MBA: Program Design

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at the Milgard School of Business is a 72-credit graduate degree designed to provide experienced managers with new tools for responding to the challenges of change. The program encourages managers to develop the integrated base of knowledge and skills needed to lead organizations facing an increasing pace of change. The Milgard School of Business MBA is a comprehensive degree that builds capabilities across the full range of business disciplines.

The 72 quarter-credit MBA degree consists of:

• Core Courses: 40 credits required
• Elective Courses: 32 credits tailored to individual needs.

The core curriculum addresses key areas of business knowledge via the core courses, which focus on finance, accounting, marketing, information systems, human behavior, and business strategy. Perspectives on ethics and international business are integrated across these seven courses, which culminate in a capstone course that offers a comprehensive systems perspective on organizations. These courses also emphasize quantitative and qualitative tools for predicting, planning and managing change.

Beyond the core courses, students are required to complete 32 elective credits. The choice of electives will depend on the students' career and educational goals. Students can create a profile of elective courses that allows them to gain additional knowledge of information technology, finance, leadership or marketing. Elective courses also can be taken outside of Business from other UWT graduate programs.

Classes meet primarily on weekday evenings, some quarters on Saturdays, as well as incorporate Internet components to take advantage of technology. The use of technological advances provides opportunities for faculty and students to utilize time and resources effectively. Course designs will integrate both conceptual learning and skill building, with emphasis on oral and written communication, analysis, and interpersonal skills. The objective is immediate relevancy to practicing managers.

The primary goal of the MBA is to provide current and future managers with the knowledge necessary to succeed in an increasingly dynamic and complex environment. Students develop a strong mix of leadership, technological, financial, analytical, relational and communication skills. We offer a high quality program that is immediately relevant to practicing managers.

The curriculum develops well-rounded managers who can:

• Analyze organizations as complex systems
• Diagnose organizational problems and design solutions
• Implement change effectively
• Develop people and build teams
• Scan the global business environment and identify important trends
• Make strategic decisions under conditions of risk and uncertainty
• Choose technologies that support productivity
• Allocate organizational resources strategically
• Recognize the social, political, ethical and environmental consequences of management decisions

The degree program consists of 18 four-credit classes, including 10 required courses and 8 electives. Classes are offered weekday evenings and Saturdays, and many incorporate on-line components. The degree can be completed in two years while working full-time and attending classes year-round, but may be extended to three or more years.

Students may choose elective courses from the Management focus (including such courses as Conflict Management, Strategic Human Resources, and Decision Making with Technology) and the Financial focus (including such courses as Financial Statement Analysis, Economic Theory and Investments). Students can select the CFA Option, giving them the background necessary to take the Level I exam.

Curriculum Sequencing

The Milgard School of Business MBA program is designed to be completed in two academic years including summer quarter classes, or may be extended to three or more years. In the average quarter, an MBA student will enroll in two courses (8 credits) of study.

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