MBA Curriculum
A total of 72 credit hours are required to complete the Master of Business Administration degree.
The goal of the M.B.A. program is to develop highly effective managers and leaders. This requires the program to develop students' expertise in the technical areas of business, develop a student's managerial competencies, and develop a student's ability to integrate this technical expertise with managerial competencies to become an effective leader within organizations. The underlying themes within the program are the role of innovation and creativity to organizations and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the global environment. The coursework within the M.B.A. program can be grouped into four segments; foundation skills, business disciplines, integration and specialization/electives.
Foundation Skills (19 credits)
The foundation segment has two components, business perspective and leadership development. The business perspective provides students with an integrated understanding of the global and competitive challenges facing business today. The role of innovation and creativity is emphasized.
Foundation: Business Perspectives (12 credits)
- Mktg 511 - Pioneering Innovation (4)
- Fin 514 - Economic Environment of the Firm (4)
- BA 561 - Business Law (2)
- Mgmt 560 (Ethics in Organizations (2)
The leadership development component provides students with the necessary background and support to develop into an effective manager and leader.
Foundation: Leadership Development (7 credits)
- BA 508 - Leadership Development and Assessment (2)
- ISQA 511 - Managerial Decision Making (4)
- BA 531 - Executive Briefings (1)
Business Disciplines (26 credits)
Discipline courses build on the integrated foundation coursework and provide more in-depth knowledge and applied skills related to accounting, information systems, finance, management, marketing, and operations. the role of innovation and the global environment is fused throughout these courses. In addition, the student will be provided the opportunity to develop their managerial competencies.
- Actg 511 - Financial Reporting (4)
- Actg 512 - Managerial Accounting and Control (2)
- Mktg 544 - Marketing Research and Strategy (4)
- Mgmt 550 - Organizational Management (4)
- Fin 561 - Financial Management (4)
- ISQA 551 - Managing Information Technology (4)
- ISQA 552 - Managing Operations and the Value Chain (4)
Integrated Applications (11 credits)
Application courses formally address the systematic integration across all of the business disciplines. This occurs in case studies as well as "real world" business projects. In addition, the student is provided opportunities to apply their managerial competencies.
- Mgmt 562 - Business Strategy Capstone (4)
- BA 509 - Leadership Immersion (1)
- BA 506 - Business Project (6)
Specialization/Electives (16 credits)
Each student will select elective coursework to complete the M.B.A. program. A maximum of 8 credits of electives may be 400/500 level coursework taken for graduate credit. Electives will be selected from courses offered by the School of Business Administration or may, with the approval of the director of graduate programs, be selected from areas outside business administration. Electives are an opportunity to develop an area of specialization within the M.B.A. program.
Specializations are available in the following areas:
It is not necessary for students to select an area of specialization. Electives may be taken any time during the program. Students may also choose to concentrate their electives in related fields, such as Engineering Management, Natural Resources Policy and Administration, Non-Profit Management, and Systems Science, among others.
Program Acceleration
Students may accelerate their progress by taking additional electives, taking courses over the summer term or by waiving certain core classes.
See also:
© 2003 Portland State University SBA
