Business Administration - M.B.A. and Ph.D. Download to print

The Master of Business Administration program seeks to prepare students for responsible leadership positions in public, private and nonprofit organizations. Regardless of undergraduate education, the candidates will find a challenging program designed to meet their specific backgrounds and needs.

The program is available on a full-time or part-time option.

The full-time option program is targeted at young professionals from the U.S. and abroad, who wish to change careers or to jump-start their career in business. The program is cohorted so that students proceed through the sequence of required courses as a group. Students take four or five courses a semester and are expected to participate in experiential activities like internships, mentoring, and case competitions. Therefore, this program is for the individual that can concentrate all of his or her efforts towards earning this degree, during the 21 months of coursework.

The part-time option is designed for the working professionals from the region who intend to keep working full-time while pursing the MBA on a part-time basis.

In both options, the student has the option of taking a general M.B.A. with electives from a number of areas or selecting any of the following ten concentrations, which must be a minimum of 9 hours: Accounting; Economics; Entrepreneurship; Fashion Design and Merchandising; Finance; Human Resource Management; Information Systems; International Business; Marketing; and Supply Chain Management.

The sequence of required courses introduces students to the various areas of business such as accounting, marketing, human resources and operations management, and provides training in the theory and practice of business management.

• Accounting concentration allows students to specialize their degree with courses in managerial and financial accounting, business valuation using financial statements and international accounting. Completion of this concentration is not sufficient to sit for the CPA exam in Ohio unless the student has an undergraduate accounting major.
• Economics concentration allows students to specialize their degree with advanced topics in various areas in economics.
• Entrepreneurship concentration allows students to specialize their degree with topics related to the various aspects of the entrepreneurial process and the knowledge and skills required to identify, evaluate and act upon entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Fashion Design and Merchandising concentration allows students to specialize their degree with advanced topics in fashion theory, fashion design management and the opportunity to conduct research in the business of fashion.
• Finance concentration allows students to specialize their degree with advanced courses in investments, financial markets and institutions, real estate and other related areas.
• Human Resource Management concentration allows students to specialize their degree with advanced topics in employee selection and appraisal, organizational analysis and the opportunity for real-world applications.
• Information Systems concentration allows students to specialize their degree with advanced topics in database management systems, emerging hardware and software technology and other related areas courses.
• International Business concentration allows students to specialize their degree with courses in accounting, marketing, finance and strategy with an international focus. Study abroad options are possible, with no language skills required.
• Marketing allows students to specialize their degree with courses in marketing research, brand management and other related areas.
• Supply Chain Management concentration allows student to specialize their degree in vendor-customer relationships and logistic matters, with courses in global supply chain management, supply chain business models and vendor management strategies

Several dual degree programs are possible. The Master of Business Administration also offers dual degree programs with the Master of Arts in Translation, the Master of Architecture, the Master of Library and Information Science, the Master of Science in Nursing and the Master of Arts in Communication Studies.

• Dual Degree with the Master of Arts in Translation is designed for linguists. By combining the practices and language of business, students can pursue language-based careers in the private, public and governmental sectors.
• Dual Degree with the Master of Architecture is designed for architects or undergraduate architectural students whose career goals include assuming middle or executive management positions in architectural practices, or who are interested in starting their own businesses.
• Dual Degree with the Master of Library and Information Science is designed for managers of large libraries and information centers. Individuals in these positions need knowledge pertaining to planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling. Advanced education to obtain knowledge and learn skills related to these management functions enables students to take advantage of career opportunities both in library settings and other information settings, both in the profit and nonprofit sectors.
• Dual Degree with the Master of Science in Nursing is designed for experienced nurses whose career goals include assuming middle or executive management positions in health services agencies or in health-related companies, or who are interested in starting their own business. It combines the strengths of advanced nursing preparation with the practical management knowledge needed to develop significant leadership capabilities.
• Dual Degree with the Master of Arts in Communication Studies is designed for students and professionals whose career goals focus on communication, particularly global communication, and provides direction and leadership in economic and business development processes.

