MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (MBA)
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
February 25, 1998

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is designed primarily to enhance the student's managerial decision-making skills which would enable him/her to progress through increasing levels of managerial responsibility in the business, public, or not-for-profit organization. While acquiring contemporary conceptual or theoretical knowledge throughout the program, the students develop management and leadership competencies that not only prepare them for management careers but also for advanced business studies.

While students may vary in their knowledge, understanding, and skills when they start the MBA program, they are expected to possess at least the following upon the successful completion of the program:

I. KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATION OF BUSINESS

(1) A solid conceptual foundation in each of the functional areas of business, including accounting, finance, economics, management, and marketing.

This objective can be satisfied by completing the graduate "leveling" courses or their undergraduate equivalents. This objective is further accomplished through the required advanced functional area core courses, such as ACC 511, ECO 520, FIN 514, MGT 517, MGT 571, MGT 581, and MKT 513.

II. UNDERSTANDING OF EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

(2) Environmental perspectives including an understanding of the contemporary issues in business and society -- social, economic, legal, political, technological, ethical, and others -- and their implications for business.

This objective can be satisfied largely by completing BLW 537. This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, ACC 511, ECO 515, ECO 520, FIN 504, FIN 514, MGT 512, MGT 517, MGT 571, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513 .

(3) Global business perspectives including an understanding of global business opportunities, problems, strategies, and techniques.

This objective can be satisfied by completing the required international business elective course (MGT 522, MKT 552, or BLW 547). This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 511, BLW 537, ECO 515, MGT 512, MGT 517, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513 (ACC 521 and FIN 510 also satisfy this objective but are not currently being offered).

(4) Competitive perspectives including an understanding of the nature of competition, both direct and indirect.

This objective can be satisfied by completing required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, ACC 511, BLW 537, ECO 515, ECO 520, FIN 514, MGT 512, MGT 517, MGT 571, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

III. INTELLIGENCE ACQUISITION & UTILIZATION SKILLS

(5) The ability to acquire and utilize essential information -financial, marketing, regulatory, technological, supplier, and others -for business decisions including an understanding of business research concepts and techniques.

This objective can be satisfied by completing required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, ACC 511, CSC 503, ECO 502, ECO 515, ECO 520, FIN 504, FIN 514, MGT 512, MGT 517, MGT 571, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

(6) The ability to utilize computer and information technologies.

This objective can be satisfied by completing CSC 503 (or its equivalent). This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ECO 502, ECO 520, FIN 504, FIN 514, and MGT 581.

(7) The ability to carry out quantitative and qualitative analyses required for business decisions.

This objective can be satisfied by completing required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, ACC 511, CSC 503, ECO 502, ECO 515, ECO 520, FIN 504, FIN 514, MGT 517, MGT 571, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

IV. PROBLEM-SOLVING/ DECISION-MAKING SKILLS

(8) Problem-solving and decision-making skills to identify business problems or issues - financial, marketing, operations, human resource, sourcing/purchasing, technological, ethical, and others - to identify and rationally evaluate decision options, and to reach, make, and execute required decisions.

This objective can be satisfied by completing required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, ACC 511, CSC 503, ECO 502, ECO 520, FIN 504, FIN 514, MGT 512, MGT 517, MGT 571, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

V. ORIENTATIONS/PERSPECTIVES

(9) Cross-functional, integrated perspectives & viewpoints.

This objective can be satisfied by completing MGT 517. This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, ACC 511, ECO 515, FIN 504, FIN 514, MGT 512, MGT 571, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

(10) An entrepreneurial or risk-taking spirit.

This objective can be satisfied by completing MGT 517. This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as FIN 504, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

(11) Values, attitudes, and actions that are ethically, morally and socially responsible.

This objective can be satisfied by completing BLW 537. This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 511, FIN 504, MGT 512, MGT 517, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

(12) A capacity to balance conflicting stakeholder interests and objectives.

This objective can be satisfied by completing MGT 517. This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, ACC 511, BLW 537, FIN 504, MGT 512, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

VI. COMMUNICATION SKILLS

(13) Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills including the ability to make persuasive, logical arguments and public presentations.

This objective can be satisfied by completing required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 511, BLW 537, FIN 514, MGT 512, MGT 517, MGT 571, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

VII. INTERACTIVE SKILLS

(14) The ability to work as a team while still maintaining one's self-identity and convictions.

This objective can be satisfied by completing required core courses such as FIN 514, MGT 517, MGT 571, and MKT 513.

(15) The ability to interact with people having diverse educational, gender, ethnic, linguistic and/or cultural characteristics or backgrounds.

This objective can be satisfied by completing the required international business elective course (MGT 522, MKT 552, or BLW 547). This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 511, MGT 517, MGT 571, MKT 508, and MKT 513 (ACC 521 and FIN 510 also satisfy this objective but are not currently being offered).

VIII. EXPERIENCE

(16) "Experiential" learning in the field (e. g., through internship, practicum, business consulting by students, SBI projects, field research, and/or prior relevant business experience.)

This objective can be satisfied by completing required courses (or their equivalent) such as MGT 517, MGT 571, MKT 508, and MKT 513. With special permission, a student may receive credit for an internship under the appropriate 575/576 Advanced Graduate Studies course.

IX. OTHER QUALITIES

(17) The ability to adapt.

This objective can be satisfied by completing core courses (or their equivalent), such as ACC 511, MGT 512, MKT 508, and MKT 513, as well as the required international business elective (BLW 547, MGT 522 or MKT 552. ACC 521 and FIN 510 also satisfy this objective but are not currently being offered).

(18) An open, inquisitive, creative, and innovative mind.

This objective can be satisfied by completing MGT 517. This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, ACC 511, CSC 503, ECO 515, FIN 504, FIN 514, MGT 512, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

(19) A desire for learning and sharing of knowledge.

This objective can be satisfied by completing MGT 517. This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, BLW 537, MGT 571, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

(20) A deep sense of competition based on value-creation, product/service quality, integrity, social responsibility, and professionalism.

This objective can be satisfied by completing MGT 517. This objective is further accomplished through required courses (or their equivalent) such as ACC 501, ACC 511, MGT 512, MGT 571, MGT 581, MKT 508, and MKT 513.

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