Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2015-2016 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED PUBLICATION]

Master of Business Administration


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812-464-1926

Program Objectives

The University of Southern Indiana Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is a graduate program designed to develop strategic, behavioral, and technical competencies that enable individuals to be superior performers in their business environment. Upon completion of the MBA program, graduates will have developed their capabilities in several major areas, including:

  • an in-depth understanding of the functional fields of business and their interrelationships in complex organizations;
  • understanding applied quantitative, qualitative, and behavioral tools of business analysis and decision making;
  • the ability to think critically and creatively within a global business context;
  • a heightened sense of ethical considerations in decision making within the business world; and
  • improved communication and decision-making skills through utilization of information technology.

Accreditation

The USI MBA program is accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the most prestigious accreditation available to Schools of Business throughout the world. All courses are taught by academically qualified faculty (holding the highest degrees available in their fields) who, through their scholarly work and consulting activities, are at the forefront of their disciplines.

Admission Requirements

The MBA program seeks students of demonstrated aptitude and scholarship. To be admitted to the MBA program, applicants must have an undergraduate overall GPA of 2.5 or higher, or 2.75 or higher in the applicant’s last 60 hours of coursework, and attain a minimum required score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE). An applicant’s GMAT or GRE score, undergraduate academic achievement, leadership potential, and professional work experience are considered when making admission decisions. Those applicants whose native language is not English also must meet USI’s graduate studies requirements on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or (International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they hold a bachelor’s or higher degree from a United States institution of higher education.

To be considered for admission to the MBA program, the applicant must submit:

  • an application to Graduate Studies;
  • payment of the application fee;
  • GMAT or GRE score;
  • a resume summarizing all professional experience;
  • names and contact information of at least three professional references; and
  • one official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended. Transcripts and other educational records are official if the issuing institution sends them directly to the Office of Graduate Studies. Failure to submit official transcripts from every institution will delay admission. Course work from one institution reported as transfer credit on another school’s transcript does not constitute an official transcript.
  • All admission materials should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies, University of Southern Indiana, and should be received at least one month prior to the entry date sought. No admission decisions will be made until all required documents have been received.

Admission Requirements for International Students

International students are subject to all requirements for admission to the Master of Business Administration program. Application for admission should be made at least six months prior to the date of anticipated enrollment. Admission credentials must include:

  • an application for admission;
  • payment of the application fee; and
  • official academic records. Submit an official or certified true copy of all grade reports, diplomas, and academic records attesting to the completion of undergraduate or graduate work to the Office of Graduate Studies. The records should show a complete list of courses taken, grades received, and any diplomas or certificates earned. They also should state the number of credits awarded for each course or the number of hours of classroom, lecture, and laboratory for each course, and should include information about the school’s grading scale.
  • Where the college or university routinely issues academic records in English, those documents can be accepted. Otherwise, course-by-course English translations of all foreign language educational documents must accompany the originals. The format of the translation should follow the same format as the foreign language original. The accuracy of the translation must be certified either by an appropriate officer at the issuing educational institution; by an appropriate government officer at the Ministry of Education, consulate, or embassy of the country; or by an international credential evaluation service.
  • Transcripts and other educational records are official only if the issuing institution, government officer, or evaluation service sends them directly to the Office of Graduate Studies. Course work from one institution reported as transfer credit on another school’s transcript does not constitute an official transcript.
  • Verification of English competency: English competency is established by achievement of a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or 79 on the computer-based TOEFL or six on the IELTS (International English  Language Testing System) test. All foreign-born applicants whose primary spoken language is not English must provide official test scores before being admitted; these scores must be less than two years old. Official test results should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies at the time of application.
  • Exception: International students whose native language is English or who have graduated from an American university in which the language of instruction is English are not required to demonstrate language proficiency. Information about the TOEFL administration dates and registration procedure may be obtained from TOEFL Services, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey 08541- 6151, USA; telephone 609/771-7100. The web address is www.toefl.org.

Curriculum

The USI MBA curriculum is designed to provide the educational foundation crucial for success in today’s dynamic business world. Courses are taught by academically qualified faculty who, through their scholarly work and consulting activities, are at the forefront of their disciplines.

MBA Survey Courses (up to 18 hours)


Students whose undergraduate educational preparation does not include accounting, economics, finance, marketing, operations research, or statistics must take the appropriate graduate survey courses.

Additional Information


All survey courses must be completed prior to taking the corresponding core class and/or more than 12 hours of the graduate core. Credit in the survey courses may not be counted toward the MBA degree and will not be factored into the graduate program GPA. All survey courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Graduate Core - (30 hours)


The USI MBA curriculum is designed to provide the educational foundation crucial for success in today’s dynamic business world. For most students with undergraduate business degrees, the MBA program consists of 10 three-hour courses. Students with degrees in fields other than business may need to take up to 18 hours of survey courses to prepare them for the following core classes.

Retention


No more than two grades below a B in graduate courses (600-level) will be accepted toward the MBA degree. Upon receipt of the third grade below a B in any course or combination of courses taken for graduate credit, the student will be academically dismissed from the program.

A student who is academically dismissed may appeal to the Romain College of Business Graduate Committee.

Students must maintain a graduate program GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing in the program. In the event that a student’s graduate program GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. See the Graduate Studies  section of the bulletin for details on academic probation.

What can an MBA degree do for me?


Major reasons for obtaining a USI MBA are:

  • enhancing management training for someone with a technical background and a desire to broaden career opportunities into managerial ranks;
  • providing career change and/or advancement opportunities;
  • providing a professionally challenging and intellectually stimulating experience;
  • furthering one’s interpersonal skills, opening new doors, and preparing effective managers;
  • interacting with students from diverse backgrounds, creating stimulating classroom experiences; and
  • promoting invaluable networking opportunities.

Effective Business Leaders


The USI MBA program focuses on preparing individuals to become effective business leaders. The curriculum is designed to develop behavioral, technical, and strategic competencies that enable individuals to be superior performers in their business environment. In addition, we are committed to providing educational experiences that prepare students to effectively engage in issues at the intersection of business and society such as ethical business practices, globalization, and technological change.

Through the use of experiential exercises and activities that foster, enhance, and develop essential managerial and leadership skills, students gain valuable experience with the challenging problems confronting organizations in the 21st century. The MBA program is more than just an education; it is an experience that will have a long-lasting impact on students as they graduate and begin or continue their professional careers.

Program Flexibility


We are aware that acquiring an MBA degree requires a major commitment of time and effort by the student. Given the great value attached to the MBA degree, hard work is to be expected. The MBA degree requires the completion of 30 hours of graduate-level coursework for students with undergraduate business degrees. Part-time students with undergraduate business degrees can expect to complete the program within three years. Full-time students may complete the program within one year.

USI’s MBA program is specifically designed to meet the needs of the working professional. To meet the needs of our students, USI provides:

  • in-class and on-line classes to provide maximum flexibility
  • convenient evening classes for the working professional; classes start at 6 p.m.;
  • prerequisites courses for non-business undergraduate majors;
  • survey courses offered online;
  • a summer course schedule to help expedite progress through the program; and
  • flexible advising and administrative assistance.

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