Administrative Unit

This program is administered by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research through the faculty of the School of Business.

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Objectives

The objective of the MBA program is to provide the essential professional tools needed by our students to advance in managerial careers.

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Admission Requirements

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is open to all students holding baccalaureate degrees from accredited colleges or universities and meeting the following provisions: satisfactory performance during the last two undergraduate years (or other evidence predicting success in graduate study), and a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

The requirements for admission to the MBA program are the same as the general University admission requirements with the following exceptions:

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a nationally recognized test designed specifically for students preparing to pursue the MBA degree. Students preparing to be admitted to the MBA program must take the GMAT test prior to completion of 6 semester hours of 6300 level coursework.

The GMAT score is converted to an entrance score according to the following formula: (GPA X 200) + GMAT = Entrance Score.

Students wishing to be accepted into the MBA program must complete the GMAT exam with a satisfactory score. With the prior approval of the Coordinator of the MBA program, the Assistant Vice President for Graduate Studies notifies students of their acceptance status.

The GMAT entrance score will be used to classify the student.

Upon admission students will be evaluated for computer literacy and statistical literacy. Students who need additional skills in these areas are referred to COSC 1335 (computer literacy) and MATH 6301 (statistical literacy) and are classified as having Conditional Standing until literacy requirements are fulfilled. Computer literacy must be remedied in the first semester in which the student is accepted into the MBA program. MATH 6301 must be taken before the student enrolls in ACCT 6302, DSCI 6303, ECON 6302, FINA 6320, MNGT 6361, MNGT 6366 or electives in marketing, finance or economics. Students who have not completed the equivalent of six semester hours of undergraduate mathematics including exposure to differential and integral calculus may be advised by the Graduate Business Studies Coordinator to complete mathematics preparation to the level of MATH 1325 or its equivalent.

Students granted Provisional Status will normally be changed to regular status upon successful completion of a minimum of nine semester credit hours of MBA core course work with a grade of B or better in each course taken. No elective course may be taken by a student in provisional status.

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Non-Degree Students in Graduate Business

Non-degree students may take up to six credit hours of graduate business courses to meet certification requirements and continuing professional of personal development. Non-degree students, however, must otherwise meet admission criteria for the Master of Business Administration or Master of Professional Accountancy program in order to take more than six credit hours of graduate business courses. Non-degree students may register for MBA Online Courses only during late registration to give priority to degree-seeking students.

Core Requirements

CORE REQUIRED COURSES (18 Hours) ***:

REQUIRED COURSES BEYOND CORE (21 Hours):

SPECIALTY COURSES (9 hours):

Three electives may be chosen from graduate-level School of Business courses with approval of the student's advisor. Up to 6 credits of specified senior-level business courses may be taken as electives with approval of the student's advisor.

*** Students with an academic business background may waive up to four core courses, decreasing the program to as few as 36 credit hours using the criteria below:

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Special Program Features

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MBA Online Option

The MBA Online Program is a web-based, asynchronous degree program offered by a consortium of eight University of Texas universities through The University of Texas TeleCampus. Courses taken in this program are treated as UTPB courses for credit and computation of GPA. In general, students may take the entire MBA program or any portion of it using MBA Online courses. Students who cannot commute regularly to the UTPB campus because of distance or time constraints are encouraged to consider MBA Online courses. While all UTPB students taking MBA Online courses will follow UTPB admission procedures, registration procedures and tuition and fees may differ. Students should consult the UT TeleCampus website at http://www.telecampus.utsystem.edu for current information on the MBA Online program and its courses.

Students should take the following sequenced courses either both in the MBA Online program or both in the on-campus program: the accounting sequence ACCT 6301/6302 (MBAO 6311/6336), the economics sequence of ECON 6301/6302 (MBAO 6316/6335), and the quantitative/production sequence MNGT 6320/MNGT 6303 (MBAO 6314/6334). Note that neither MNGT 6320 nor MNGT 6303 in the UTPB on-campus program has prerequisites, but that MBAO 6314 should be taken before MBAO 6334 in the MBA Online program. In addition, only MBA Online option students will take the MBA Online capstone course MBAO 6395 Business Policy.

Use the following chart to match the MBA Online Offerings with the UTPB MBA program. MBA Online course offerings through other University of Texas components are listed at the end of the graduate business course descriptions.

