Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2011-12 
    
Graduate Catalog 2011-12 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Business Administration


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Departments and Programs

M.B.A. Program Office
Room 2320, Schneider Hall

The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) is an evening program designed to broaden the functional business knowledge and strengthen the leadership skills of working professionals as well as international students seeking to study business in the United States. It is also suitable for individuals with limited work experience who plan to use the M.B.A. as a foundation from which to begin or resume their careers. The program seeks highly motivated college graduates who will bring their personal values, experiences, and interests to the classroom.

The M.B.A. program consists of nine required core courses in the functional areas of business plus three elective courses that suit the interests of the student. The program of study may be completed in two years although students with full-time employment may take up to six years to complete the program.

 

Admission Requirements


Admission to the MBA Program is based on a combination of undergraduate grade point average, score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), references, and work experience. To be admitted, applicants must have at least 1,050 points based on this formula: 200 times the last 60 hour undergraduate GPA plus GMAT score. The GPA must be a minimum of 2.5 for the last 60 hours in an undergraduate program, and the GMAT score must be a minimum of 450. Information on the GMAT may be found at www.mba.com.

International students must have a bachelor’s degree with an acceptable grade point average from an educational institution approved by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education at: international.wmich.edu/content/section/9/177/.

In addition, international students whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by taking the TOEFL examination. Those scoring less than 213 on the computer form of the TOEFL examination may be required to participate in English language programs offered by the Center for English Language and Culture for International Students (CELCIS) prior to beginning the M.B.A. program. Information on CELCIS may be found at www.wmich.edu/celcis.

 

Waiver of GMAT


The GMAT requirement may be waived for:

  1. Applicants who hold a graduate professional degree from an educational institution approved by Western Michigan University.
  2. Applicants with substantial professional work experience who meet both of the following criteria:
    1. An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher in the last two years of an accredited undergraduate degree program; and
    2. seven or more years of substantial, full-time, executive managerial work experience which has occurred within ten years prior to the date of program application.

Requests for a waiver of the GMAT requirement based on substantial executive work experience must be approved by the Haworth College of Business Graduate Policies Council.

 

Proficiency in Basic Skills


All applicants must provide evidence of proficiency in the following four basic skills before being admitted to the M.B.A. program: computer literacy, quantitative analysis, statistics, and writing in English.

  1. The computer literacy requirement is usually met by undergraduate course work or work experience requiring computer usage.
  2. The quantitative analysis requirement is considered met if the student has earned an undergraduate business degree (B.B.A.) from a university or college with an AACSB accredited program or has satisfactorily completed a college level undergraduate mathematics course in finite mathematics, precalculus, or calculus.
  3. The statistics requirement is considered met if the applicant has satisfactorily completed an undergraduate level statistics course at the sophomore level or higher.
  4. The writing in English requirement is considered met if the applicant receives a score of 3.50 or higher on the essay portion of the GMAT or as indicated by junior or senior level undergraduate course work that requires proficiency in written English.

 

Appeals and Requests for Exceptions


Appeals and requests for exceptions to the admission standards must be made in writing to the Director of M.B.A. Programs, Room 2320 Schneider Hall, Haworth College of Business, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. All appeals and requests for exceptions will be reviewed by the Haworth College of Business Graduate Policies Council.

Program Requirements


The M.B.A. program includes five components: Prerequisites/Basic Core, Business Context, Functional Core, Concentration Electives, and Integrative Business Solutions.

1. Prerequisites/Basic Core (12 hours)


In order to provide students with the background of the common body of knowledge in business and administration, study in the areas of Accountancy, Economics, Finance, and Law is required. These requirements are fulfilled if the applicant completed an undergraduate business degree and if the applicant completed the B.B.A. prerequisite equivalents with a “B” average in the appropriate class(es). These waivers are on a course-by-course basis for the M.B.A. program.

4. Integrative Business Solutions (3 hours)


5. Concentration Electives (9 hours)


An area of concentration may be selected from Computer Information Systems, Economics, Finance, General Business, International Business, Management, or Marketing. Electives are required at the 6000-level, with a maximum of three hours which may be approved at the 5000-level. Students must consult with an M.B.A. advisor in their area of anticipated concentration during the first semester of their enrollment at Western Michigan University.

Business


Finance and Commerical Law


6. Students with an undergraduate major or minor in a business discipline


May be allowed to substitute a fourth concentration elective for the M.B.A. core course offered by their undergraduate area of study. The undergraduate majors and the core courses which could be replaced with a higher level elective are:

And select either:


Additional Information


To effect the substitution, students (a) must consult with an advisor in the desired area of M.B.A. concentration; and (b) if the M.B.A. concentration is outside the undergraduate area, a faculty advisor in their area of concentration must also approve the substitute elective.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Departments and Programs