Master of Business Administration

This program is accredited by AACSB International —The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The MBA program at Bradley University originated in the late 1940s and emerged as one of the dynamic forces in the College in the 1970s. Subsequently, it earned recognition by receiving accreditation from AACSB. This recognition signals both the achievement of quality standards of long standing and the establishment of a new base upon which to build toward higher levels of excellence.

The MBA program is open to full-time and part-time students, who take classes together. Students may enter the program in August or January and complete their degree in two years. All of the required courses are offered in the evenings. The combination of students from different undergraduate disciplines, with varying levels of work experience, results in a dynamic educational environment beneficial to all.

The curriculum has a general managerial perspective. It stresses the theoretical basis of management disciplines as well as practical applications of theory and current management practices. The curriculum focuses on improving managerial performance in the problem-solving environment and also conceptualizing elements for policy formulating activity.

The study of management approached in this manner is appealing to those interested in the administration of all types of enterprise: health, government, and non-profit organizations, as well as the traditional large and small industrial and service business firms.

The practical applications orientation of the curriculum necessitates the use of a wide variety of pedagogical approaches. Problem-solving situations are used, calling for individual attention, group interaction, computer analysis, and formulation of assumptions to deal with uncertainty. Case analysis is extensively used, focusing both on problem-solving and presentation of conclusions using appropriate oral and written communication skills.

The MBA program is designed to provide each student with a professional business education through:

1. A rigorous body of coursework that reflects current business practices;
2. The development of analytical and interpersonal skills needed to work effectively in a rapidly changing domestic and global economy;
3. The teaching of the social and ethical responsibilities of business in a system of free enterprise.

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the MBA program is based on a thorough review of the required documents as well as supplemental materials that may be appropriate. The Graduate Admissions Committee of the Foster College of Business Administration makes the admission recommendation.

The required documents are the following:

1. Application form. All applicants must submit an Application for Graduate Admission, signed and dated by the applicant. Applications for Graduate Admission may also be submitted on line. All applicants must submit a non-refundable application fee, payable by check or money order, to Bradley University. The fee for domestic applicants is $40 and $50 for international applicants.
2. Transcript(s). Applicants are required to provide one official transcript sent directly from the Registrar's office at the institution from which they receive their bachelor's degree or the international equivalent. Additional transcripts may be required at the discretion of the Graduate School. Applicants should submit additional official transcripts from post-baccalaureate coursework for consideration. Applicants who have completed graduate-level coursework should submit all transcripts reflecting graduate coursework. Official transcripts should be submitted to: the Graduate School, Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois 61625.
3. Letters of recommendation. Two current letters of recommendation are required from persons who can comment meaningfully on the applicant’s capability for graduate-level study. Character references are not appropriate. Faculty members under whom the applicant has studied and supervisors are considered appropriate references.
4. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). The GMAT is a standardized test designed to measure aptitude for graduate study in management. Applicants must arrange to take the test in sufficient time to permit processing of the application with the test results prior to the application deadline. For reporting the test results, the Bradley University GMAT institutional code is 1070. Information about the GMAT may be obtained by contacting the Graduate School Office or by visiting www.mba.com.
5. Essays. Answers to essay questions must be complete with meaningful and well-developed answers to the questions on the goals of the applicant.
6. A current resume. Since the evaluation includes analysis of work experience, a current resume is very helpful to the admissions committee.
7. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Applicable only to international students whose native language is not English. The test measures proficiency in oral and written English. The IELTS is an acceptable substitute for TOEFL.

Admissions Criteria

The entire application package including the GMAT score, the undergraduate GPA, transcripts, letters of recommendation, experience, essay responses, and other materials are all considered in an application review for student admission.

The GMAT exam may be waived if the applicant has earned a terminal degree in his/her profession (i.e. JD in law or a PhD in some field). The GMAT may also be waived if the candidate has a master's degree in an analytically rigorous discipline (i.e. mathematics, engineering, etc.) and a master's GPA of at least 3.4 or better. The decision on the waiver of the GMAT rests with the Graduate Admissions Committee. To request a waiver, the applicant must include a written request with the application materials.

Progress Toward the Degree

Course Enrollment

Graduate courses in business administration are restricted to graduate students who have been admitted to the MBA program or another degree-granting or certificate-granting program in the Graduate School. Enrollment in courses is on a space-available basis. Students-at-large may not take 600-level graduate courses in the Foster College of Business Administration.

Leave of Absence

Please refer to the Graduate School Step-Out Policy.

Degree Requirements

The MBA program is 33 semester hours. Twenty-four of these hours satisfy a set of required core courses. The program begins with an interpersonal relations course that emphasizes the development and application of interpersonal skills critical for managerial success. The program continues with an introduction to key issues in business decision-making, drawing on experienced practitioners and graduate faculty teams. A capstone strategy course integrates the business cross-functional approach to organizational issues.

There are 9 hours of elective coursework, which may be chosen within one of three areas of concentration (finance, management, marketing) or across concentrations as a customized elective selection. The required and elective courses are as follows:

MBA Courses

Required Core (24 hrs.)