REQUIRED COURSES BEYOND CORE

SPECIALTY COURSES (ELECTIVES)

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Other MBA Program Options

The MBA program is designed primarily as a professional program rather than a preparation program for doctoral study. Both research and non-research options are available in the program. Students planning to pursue doctoral study or having an interest in research should select the research option. Students choosing the non-research option must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of prescribed study, exclusive of leveling course work. Students choosing the research option must complete either 30-semester credit hours of prescribed study plus a thesis, or 33 semester credits of prescribed study plus a research problem.

The thesis must deal with a topic of generalized concern to the profession, be scholarly in its orientation, demonstrate the student's understanding of and ability to use sophisticated research techniques, and show promise of a contribution to knowledge that could be worthy of publication in a scholarly or professional journal. Students will arrange with their graduate committees to sit for an oral examination of their thesis.

The research problem should deal with a practical problem of concern to the student. It should follow recognized research procedures but does not require the level of sophistication of thesis research. The findings do not necessarily need to be of such import as to merit publication.

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Grades

MBA students will not be given graduate credit for courses taken when the letter grade earned is less than C. In addition, an MBA student may count no more than two C grades. A degree candidate is required to maintain an overall average of B and maintain a GPA of 3.0 in every semester throughout his or her program of study.

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Course Listings

ACCT 6301 Accounting Analysis (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
A foundation in the fundamentals of financial and managerial accounting
information designed for the planning, assessment, and control of business entities. Emphasizes the use of information for decision making. May not be taken for MPA core or elective credit.

ACCT 6302 Contemporary Control Systems (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
A study of the design, implementation, and evaluation of control systems intended to support and direct strategic objectives of various organizations. Prerequisite: ACCT 6301 or equivalent

ACCT 6311 Information Systems Management (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Methods and problem resolution in developing and managing company-wide
information systems. Cross list with MNGT 6311

ACCT 6313 Professional Ethics (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
A study of the roles of the professional in general and the accountant in particular in contemporary society with respect to economic, social, political, and
technological problems.

ACCT 6315 Topics in Federal Income Tax (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Federal Income Tax law, rules, and regulations relating to partnerships,
corporations, estates, and trusts. Prerequisite: three credit hours in an undergraduate tax course or equivalent.

ACCT 6389 Selected Topics in Accounting (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Graduate courses that will be offered only once, will be offered infrequently or
are being developed before a regular listing in the catalog. Prerequisite varies.

ACCT 6391 Contract Study in Accounting (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Independent study or research under the supervision of a faculty member.
Prerequisite varies.

ECON 6301 Economic Analysis (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Economic efficiency and the determinants of the major economic aggregates such as growth, employment and gross national product.

ECON 6302 Forecasting Business Conditions (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Elements and evaluation of principal forecasts used by business and government. Cases based on forecasts by the President's Council of Economic Advisors.
Prerequisite: ECON 6301 or equivalent.

ECON 6310 Regulatory and Antirust Economics (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
This course builds on a foundational understanding of market structures and
explores how government policies influence economic outcomes.
Prerequisite: ECON 6301 or equivalent

ECON 6332 Labor Economics (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
The study of labor market issues for the business manager. Prerequisite: ECON 6301 or equivalent

ECON 6389 Selected Topics in Economics (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Graduate courses that will be offered only once, will be offered infrequently or are being developed before a regular listing in the catalog. Prerequisite varies.

ECON 6391 Contract Study in Economics (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Independent study or research under the supervision of a faculty member.
Prerequisite varies.

FINA 6320 Financial Management (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Investment, financing and dividend decisions of firms seeking to maximize shareholder wealth. Analytical techniques, economic and behavioral theories and financial environment.

FINA 6321 Corporate Financial Management (3)     Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Foundational concepts of corporate finance for capital budgeting and long-term financing. Capital budgeting concerns choosing long-term investments. Long-term financing concerns how the firm will raise funds to pap for its investments. Course examines modern valuation methods applied in these two areas and decision-making tools based on these methods. Prerequisite: FINA 6320 or the equivalent.

