Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
Purpose of the Program
The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree is designed to prepare graduates for business leadership positions. The knowledge, practiced skills, and attitudes needed for success in management are taught. Critical and applied thinking as well as oral and written professional communication are emphasized throughout the program. Students can choose to concentrate in one of four tracks: Accounting, Information Systems Management, International Business, or Management.
Length of Program
The program consists of 36 graduate semester hours including the successful completion of a capstone project. Classes are offered in the evening and meet once per week beginning at 6PM or 8PM for one hour and forty minutes. Spring and fall terms run 16 weeks; a shorter summer term running 7 weeks meets at 6PM for three hours and forty minutes. Selected courses are offered in online or hybrid format. Many students complete their M.B.A. in 2 years by attending evening classes on a part-time basis while continuing their full-time employment.
Graduation Requirements
• A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher for all M.B.A. courses must be earned.
• Completion of a capstone experience.
• All M.B.A. courses and the capstone experience must be successfully completed within 5 years of starting the M.B.A. program.
Capstone Experience
The MBA Capstone Experience allows students to apply, in a concentrated exercise, the varied skills and knowledge of their MBA experience. At the completion of 8 academic hours a student must choose one of two capstone options. Early selection encourages the targeting of on-going coursework towards the completion of the capstone objective.
Capstone Option #1 – The MBA Practicum
The MBA practicum is a comprehensive project designed to contribute to the student’s professional field. The output is scholarly comprehensive research or documented outcome agreed upon by UMHB faculty. The practicum is complete when presented to, and accepted by, the student’s practicum committee or at an agreed-upon academic conference.
Practicum students take two courses:
(a) BADM 6080 Practicum Methods is taken in the semester immediately following the completion of 8 academic hours.
(b) BADM 6281 – Practicum Completion is taken during the academic semester of the presentation of practicum results.
Students failing to complete and present their practicum will continue to enroll in BADM 6182 Practicum Continuation each spring and fall semester until completion.
Capstone Option #2 – International Business Competition
BADM 6288 International Business Competition assembles teams of various disciplines (finance, management, marketing, information systems, accounting, etc.) to compete in the annual Free Trade Alliance International Business Competition. Students will travel to the conference and present a comprehensive business plan.
Curriculum
The M.B.A. curriculum consists of (a) core courses, (b) track courses, and (c) a capstone project.
M.B.A. Core Courses
Select 24 hours from the following list:
(a) BADM 6220 Entrepreneurship is eliminated from the core courses selections for Management track students because the subject matter is covered in BMGT 6232.
(b) BADM 6243 Global Issues in Business and Society is eliminated from the core courses selections for International Business track students because it is part of the international business track.
(c) BACC 6221 Accounting for Managers is eliminated from core courses selections for Accounting track students because it is not recognized by the TXCPA as qualifying hours towards fulfilling CPA exam requirements.
(d) BMGT 6261 Strategy and Managerial Decision Making should be deferred until the student’s final semester in the program.
Accounting Track Courses
The accounting track is designed to prepare students for the CPA exam. Only students with an undergraduate degree in accounting or the equivalent are eligible for courses in this track. An exception is made for
BACC 5241 Financial Statement Analysis which is available to all MBA students.
View degree plan.
Select 10 hours from below:
Information Systems Management Track Courses
View degree plan.
Three graduate BCIS courses from the MSIS degree listing (9 hours) plus a one-hour independent study.
International Business Track Courses
View degree plan.
10 hours:
Management Track Courses
View degree plan.
10 hours:
| BMGT 6221 | Human Resources | 2 |
| BMGT 6232 | Competition & the Entrepreneurial Manager | 2 |
| BMGT 6235 | Advanced Management Theory & Practice | 2 |
| BMGT 6260 | International Management | 2 |
| | One elective course from the MBA curriculum, any track | 2 |
Capstone Experience Classes (2 hours or continuation)