ATG 604 Controllership*
BMA 615 Interpersonal Relations
BMA 620 Management Theory
BMA 628 Business Policy and Strategy Formulation
BMA 672 Information Systems Management
ECO 606 Microeconomics for Managers
ECO 608 U.S. Business Cycles in International Economy
FIN 622 Financial Management
MTG 624 Marketing Decision Making

*MBA students with an undergraduate accounting degree must choose a three-hour elective to replace the ATG 604 requirement.

Concentration Electives

Finance

FIN 623 Multinational Financial Management
FIN 624 Capital Budgeting
FIN 625 Financial Analysis
FIN 627 Financial Risk Management
FIN 628 Socially Responsible Financial Policy
FIN 658 Topics in Finance
FIN 660 Readings in Finance

Management

BMA 602 Organizational Behavior
BMA 657 Executive Development
BMA 658 Topics in Business Administration
BMA 659 Topics in Management
BMA 660 Readings in Business Administration
BMA 671 Productivity Software for Managers
BMA 673 Data Communications for Managers
BMA 675 Managing Systems Development
BMA 676 Electronic Commerce
IB 656 International Business Administration
IB 658 Topics in International Business
IB 660 Readings in International Business

Marketing

MTG 640 Obtaining, Analyzing, and Applying Marketing Information (required)
MTG 644 Professional Selling and Sales Management
MTG 654 Managing Services Marketing
MTG 658 Topics in Marketing
MTG 660 Readings in Marketing
MTG 688 Supply Chain Management
IB 656 International Business Administration
IB 658 Topics in International Business
IB 660 Readings in International Business

Other Electives

ATG 658 Topics in Accounting
ATG 660 Readings in Accounting
CIS 571 Computer Law
CIS 572 Computing Services Management
ECO 660 Readings in Economics
IB 660 Readings in International Business
MFE 565 Computer Integrated Manufacturing
QM 652 Advanced Data Analysis
QM 658 Topics in Quantitative Methods
QM 660 Readings in Quantitative Methods

Foundation Courses

All students must have a proficiency in mathematics equivalent to the techniques of calculus in college, and working familiarity with business computer systems. Students without these proficiencies must take appropriate mathematics and computer courses specified by the director of graduate programs.

All students in the MBA program must possess the common body of knowledge in business administration as set forth below.

1. a background of the concepts, processes, and institutions in the production and marketing of goods and/or services, and the financing of the business enterprise or other forms of organization;
2. a background of the economic and legal environment as it pertains to profit and/or nonprofit organizations along with ethical considerations and social and political influences as they affect such organizations;
3. a basic understanding of the concepts and applications of accounting, quantitative methods, and management information systems including computer applications;
4. a study of organization theory, behavior, and interpersonal communications;
5. a study of administrative processes under conditions of uncertainty including integrating analysis and policy determination at the overall management level.

All core courses are compressed and offered on seven-week schedules. The foundation portion of the requirement may be satisfied if an applicant’s transcript contains undergraduate courses equivalent to the foundation courses listed below and these courses were completed within the past 10 years with a B or better. An admitted student who has not had a particular foundation course may take it at Bradley University or, with prior permission, at another institution. Courses at the 500-level count in cumulative hours and cumulative GPA.

Foundation Courses

ATG 505 Accounting Principles-Financial
BMA 542 Legal Environment of Business
BMA 553 Operations Management
ECO 506 Elements of Microeconomics
FIN 522 Introduction to Finance
MTH 115 Calculus
QM 502 Quantitative Analysis II

Students must complete all their foundation courses prior to enrolling in 600-level MBA courses. Students must earn a B or better in all required foundation courses to be eligible for 600-level MBA courses.

Other Requirements

Applicants should review the Graduate School admission policies, special regulations, registration and fees, and degree regulations located in the front of this catalog.

Comprehensive Examination

Candidates will be expected to demonstrate their capacity to draw upon and integrate their knowledge from all courses in a written comprehensive examination. A candidate will complete the examination while enrolled in BMA 628. In case of failure, the candidate will be allowed to retake BMA 628 and the comprehensive exam only once.

Practicum

BUS 610 Graduate Business Practicum 0-3 hrs.

Solving technically challenging problems under faculty supervision, with a near-term economic benefit. May involve research in collaboration with FCBA faculty, for up to three hours credit. Repeatable to a combined total of three credit hours. Prerequisite: Graduate business student in good standing; approval of Center for Business and Economic Research and Director of Graduate Business Programs.

IE MBA Program

Undergraduate students in the industrial engineering department may combine their studies and earn an MBA degree in five and one-half years or fewer. Students may include all of the prerequisites for the MBA program as part of their required 124 undergraduate semester hours. Careful scheduling is required and should be coordinated with the student’s undergraduate adviser and director of graduate programs. Students electing this option must be fully admitted before registering for graduate-level courses and have the written approval of the director of graduate programs. Students should contact the director of graduate programs during their sophomore year for particular information.

MBA Association

The MBAA is the social and professional extension of the program. Its principal objectives are to enhance closer personal ties among its members, foster communication between students and the business world, and provide closer ties with the faculty. A variety of activities is scheduled to include MBA students and spouses, as well as faculty and alumni. All MBA and EMBA students are automatically members of the association.

This is the official catalog for the 2011-2012 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.