The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is sought by those who seek graduate level understanding, research and analytical capability, and practical application in the corporate world of the theory and practice of business marketing, management, finance, law, information systems, and strategy. Developed to provide advanced business knowledge and know-how as a foundation for the corporate executive or entrepreneur, the MBA also dovetails with several University specialties so that students can specifically concentrate in areas of professional or personal interest, to include entrepreneurship, global business management, information technology management, finance, and homeland security. Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning outcomes objectives, the Master of Business Administration also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. Graduates in this degree program will be able to do the following: - Conduct advanced business analysis by incorporating the use of various data tools in the discovery of possible solutions for implementation.
- Compare and contrast various organizational managerial approaches to analyze their effect on the individual, group, and organization.
- Analyze the legal, regulatory, and compliance issues impacting managers in today’s market place, and emphasize the importance of continuing education for managers for future legal changes.
- Evaluate and analyze Management Information System components to determine their user interdisciplinary applicability in order to meet current and future technological needs, and evaluate the need for changes in policies and procedures.
- Distinguish and implement various analytical financial tools to conduct business analysis and to communicate possible solutions and implementation plans for business decisions.
- Focus on various business strategies and approaches used by organizations in their mission to sustain and obtain various marketing segments in order to increase their growth potential and integrate business functions into a coherent business strategy.
- Compare and contrast various market-driven strategies used by organizations to effectively plan for current and future needs of customers.
Degree Program Requirements
Core Courses (24 semester hours)
DM591 / ECO 600 - Managerial Economics
DM520 / DM624 / BUS 623 - Business Law and Ethics / Legal and Ethical Issues in Management
DM596 / MKT 600 - Marketing Management
DM597 / DM606 / FIN 600 - Business Finance / Corporate Finance
DM598 / DM625 / BUS 620 - Business Strategy / Strategic Management
DM687 / DM626 / BUS 625 - Applied Business Analysis / Applied Decision Making
DM688 / ACC 602 - Financial Accounting
RC510 / RC513 / BUS 500 - Research Methods in Business Administration / Quantitative Methods for Decision Making (to be taken in first three courses)
Major Courses (9 semester hours)
Concentration in Entrepreneurship
Concentration Requirements
DM660 / BUS 621 - Entrepreneurship
DM607 / FIN 601 - Entrepreneurship Finance
DM635 / BUS 635 - Business Plan Development
Concentration in Global Business Management
Concentration Requirements
DM670 / MGT 610 - Cross-Cultural Management
DM609 / FIN 602 - International Finance
DM630 / BUS 630 - Virtual Organizations
Concentration in Information Technology Management
Concentration Requirements
DM661 / COS 622 - Technology and Innovation
DM665 / COS 624 - Information Technology Project Management
DM685 / HRM 605 - Strategic Human Resource Management Practices
Concentration in Finance
Concentration Requirements
DM619 / FIN 603 - Investment Management
DM590 / FIN 604 - Financial Institutions
DM609 / FIN 602 - International Finance
Concentration in Homeland Security Resource Allocation
Concentration Requirements
EM503 / EDM 530 - Economics of Disaster
EM516 / EDM 509 - Inter-Agency Disaster Management
EM504 / EDM 503 - Emergency and Disaster Planning and Management
Elective (3 semester hours)
Business Administration majors must take three (3) courses from the courses listed below. Students who wish to focus their study in the Entrepreneurship, Global Business Management, Information Technology Management, Finance, or Homeland Security Resource Allocation concentrations must take the three courses from that concentration. A concentration is optional.
DM516 / MGT 600 - Organizational Management
DM686 / MGT 601 - Organizational Behavior
DM685 / HRM 605 - Strategic Human Resource Management Practices
DM580 / MGT 605 - Leadership
DM706 / BUS 703 - Business Administration Practicum and Integration Project
DM536 / COS 621 - Management Information Systems
End of program requirement - Select either Practicum OR Comprehensive Exam
Total Hours: 36 semester hours
DM706 / BUS 703 - Business Administration Practicum and Integration Project (3 semester hours)
The Master of Business Administration is a multi-faceted degree that allows a student to select one of several areas of specialization within business including entrepreneurship, global business management, organization behavior, and information technology management. At its core the MBA program seeks to
develop an advanced understanding of organizational theory to the complex business enterprise’s operations, to leverage technology to enhance business capabilities and apply the knowledge of financial theory and strategy to achieve management objectives. The ability to apply learning to practice is a key requirement for demonstrated success in learning. To achieve and demonstrate learning, a practicum and integration seminar is offered to students in this degree as an alternative to the comprehensive exam. This option can be undertaken by any student seriously interested in the integration and application of theory and practice. Students selecting this option are exempt from comprehensive exams.
The course requires that the student:
- Identify and obtain approval for an organization or project of interest
- Select and obtain an approval for a workplace mentor
- Complete a 120 hour practicum in the approved organization under the guidance of the mentor
- Keep a log of work completed to be signed by the mentor
- Submit a 25 page integrative applied research paper using Kolb’s experiential learning cycle as
the basis for reflection on that experience.
The experiential or practical component of the class aims to apply learning in an aspect of interest related to the degree and concentrations of the student’s areas of specialization. It is understood to be a supervised practicum that requires approval by APUS before entering into the relationship with the organization. The selection of an organization or site for the practicum must relate to the content of the student’s course work and/or concentration. Goals of the applied practicum and integration seminar will be submitted by the
student for approval using an application for approval to the Faculty member, Department Chair and Dean of Graduate Studies. The organization will serve as an opportunity to experience the practice of an area of management related to the focus of the student’s degree. This option will act as a capstone of the student’s program and is to be completed in the student’s final semester.
Or select the comprehensive exam option
DM700 / BUS 704 - Separate Comprehensive Examination: Taken once all other degree requirements have been met (0 semester hours) |
