Master of Business Administration (MSBA) Requirements
SDSU offers a broad range of Master of Science in Business Administration programs in functional business disciplines. These programs are designed to meet the needs of students who prefer a more specialized graduate education.
The MSBA programs:
- Emphasize depth in functional areas
- Produce specialists, not general managers
- Provide a flexible curriculum to allow the student to meet his or her educational and career needs
- Allow students to customize their program in consultation with a faculty academic advisor. View faculty academic advisors
1. MSBA Core Courses (0-21 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 better. Courses completed at non-AACSB schools will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Once you have been admitted to an SDSU graduate degree program, you must complete the graduate-level course. Students who are required to take core courses should take these courses as early as possible in their program of study.
Core Courses |
BA 650 – Financial Reporting and 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 |
In addition, the student’s adviser may request satisfactory completion of additional prerequisite courses in the student’s proposed field of specialization.
2. Electives (27-30 units)
Students in the MSBA programs work closely with a faculty advisor to determine which program courses will be most appropriate for the student. The faculty advisor can also help the student assess his or her personal strengths and weaknesses and customize a learning plan that will best prepare the student for their chosen career. Students may wish to contact their faculty advisor to discuss their program of study. View faculty advisors
The following MSBA concentrations are available. An advising worksheet may be viewed by clicking on the concentration.
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Financial & Tax Planning
Human Resource Management*
Information Systems
International Business
Management
Marketing
Supply Chain Management
*The Human Resource Management (HRM) program has been discontinued, and no new students will be admitted to the program.
3. Culminating Experience (0 – 3 units)
Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, International Business, or Management
MSBA students with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, International Business, or Management should enroll in MGT 790 in their final semester.
Information Systems, or Supply Chain Management
MSBA students with a concentration in Information Systems, Supply Chain Management should enroll in IDS 790 in their final semester
Marketing
MSBA students with a concentration in Marketing should enroll in MKTG 790 in their final semester.
MSBA Finance
MSBA students with an emphasis in Finance are required to take a comprehensive exam before graduating. Students will receive an email from the university notifying them of the date and time that the exam will be administered.
MSBA Financial & Tax Planning
MSBA students with an emphasis in Financial and Tax Planning must register for FIN 590 (Financial Planning Practicum) in their last semester of study. This course is considered the capstone course for MSBA students with an emphasis in Financial and Tax Planning.
Important Administrative Procedures Necessary to Earn Your MSBA
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)
Students should complete a POS with their faculty advisor after they have completed 12 units of study and 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. Once the student has completed the POS with their faculty advisor, the student must bring the POS to their advisor in the Graduate School of Business office. 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 will advance the student to candidacy and allow the student to graduate in a timely fashion.
The university requires students to be advanced to candidacy no later than the semester before they anticipate graduating.
Download an MSBA POS worksheet
Graduate Affairs 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 must take 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. MSBA students should submit the completed form to their faculty advisor for signature and then bring the form 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. 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 Division website and/or the Academic Calendar for the graduation application deadline in the semester they plan to graduate.
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