MBA Program
Degree Requirements
MBA Foundation
Students must demonstrate that they possess competency in the areas of knowledge upon which advanced study is based. They demonstrate this by satisfactory completion or waiver, of the MBA Foundation courses. They then become students in the degree program, taking core and elective courses.
The following foundation courses are generally offered in business undergraduate programs in two semesters. However, the Charlton College offers the following special one-semester courses for the MBA applicant who is deficient or feels a review might be in order before beginning the core MBA program:
Students are required to complete or receive permission to waive the above UMass Dartmouth foundation courses. Foundation courses may be waived upon:
- Completion, with at least a grade of "B+" or the equivalent, of the corresponding upper-division undergraduate or graduate business course taken as part of an undergraduate baccalaureate degree program.
- Prior approval of the Director, where credit is awarded through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).
The Advanced Business Courses
Students must complete eight required advanced core courses for 24 credits and electives equaling 12 credits. These courses build upon the foundation knowledge by presenting interdisciplinary, case-based material that develops the student's ability to manage or operate complex business operations.
The minimum credits for the MBA are 36, exclusive of foundation courses such as POM 500, FIN 500, or ACT 500.
Once enrolled in the program, candidates are expected to take all courses at UMass Dartmouth. However, up to 6 credits may be transferred into this sequence, either at the time of admission or after enrolling in the MBA program, to satisfy elective course requirements. In extenuating circumstances, students may be allowed to transfer advanced core courses taken at an AACSB accredited college or university. If students wish to receive credit, they must apply to the MBA Director for approval prior to taking a course at another institution. See the graduate catalog for detailed procedures. Only courses having a grade of "B" or better will be considered for credit transfer.
Course Requirements for Degree
Required Core Courses
Eight core courses constitute the heart of the program. Throughout the course sequence, there is a strong emphasis on cross-functional examples and student participatory activities that reflect the inter-disciplinary nature and complexity of actual business challenges.
- MGT 600 Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Law
- ACT 650 Accounting for Decision Making
- BIS 650 Information Technology Management
- FIN 650 Finance for Decision Making
- MGT 650 Advanced Organizational Behavior
- POM 651 Advanced Operations Analysis
- MKT 650 Marketing Strategy
- MGT 659 Strategic Management
Elective Courses
The student must complete 12 credits choosing from an option below.
- Option A: Concentration = 3 Courses in a Functional Area + 4th Elective any area
- Option B: *Master's Project + 2 Electives
- Option C: *Community Service Project + 2 or 3 electives
* Options B and C are currently unavailable, pending approval process.
The planned cycle is for an elective to be offered in each discipline every semester. Our electives are organized into concentration streams. Students may take any electives they chose. However, to claim a concentration, they must take three electives in the same discipline.
Examples of possible electives. Note other electives may be offered and held on a rotating basis.
| Accounting | ACT 670 series, and/or Special Topics |
|---|---|
| Business Information | MIS 670, series, and/or Special Topics |
| E-Commerce | MIS 670 series; MKT 670, and/or Special Topics |
| Finance | FIN 670 series, and/or Special Topics |
| International Business | FIN 672; POM 675; MKT 672, and/or Special Topics |
| Management | MGT 670 series, and/or Special Topics |
| Marketing | MKT 670 series, and/or Special Topics |
| Operations | POM 670 series , and/or Special Topics |
The Charlton College of Business ePortfolio Program
Starting spring semester 2008, all MBA students at the Charlton College of Business are required to develop and maintain an electronic portfolio. The ePortfolio is designed to enhance student learning through reflective practice and to demonstrate meaningful evidence of learning throughout the program for accreditation purposes. An ePortfolio is the property of the student, but all students are required to provide the Assessment Office access to their ePortfolios during their time in the MBA program. EPortfolio training and support is provided by the Charlton College of Business.
