MBA Program Requirements
The MBA requires a 30-48 unit program of study that consists of five major components – a core of basic business courses, theme courses, courses in the specialization, electives, and a culminating experience. Developing a program of study for the MBA degree requires careful planning and you are encouraged to discuss the plan with your academic advisor. View faculty academic advisors
1. MBA Core Courses (0 to 21 units)
These seven core courses will provide a solid foundation in each of the key business disciplines. One or more of these may be waived by the Graduate Business Programs office if you have completed an equivalent course at an AACSB-accredited university within the past 5 years and earned a grade of ‘B’ or higher. Courses completed at non-AACSB schools will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Core Courses |
BA 650 – Financial Reporting & Analysis I |
BA 651 – Organizational Behavior |
BA 652 – Statistical Analysis |
BA 653 – Managerial Economics |
BA 655 – Marketing |
BA 662 – Operations Management |
BA 665 – Financial Management I |
Once you have been admitted to the MBA program, you must take the graduate-level core course. It is advisable for students to take the core classes as early as possible during their studies at SDSU. You may not be able to enroll in certain graduate level courses until you have completed a core course.
2. MBA Theme Courses (6 units)
A. Corporate Responsibility: These courses aim to help you develop a deep understanding and appreciation of the legal, ethical and social context in which management decisions are made. You will consider businesses' legal, social and ethical responsibilities to internal and external stakeholders such as stockholders, employees, customers, and the communities where the corporation does business.
Choose ONE of the following courses. |
ACCTG 681 – Seminar in Regulatory & Management Controls |
FIN 604 – Legal Environment for Executives |
IDS 755 – Information Systems Security Management |
MGT 722 – Seminar in Business Ethics and Social Institutions |
MGT 746 – Seminar in Corporate Governance |
B. Management of Technology: These courses aim to development an understanding of the key issues and trends in business’ use of technology and data, information, and knowledge for decision making and competitive advantage.
Choose ONE of the following courses. |
IDS 688 – Information Systems in Organizations |
IDS 691 – Decision Support Systems |
3. MBA Specialization (0 to 12 units)
Students who wish to specialize in a specific area of study will be required to take a minimum of 12 units (or four classes) in their chosen area of emphasis. Students may specialize in only one area of study. For a listing of the specific courses recommended for each of the specializations, please visit the links provided below.
Accounting
Athletics & Fitness Mgt.
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Health Services Admin.
Information Systems
International Business
Management
Marketing
Project Management
Supply Chain Management
Real Estate
4. MBA Electives (6 to 21 units)
Students who do not intend to specialize in one area of study or who want to take classes outside their area of emphasis will take graduate level business electives. Electives are considered to be any 500-level or above course in the College of Business departments (Accountancy, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Information and Decision Systems). Please note that students may take a maximum of six units of 500-level courses. All additional units must be taken in 600-level or higher courses. Additionally, courses may be taken outside of the College of Business however the courses must be business-related and be pre-approved by the Graduate Business Programs office. Among themes and electives listed above, a student must complete courses from three out of the five departments in the College of Business Administration.
5. MBA Culminating Experience Course (3 units)
MBA students are given the option to either take the capstone course for the MBA program (BA 795) or complete a thesis (BA 799A).
Students who choose to take BA 795 should submit the “BA 795 Reservation Form” form to the Graduate School of Business office by the fifth week in the semester prior to their anticipated graduation date. For example, students who plan to graduate in spring 2010 should submit the form during fall 2009.
Information on the thesis option is available on the Graduate Affairs web site: http://gra.sdsu.edu/~gra/grad/thesisreview/dtrmain.html
Degree Requirements Checklist
At least 27 units completed beyond the core |
Not more than a total of six units in courses BA 780 (Field Studies in Business), 797 (Research), and 798 (Special Study) |
Among themes and electives (and specialization) completed, courses are taken from three out of the five departments in the College of Business |
Important Administrative Procedures Necessary to Earn Your MBA:
Download an MBA Roadmap
A. Maintain Required Grade Point Average
Grade point averages of at least 3.0 (B) must be maintained in:
1. All courses listed on the official degree program.
2. All courses, 300-level and above, taken at San Diego State University concurrently with or subsequently to the earliest course listed on the official degree program, including courses accepted for transfer credit.
No transfer or extension credit may be used to improve the grade point average of units completed at San Diego State University whether computed to determine the average on the official degree program or the overall average.
B. Submit Program of Study (POS)
All students must submit a POS worksheet to the Graduate School of Business office no later than the semester before they anticipate graduating. For example, if a student plans to graduate in spring 2010, they should submit their POS no later than the fall 2009 semester. Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA and be in good academic standing with the university in the semester in which they are submitting their POS. The POS must be filed before the student can be advanced to candidacy. The university requires students to be advanced to candidacy no later than the semester before they anticipate graduating.
Download an MBA POS worksheet
The university Graduate Affairs office will review the POS, approve or deny the POS, and notify the student of the approval or denial. POS’ are rarely denied. Once a POS has been approved it becomes the student’s contract with the university that ensures that the student is meeting the requirements of the degree program.
C. Submit Petition for Adjustment of Academic Requirements
If for any reason the student has taken courses that were not listed on the POS, the student will need to submit a Petition for Adjustment of Academic Requirements to update the POS that is on file with the university. Under the “Student Request” section, the student should list the courses they wish to have removed from their program of study as well as those that should be added to their program of study and provide a reason for the changes. The full name and number of each course and the number of units awarded for each course should be listed. MBA students should submit the completed form directly to the Graduate Business Programs office.
D. Submit Graduation Application
Students who have been advanced to candidacy and are ready to graduate need to complete an Application for Graduation with an Advanced Degree. The completed Application for Graduation should be submitted to the Cashier’s Office along with the $55 graduation fee. The Graduation Application deadline varies each semester, but applications are usually due at the beginning of each semester. Students are advised to monitor the Graduate Affairs website and/or the Academic Calendar for the graduation application deadline in the semester they plan to graduate.
|
