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Frequently Asked Question - MBA

MBA related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What class should I take first?
MGMT 600 - Practical Research Methods for Managers is the required first course for all MBA students.

What prerequisite courses are required?
Financial Accounting, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Statistics. The College of Management admissions committe may require prerequisite courses over five years old be taken again prior to full admission. A letter grade of "C" or above must be earned in prerequisite courses.

Do I have to take the GMAT? What are the GMAT score requirements?
The GMAT is required. Scores below 30% (Approximately 480 for quantitative and verbal) are generally considered weak. Applicants with scores below 30% in any of the 3 areas of the GMAT who are otherwise qualified may be required to take preparatory courses as a condition of admission.

The folowing formula is used when making admission decisions:

(undergraduate GPA X 200) + GMAT =1025 or above

If your combined undergraduate GPA and GMAT score do not meet the above criteria you will not be admitted to the MBA program.

Is a thesis required? What is the difference between Master's paper and Portfolio options?
Because effective communication is fundamental to good management, you are expected to demonstrate writing skills by completing a writing portfolio as part of your coursework. Alternately, you may choose a master's paper option at the end of your program.

The writing portfolio consists of three individually prepared papers from paper-designated courses in which you have earned the letter grade of B or better. These papers are submitted as part of your academic record. Acceptable papers include, but are not limited to, marketing plans, business plans, case analysis with citations, original cases with exhibits, and term or proposition papers. An individual paper, written outside of class (which adheres to paper option criteria), may also be used as a portfolio paper. Prior approval by your faculty advisor is required. The writing portfolio handbook more fully describes the writing portfolio process and is available from the Graduate Program Office.

The master's paper option enables you to synthesize and apply the knowledge and skills from the entire graduate program and your own life experiences to a project or research question of your choice. Refinement of the idea and the detailed master;s paper proposal are developed in the four-credit course Mktg 695 Master's Paper Development. After successfully completing this course, you register for a two-credit independent study with a master's paper advisor. The independent study course is good for one year. If the paper is not complete within one year, an additional independent study is required. The MBA Master's Paper Handbook more fully describes the master's paper process. You must have completed all Phase I courses and one Phase II course and have approved initial proposal before enrolling in Master's Paper Development.

The Master's paper must be presented successfully to a graduate faculty committee. Both written paper and oral presentation must be approved by the committee as a graduation requirement. A master's paper oral presentation is scheduled only after the paper advisors have approved the paper. Deadlines for submission of the final draft of the master's paper to the academic advisor are published each semester in the Catalyst. In general, the final draft paper is due to the academic advisor six to eight weeks prior to the end of the semester in which you wish to graduate.

When am I assigned an advisor?
Faculty advisors are assigned at the time of full admission. Prior to full admission you can contact the graduate program office or the Graduate Program Director for advising help.