is strongly recommended.