Ph.D. in Business Administration:

The Ph.D. in Business Administration consists of seven concentrations: Accounting, Finance, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, Marketing, Supply Chain Management and Strategic Management.

• Accounting prepares highly qualified candidates for faculty positions in colleges and universities.  In addition to completing doctoral-level coursework and a dissertation, students conduct scholarly research and become effective teachers. Completing a dissertation is the final step.
• Finance prepares students for finance faculty positions in colleges and universities. Students complete courses in business and finance, learn how to conduct high-quality, scholarly research and be effective teachers. Completing a dissertation is the final step.
• Human Resource Management provides students with comprehensive knowledge regarding the impact of employment relationships on organizations, workers and society. Students are trained to become renowned scholars and exceptional teachers. Completing a dissertation is the final step.
• Information Systems creates a strong grounding in areas of behavioral, strategic and economic aspects of global IS decision-making. Students are trained to become renowned scholars and exceptional teachers. Completing a dissertation is the final step.
• Marketing prepares highly qualified candidates for positions of professional responsibility in university teaching and research, or administrative and research careers in governmental and private organizations. The program offers a solid balance of teaching experience and preparation for conducting scientific research. Completing a dissertation is the final step.
• Supply Chain Management: Prepares students to address our technology-powered economy by information and driven by knowledge. The concentration educates students in the latest thinking, theory and empirical research in order to address the supply and value chain management challenges facing organizations today. Completing a dissertation is the final step.
• Strategic Management: Admission to the program has been temporarily suspended as of fall 2012.

For the M.B.A. in Business Administration:
For the full-time options: Admission to the full-time Master of Business Administration program is in the fall semester only. Official transcripts; GMAT (GMAT or GRE for the dual-degree programs); goal statement; two-to-three letters of recommendation; resume; and TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB or PTE, if applicable.

For more information about graduate admission, please visit the Graduate Studies website.

For the Ph.D. in Business Administration:
Admission to the Ph.D. in Business Administration is in the fall semester only. Official transcript(s); GMAT or GRE (for the Accounting concentration, only GMAT is acceptable); goal statement; three letters of recommendation; resume; and TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB or PTE, if applicable.

For more information about graduate admission, please visit the Graduate Studies website.

For the M.B.A. in Business Administration: 56 total credit hours. The College of Business Administration will permit the waiving of Business Administration (MBA) program coursework if supported by the appropriate and recent undergraduate coursework. The waiver of each specific course will be determined by the relevant academic department, such as, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management and Information Systems and Marketing. Student may graduate from the MBA program with less than 56 total credit hours but no less than 39 total credit hours.

For the Ph.D. in Business Administration:
The Ph.D. program consists of five phases: proficiency requirements, supportive coursework, concentration and minor coursework, comprehensive examinations and dissertation. The course requirements in the proficiency phase are roughly equivalent to an AACSB-accredited M.B.A. degree, and certain courses may be waived based upon completed graduate and undergraduate coursework.

Graduates of the MBA program will be able to:

1. Use critical thinking skills to apply analytical models and concepts to make business decisions.
2. Present business knowledge and decisions individually and as a team.
3. Understand the ethical and legal implications of business decisions.
4. Understand the impact of globalization on business decisions.

Graduates of the Ph.D. program will be able to:

1. Master the core knowledge and research tools in their area of specialization (knowledge).
2. Demonstrate the capacity to produce research that 1.) constitute a significant contribution to their field of study, and 2.) is publishable in high-quality, peer-reviewed academic journals (quality research).
3. Effectively teach undergraduate and graduate students in the curriculum of research-focused universities (teaching).
4. Be placed at schools with strong graduate programs in business (placement).

For the Ph.D. in Business Administration:
Successful completion of the comprehensive examinations and approval of a dissertation topic shall constitute admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The final phase of the Ph.D. program is the preparation of the Ph.D. dissertation. Upon completion, the dissertation is defended before a committee of the graduate faculty.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International