FINA 6325 Options & Futures (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Introduction to options, futures, and other derivative securities. Topics include option valuation models, principles of forward and futures pricing, structure of markets for derivative securities, and strategies for hedging and speculation. Prerequisite: FINA 6320 or equivalent

FINA 6327 Portfolio Theory & Management (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Comprehensive investigation of modern portfolio theory. Unifying theme: optimization of the trade-off between risk and return. Examination of asset pricing models and security analysis issues within this framework. Course culminates in a discussion of portfolio management and performance evaluation. Prerequisite: FINA 6320 or equivalent

FINA 6328 Contemporary Issues in Financial Management (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Study of topics recently published in financial management literature. The topics will be selected from international, corporate, and risk management topics and vary from term to term. Prerequisite: FINA 6320 or equivalent

FINA 6330 International Finance (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
A comprehensive study of international financial markets that covers currency exchange mechanisms in theory and practice, including international monetary systems; offshore financial markets; and currency risk management, including interest rate and currency futures, options, and swaps. Prerequisite: FINA 6320 or equivalent

FINA 6389 Selected Topics in Finance (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Graduate courses that will be offered only once, will be offered infrequently or are being developed before a regular listing in the catalog. Prerequisite varies.

FINA 6391 Contract Study in Finance (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Independent study or research under the supervision of a faculty member.
Prerequisite varies.

MNGT 6301 Legal Environment of Business (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
A foundation in the role of law in our system of business and commerce, both facilitating and constraining business decision- making. In addition, this course
will introduce the operation of legal institutions and the fundamentals of legal reasoning.

MNGT6303 Analytical Models for Decision-Making (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Deterministic linear programming, networks and dynamic programming.
Emphasizes formation and utilization of programming computer packages.

MNGT 6311 Information System Management (3)     Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Methods and problem resolution in developing and managing company-wide information systems. Cross list with ACCT 6311

MNGT 6312 Human Resource Management (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Manpower planning and development, organizational climate and the provision of personnel services will be investigated.

MNGT 6315 Organization Development and Change (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Problems in introducing change in organizations, theory and methods of intervention in organization development.

MNGT 6320 Production & Operation Management (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
The role of the operations management function within the context of an organization, be it public or private, profit or nonprofit, manufacturing or service. The course emphasizes the application of concepts of in process analysis, material management, and quality management. Both quantitative and behavioral perspectives are presented.

MNGT 6360 Organizational Behavior (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
The systematic study of individual, team, and structural characteristics that influence behavior within organizations. Cross-cultural applications are discussed.

MNGT 6361 Management and The Research Process (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
The course looks at research in the business environment from its most general case, marketing research. The research process paradigm is thoroughly investigated with a special emphasis on the role of business research in management decision-making.

MNGT 6366 Strategic Management (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Opportunity for development and implementation of knowledge from multiple disciplines and integration of viewpoints of different functions of an organization. Case evaluation and discussion are stressed. Prerequisite: Completion of the core of the MBA program or permission of instructor.

MNGT 6389 Selected Topics in Management (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Graduate courses that will be offered only once, will be offered infrequently or are being developed before a regular listing in the catalog. Prerequisite varies.

MNGT 6391 Contract Study in Management (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Independent study or research under the supervision of a faculty member.
Prerequisite varies.

MNGT 6398 Master's Project (3)     New Course Under Development
Students electing the project option will work under the supervision of a major advisor to complete a project on a management topic.

MNGT 6399 Master's Thesis (3-6)     New Course Under Development
Students electing the thesis will work under the supervision of a major advisor to complete research on a management topic.

MRKT 6310 Marketing Management (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
An analysis of the customer/market relationships with the company in an open market system characterized by the presence of strong competition within a very fluid business environment. Managerial decision making with this matrix will be stressed. Prerequisite recommended: previous coursework in microeconomics or equivalent

MRKT 6312 Consumer Decision Processes (3) Click Here for Generic Course Syllabi
Information flows between buyer and seller, informational properties of demand stimulation strategies from the firm, consumer and society viewpoints.

MRKT 6389 Selected Topics in Marketing (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Graduate courses that will be offered only once, will be offered infrequently or are being developed before a regular listing in the catalog. Prerequisite varies.

MRKT 6391 Contract Study in Marketing (1-3)     New Course Under Development
Independent study or research under the supervision of a faculty member.
Prerequisite varies.

