Program Revision Proposal
Submitted by the College of Business
David Rayome – Contact Person
227-1802
New programs, and major curriculum changes, must address all of the following issues:
1. State the rationale for the program. Include the programmatic goals and objectives, and how the program fits into the departmental mission statement.
This is a proposal to modify the Northern Michigan University College of Business Master of Business Administration (MBA). The College of Business proposes to modify the MBA from a 40 credit hour model to a 36 credit hour model. The current model consists of a total of 40 credits, 10 4-hour classes with no electives. The current MBA does not allow for flexibility, adaptability, or electives. Changing the required courses from 4 to 3 credits each will allow for the program to be completed in a shorter period of time, will make it less expensive and allow for some flexibility in that students will have the option of studying topics other than the 10 prescribed courses.
The initial MBA program was designed to provide a broad base of education; courses were kept at the same 4-credit level as our undergraduate courses. University committees that reviewed the original MBA proposal noted that it seemed inflexible and not receptive to modification or change as might be needed. After reviewing established programs from around Michigan, as well as around the nation over the past year, the current program needs modification if it is to be strategically marketable and sustainable.
A review of MBA programs at several universities (Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, Northwestern, Thunderbird, the University of Akron, West Virginia University, and Xavier University) revealed that none of these institutions included 4 credit hour classes in their MBA programs. Rather, their MBA programs consisted of 3, 2 or even 1 credit per course. In the state of Michigan (Central Michigan University, Ferris State University, Michigan State University, Michigan Tech University, Saginaw Valley State University, and the University of Michigan) MBA programs generally offer 3-credit hours courses; several courses are less than 3 credits.
Changing our MBA courses to 3 credits in the required courses and variable credits in the special topics and directed studies courses will allow a degree of flexibility to the program that is currently lacking. It will allow for current management topics to be offered in a timely fashion and given the number of credits appropriate for the topic content. It could even allow for an international experience to be offered as a special topics course, again, with the proper credits attached. Furthermore, limiting the required courses to 30 credits could allow students to take advantage of other NMU graduate courses, such as economics, public administration or training and development offerings.
A 36 hour MBA would open up opportunities for the College of Business to collaborate with other departments at NMU on the creation of specialties or concentrations to be joined with the MBA.
The Mission of the College of Business: “The mission of the College of Business is to deliver high quality academic and related programs that prepare students for successful careers and responsible engagement in a pluralistic, global society.”
Including timely electives, the possibility of an international experience and allowing students to take courses other than the rigidly prescribed 40 credits will provide MBA students with an expanded set of learning opportunities. This also fits into AACSB accreditation standards, which indicate that an MBA should “prepare students with a general managerial perspective and aptitude.”
2. State the job opportunities for graduates of the proposed program. Include evidence documenting those opportunities.
Students in the MBA program fall into one of two categories. First, current employees enroll in the MBA to enhance their ability to progress in their current employment. In some instances individuals have stated that enrollment in the graduate program was necessary for further promotions in their company. Second, in today’s economy some students with bachelor’s degrees are unable to find gainful employment. An MBA can provide additional career choices and job opportunities.
Studies have shown that an MBA can increase potential career earnings. MBA.COM reports: “Three out of four alumni indicated their ROI expectations were met or exceeded. Of the alumni from the class of 2009, 66 percent indicated their salary has met or exceeded their expectations. Most alumni say they could not have gotten their current jobs without the management education training they received as part of their graduate management degree.”
“In general, 2009 business school graduates surveyed in September reported a median salaryof $66,694 according to the GMAC® Alumni Perspectives Survey, which tracks graduates of all program types.” Source: MBA.COM.
3. Indicate if there are related programs in any departments at NMU.
There are no related graduate programs taught at NMU.
4. Indicate how the proposed program compares to other professional programs that exist at other regional/national universities.
The table below shows a breakdown of minimum credits required for MBA programs in other Michigan schools. The average number of credits is 40.1 for a degree, with the median of 36-37 credits for the MBA. At Northern Michigan University, graduate programs range from 32 to 48 required credits, with a median of 36 credits.
NMU Current / NMU Proposed / OU / SVSU / EMU / FSU / MTU / WMU / GVSU / CMU / UM / MSUMinimum (credits) / 40 / 36 / 45 / 37 / 36 / 48 / 36 / 36 / 33 / 30 / 50+ / 50+
Core / 40 / 30 / 30 / 31 / 18 / 36 / 8 / 9 / 13.5 / 22 / 22.5 / 28
Electives / 0 / 6 / 15 / 6-9 / 18 / 12 / 4 / 3 / 19.5 / 8 / 27+/- / 15-30
Reducing our program to 36 credits would place NMU at the median and below the average number of credits for other state institutions and at the median number of credits for NMU graduate programs. This will place us competitively with other MBA programs in the state.
5. Describe if the proposed program will affect the department’s accreditation, if appropriate.
The program will meet AACSB standards, as mentioned above under “Mission.”
6. Provide the listing of the proposed program as it will appear in the Graduate Bulletin.
(From the Current Graduate Bulletin with changes from current bulletin in red)
Master of Business Administration
(Program effective August 29, 2011)
Program Description
The College of Business offers a program of graduate studies leading to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. The primary objective of this program is to educate future, middle and senior managers to deal with basic problems of choice, complexity and change in the challenging environment of business. The program is designed to develop skills which the manager can use to deal with these problems in a profit-oriented, free enterprise economy. Therefore, the program’s focus is directed toward decision making.
The overall objective is achieved with ample emphasis on the traditional subject matter of business administration, i.e., accounting, finance, management and marketing.
Program Requirements
The MBA consists of 36 credit hours.
