Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• School of Business and Management
• Graduate Programs
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• About the Program
• Coursework
• Faculty
• Tuition and Aid
• Admission
• Contact

Coursework

• Prerequisites
• Course Requirements
• Concentrations
• Orientation
• Course Attendance and Schedule
• Summer Courses
• Independent Studies
• Transfer of Credit for Required MBA Coursework
• Graduation
• Frequently Asked Questions

Prerequisites

To ensure students are adequately prepared for the rigors of accelerated MBA-level coursework, six prerequisite courses must be satisfied prior to enrolling in MBA courses. At APU, these courses can be taken on a pass/fail (P/F) basis over two nine-week terms (summer or fall) and are designed to help students hit the ground running.

These classes must be taken at APU prior to beginning the MBA program, or they may be waived by establishing proficiency as follows:

Undergraduate business degree – Students who have completed an undergraduate business degree within seven years, and who have earned a B- or better in a prerequisite course, will generally be able to waive the course. Submit a catalog course description and syllabus to the MBA program coordinator for consideration.

Transfer credit – Students may take prerequisite courses at an accredited college or university. To receive transfer credit, the course must have been taken for a grade and the student must have received a B or better. The transfer credit must be approved by the MBA chair before enrollment in MBA coursework. Submit a catalog course description and syllabus to the MBA program coordinator for consideration.

CPA exam – Students who have passed the CPA exam are not required to take the accounting prerequisite. Submit a copy of examination results or CPA Certificate to the MBA program coordinator.

Waiver exam – Students may take a competency exam (equivalent to a final exam) and receive a waiver if competency is demonstrated.

International Students – In order to comply with U.S. government regulations, students must take the online prerequisite courses either in their home country (before coming to the United States to start the MBA program) or they must come to the physical classroom to take these courses if they are in the United States.

Course Requirements

Concentrations

• Finance
• Marketing
• Entrepreneurship
• International Business
• Strategic Management
• Human Resources and Organizational Development (HROD)

Concentration courses are generally taught using the one-on-one Oxford tutorial model. (HROD courses are an exception to this rule, as they may be taken with MAM students in regularly scheduled courses.) Students may consult the MBA program coordinator or MBA chair for appropriate faculty to contact regarding the concentration of the student’s choice. Concentration courses are generally taken as an independent study.

Orientation

Preceding the fall and spring semesters, there is a required half-day orientation to the MBA program. This orientation is required prior to taking classes. Students meet each other and the faculty, are briefed on key elements of the program, and are exposed to career development strategies that are most effective when begun early in the program. The objective of orientation is to ensure that each student begins with a mindset and plan that will help achieve his/her ultimate goal(s). As such, the orientation is an integral part of the MBA program.

Course Attendance and Schedule

Learning is a collaborative process. APU MBA students are admitted in part because of the experiences they bring to the learning community and what they can add to class discussions. As such, attendance is an important aspect of the APU MBA commitment. Absences are only appropriate in cases of emergency.

Students should make note of the start and end of the term as they determine their travel plans. Given our accelerated nine-week terms, students generally cannot miss more than two classes without retaking a course. Students should notify instructors of planned absences as soon as possible, as well as make arrangements with other students to get notes/assignments. As every instructor considers participation in grading, absences and tardiness may significantly affect final grades.

Summer Courses

There are limited summer courses. The summer term is also a time to complete elective and concentration courses as independent studies.

Independent Studies

Independent studies are exclusively for subjects considered to be of merit that are not addressed in the required courses. They are intended to allow students to become more versed in their area of interest. At APU, independent studies consist of electives and concentration courses.

Independent studies require a written proposal of study prepared by the student and signed by the faculty member. This proposal includes an outline of study, classification as an elective or concentration, proposed credits, timeline, and meeting times with faculty. The proposal is presented to the MBA chair and requires his/her written approval.

Transfer of Credit for Required MBA Coursework

Students who have completed coursework at an AACSB accredited graduate management or business program are eligible to receive credit toward the MBA degree for up to a total of two courses. Transfer courses must have been completed with a grade of B or higher, may not have been used toward completion of another degree, and must be similar in content to those offered in APU’s Master of Business Administration Program. Transfer credit is not included in the cumulative grade-point average. Application for transfer of credit must be submitted as early as possible and must include an official copy of the transcript, catalog description, and course syllabus.

Graduation

To graduate, students must complete the required units with a grade-point average of at least 3.0 within five years of matriculation. This includes completing all required courses with a C- or above. All courses taken within SBM and used for a student’s MAM or MBA candidacy must be taken for a letter grade, except courses offered only on a Pass/Fail (P/F) basis.

Academic Honors

Preceding each commencement, the School of Business and Management holds a commissioning ceremony for the graduating students and their families. At each commissioning, the graduate faculty may honor a single graduate with the distinction of Outstanding Graduate. The award is primarily based on academic achievement, but when a secondary factor is needed to make a selection, the committee determines which of the outstanding candidates contributed most to the APU School of Business and Management learning community.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the program cost?
The tuition is per unit. Including 38 units of coursework, book costs, and graduation fees, the total cost for the program is $23,750 for 2008-09.

How long is a semester?
The School of Business and Management graduate programs (both the MBA and MAM) run on nine-week terms.

How many units do I take each term?
To be classified as a full-time graduate student, one must be enrolled in at least nine units during each of the two nine-week semesters (e.g., Fall I and Fall II or Spring I and Spring II). Students can take from one to three classes per quarter.

How many hours does each class session require?
Fall and spring classes meet once a week for 4 hours and 5 minutes (including a break). Summer classes meet twice a week for 4 hours.

How many evenings per week do I attend classes?
Students generally attend class one to two nights per week, depending on the number of classes in which they are enrolled.

How soon can I finish this program?
This program can be completed between 1 and 5 years. Most students complete the program in 12-18 months.