UT TeleCampus-Hosted Courses in the MBA Online Program Offered by Other University of Texas Components (see UT TeleCampus website at http://www.telecampus.utsystem.edu for additional information)

MBAO 6311 Accounting Analysis (3)
The course is designed for managers who will use, not prepare, accounting information. It consists of 3 modules: Financial Accounting, Cost Management and Management Control.
(AIM 6305 Accounting Analysis at UT Dallas)

MBAO 6312 Economic Analysis (3)
The emphasis of this course will be on fundamental aspects of economic analysis relating to individual firms and individual markets. The students will learn the impact of demand, how firms choose prices, the role of costs, the nature of competition and monopoly, the role of property rights, simple networks economics, and basic antitrust. Although not heavily used in the course, some reference will be made to calculus.
(MAS 6V07 Economic Analysis at UT Dallas)

MBAO 6313 Management (3)
An analysis of formal organizational theory and the interrelationship of individuals in organizations. A study of the organization as a system of authority, status, leadership, direction, culture, ethics, communication and influence.
(MANA 6330 Management at UT Pan American)

MBAO 6314 Quantitative Analysis (3)
Introduction to managerial decision analysis using quantitative tools. Topics include a general framework for decision analysis, decision tables and trees, simulation, linear programming and related techniques, classical optimization, forecasting, and probabilistic and statistical techniques. Uses applicable decision support software. Emphasis is on applications.
(MS 6973 Quantitative Analysis in Business at UT San Antonio)

MBAO 6316 Financial Management (3)
The study of providing an organization with operating funds and effectively utilizing monetary resources. Primary emphasis on financial decision making within organizations and techniques of financial analysis and forecasting.
(FINA 5311 Financial Management at UT Arlington)

MBAO 6331 Research Methods (3)
The application of research techniques to business decision-making. Study of the scientific method: definition of survey, development of methodology, evaluation of alternatives, findings, summary, conclusion and recommendations.
(GENB 5321 Research Methods at UT Tyler)

MBAO 6332 Information Systems for Managers (3)
This course will look at technology at a macro level. Each module examines the impact of today's information systems on organizations, education, government, culture, society, and the future.
(CIS 5394 Information Systems for Managers at UT El Paso)

MBAO 6333 Legal Environment in Business (3)
The course will introduce the student to fundamental legal issues confronting managers in the contemporary American and global legal environment.
(BLAW 6301 Legal Environment in Business at UT Brownsville)

MBAO 6334 Production and Operations Management (3)
The study of the role of the production function in the business system and its relationship to marketing and finance. The focus is on the decision making necessary for productivity improvements in the transformation process of manufacturing and non-manufacturing service organizations. Strategies of production system design, capacity management, quality management, production planning, inventory planning and control, facility location and supply chain management are explored. Systems studied include Just-in-Time, Total Quality Management, and Flexible Manufacturing Systems. Prerequisite: MBAO 6314 Quantitative Analysis
(MANA 6360 Production and Operations Management at UT Brownsville)

MBAO Accounting for Decision Making (3)
A study of the uses of accounting information by managers for decision making. The focus of this course is on how the measurements and the interpretation of accounting information impacts the allocation of resources, behavior of business decision makers, and the productivity and profitability of business organizations. Problems and case studies are used extensively to study such topics as activity based costing, efficiency measurements, budgets and control, and other current topics in management accounting.
(ACCT 6973 Accounting for Decision Making at UT San Antonio)

MBAO 6371 Human Resource Management (3)
Advanced study of selected topics in human resource management with special emphasis on issues of current importance in the field. Topic areas in such human resource functions as staffing, development, appraisal, and compensation will be covered. Prerequisite: any 18 graduate business credit hours.
(MANA 5350 Human Resource Management at UT Tyler)

MBAO 6372 Leadership and Change (3)
This course is designed to provide a broad overview of Leadership and Organizational change theories, practices, and research. Special attention will be given to critical thinking skills and the student's ability to communicate and lead effectively in the discussion chat room format. Prerequisite: any 18 graduate business credit hours.
(MANA 6332 Leadership and Change at UT Pan American)

MBAO 6373 Global Strategic Management (3)
Participants will be able to perform environmental scanning through the understanding of the elements of corporate, competitive and operational environments. Participants will be exposed to different tools for evaluation of opportunities and threats and for identifying sources of strategy. Students will have "hands-on" experience through a computer simulation. This simulation will provide participants the experience of working in teams. Teams will make competitive decisions about a global organization. Prerequisite: any 18 graduate business credit hours.
(MGMT 5335 Global Strategic Management at UT El Paso)

MBAO 6395 Business Policy (3)
The primary thrust of this course is general management. It will be different from most of the courses you have had in the functional areas (e.g. accounting, marketing) because you will be required to use a wide range of business knowledge and exhibit diverse skills. Therefore, it will be demanding and challenging because you will have to perform in topic areas where you have both strengths and weaknesses. Prerequisite: any 36 graduate business credit hours.
(MANA 5336 Business Policy at UT Arlington)

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