Several of the core courses in the MBA program have undergraduate course prerequisites. Students with prior coursework in accounting, economics, finance, marketing, information systems, management, operations management, statistics and calculus can enroll in the MBA courses directly. Relevant professional experience may be substituted for some or all of the prerequisite courses.
At Northern Michigan University, the following courses meet the MBA prerequisite requirements:
· Accounting ACT 230 and ACT 240
· Economics EC 201
· Finance FIN 351
· Marketing MKT 230
· Management MGT 240
· Information Systems CIS 212
· Managerial Communications MGT 344
· Operations Management MGT 325
· Statistics MA 171
Decisions regarding the admissions, acceptability of proposed substitutes for Phase One requirements, and overall MBA requirements will be made by the Faculty Director of the MBA Program. Relevant professional experience may be substituted for some or all of the Phase One Foundation Courses.
Admission Requirements
Applicants have to comply with the regular admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies. In addition, applicants are expected to have:
· A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
· An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
· A GMAT score of 500 or higher.
· Two years of relevant professional work experience.
Applicants are required to write a statement of purpose, indicating why they wish to pursue this degree. The results of the GMAT, the applicant’s undergraduate grade-point average, and relevant work experience will be evaluated together to determine eligibility for the program.
Applicants who are not native English speakers are required to submit a score of 500 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to having their application considered.
Application materials are reviewed by the MBA Program Director and a three person faculty graduate screening committee. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
For department information or additional degree requirements, click here
Current Bulletin Listing / Proposed Bulletin ListingTotal Credits Required for Degree 40 / Total Credits Required for Degree 36
BUS 500 Managerial Communications 4 / BUS 500 Managerial Communications 3
BUS 510 Business Law and Ethics 4 / BUS 510 Business Law and Ethics 3
BUS 520 Management and Information Systems
5 / BUS 520 Management and Information Systems 3
BUS 530 Organizations: Structure, Behavior and Human Performance 4 / BUS 530 Organizations: Structure, Behavior and Human Performance 3
BUS 540 Marketing Strategy 4 / BUS 540 Marketing Strategy 3
BUS 550 Business Statistics 4 / BUS 550 Business Statistics 3
BUS 560 Quantitative Decision Making 4 / BUS 560 Quantitative Decision Making 3
BUS 570 Managerial Accounting 4 / BUS 570 Managerial Accounting 3
BUS 580 Financial Analysis and Management 4 / BUS 580 Financial Analysis and Management 3
BUS 590 Strategic Management 4 / BUS 590 Strategic Management 3
* Electives 6
* To be taken with permission of advisor
BUS 595 Special Topics in Business Administration 1-3 credits
BUS 598 Directed Studies in Business Administration 1-3 credits
7. State the admission requirements for the program.
Admission Requirements (No changes from current Bulletin wording.)
Applicants have to comply with the regular admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies. In addition, applicants are expected to have:
· A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
· An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
· A GMAT score of 500 or higher.
· Two years of relevant professional work experience.
Applicants are required to write a statement of purpose, indicating why they wish to pursue this degree. The results of the GMAT, the applicant’s undergraduate grade-point average, and relevant work experience will be evaluated together to determine eligibility for the program.
Applicants who are not native English speakers are required to submit a score of 500 or above on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to having their application considered.
Application materials are reviewed by the MBA Program Director and a three person faculty graduate screening committee. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
8. State the graduation requirements for the program.
Master’s Degree Requirements (No changes from current Bulletin wording.)
Course Requirements
The minimum requirement for the master’s degree is the satisfactory completion of total credit hours required by the department which have been submitted as a Graduate Plan of Study and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and by the student’s adviser.
Additional Requirements
1. A minimum of 16 credits must be at the 500 level or higher.
2. Only graduate-level credits can be applied to a masters' degree. No course work done in courses less than the 400 level will apply to a master's degree.
3. Courses at the 400 level must be approved for graduate credit, be taught by an approved graduate faculty member, and be approved by the offering department for inclusion in graduate degree programs.
4. A maximum of eight credits can be earned in Directed or Independent Study (598) courses including a maximum of four credits earned in workshops.
5. A maximum of 16 credits earned through a combination of courses of unspecified content (including Thesis 599) credit can be applied to the total minimum number of hours required to complete the master’s degree. Of these 16 credits, a maximum of 12 credits can be earned through courses of unspecified content excluding thesis.
6. Individual programs may have more restrictive requirements. Graduate courses of unspecified content are defined as courses in which the student or department is not restricted by the Graduate Bulletin to a specific area of subject matter. A list of courses covered by this limitation precedes the Course Descriptions.
Graduate Project
All master’s students must complete a graduate project that is defined by the program of study. The project may be (1) a thesis, (2) a graduate research project report, portfolio, or exhibit, or (3) two file papers.
Certification that the graduate project requirement has been met must be filed at the College of Graduate Studies 30 calendar days prior to graduation. Forms for this purpose are available from the College of Graduate Studies. It is the student’s responsibility to see that the documentation is filed through the department.
9. Include course outlines of any new or substantially revised courses, including Graduate Bulletin descriptions.
No course or curriculum changes other than adjusting existing classes to 3 credit hours from 4. The current courses include a number of cases and group exercises. Some of these can be eliminated without essentially affecting the course content.
10. State the projected enrollment for the program in years one, two and five.
27 students have been accepted in the MBA program and 20 are enrolled in classes for Fall 2010. Under the 36 credit hour model the college envisions 100 students with three years; under the 40 credit hour model, maybe 40. The enrollment the 36 credit model could approach enrollment of more than 200 within five years. The 40 credit hour model will likely be stagnant.
11. State the anticipated costs of the program for each of five years, including separate descriptions for: