Business Administration, MBA

Objectives

The complexities of the economic, social and scientific world of today are increasing the demand of the business community for students with advanced business degrees. The overall objective of the graduate program leading to the Master of Business Administration degree is to prepare its graduates to serve effectively in the business world or in the business aspects of government or other agencies. The specific objectives are as follows:

to provide the candidate with the theory, principles and knowledge required for effective management of modern business;
to develop an appreciation for the role and responsibilities of business leaders in the social and economic order; and
to foster the techniques of basing decision and action on careful analysis of pertinent data.

Procedure for applying

Students may enter the master’s degree programs at the beginning of any term/semester or summer sessions. Applicants should complete the requirements listed below and meet the deadlines set forth in “Admission Deadlines” above. Students applying to programs taught in an accelerated format may also apply for October or March start dates.

Obtain admission to the university and the Toulouse Graduate School by filing the following items with the Toulouse Graduate School:
1. complete official transcripts of college and university credits;
2. online application for admission to the Toulouse Graduate School; and
3. payment of online application fee.

Applicants whose native language is not English must either present a score of at least 550 (paper version) or 213 (computer version) or 79 (Internet version) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language or be a graduate of a college or university in the United States.

The following additional admission materials are submitted to the CoB Graduate Programs Office:
1. results of the Graduate Management Admission Test or Graduate Records Examination (three to four weeks for the test to be received by the Graduate School).
2. two letters of recommendation; and
3. resume (work/academic experience).

Applications forwarded by the Toulouse Graduate School cannot be considered until the above information is submitted.

Applications and supporting documentation will be reviewed using a holistic approach by the CoB admission committee. The Graduate Programs Office will notify applicants of their status once the information has been reviewed. Applicants may also check the status by visiting my.unt.edu.

Background requirements

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and admission to the Toulouse Graduate School are needed for graduate standing.

Students may have acquired this background in their undergraduate programs by the completion of courses equivalent in content to UNT’s business foundation requirements for the bachelor’s degree in business administration. In addition, students are required to have a working knowledge of computer-based business tools.The College of Business Graduate Programs Office works with students to determine if background deficiency courses will be necessary. Background content might include Financial and Managerial Accounting, Business Information Systems, Statistics, Business Law, Finance, Marketing, Micro and Macro Economics, Operations Management and Calculus. Deficiencies can be completed via traditional academic coursework or through Ivy Software and Responsive.net. Ivy Software and Responsive.net deliver self-paced online learning modules that provide the needed background content without the need to formally enrolling in courses at UNT. For more information go to cob.unt.edu/background.

Additional requirements

The nature of the MBA program requires that the student possess a proficiency in computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheet and database software. Finally, the program requires students to possess communication skills that allow one to identify relevant information and, in turn, to provide that information to others in written or verbal format. It is the student’s responsibility to acquire these competencies prior to taking courses in the program of study. These competencies will be assumed. However, the departmental advisors will recommend courses for students not possessing these competencies.

Additional advanced undergraduate courses in the proposed major field may be required as prerequisite work of students who have a different specialization at the undergraduate level or who hold a bachelor’s degree in some area other than business.

Background requirements must be removed prior to enrollment in courses that count as part of the 36 semester hours required for a master’s degree, unless the consent of the departmental advisor is first obtained.

Program requirements

Students are required to complete the following core courses.

Areas of concentration

The remaining 18 hours of graduate course work may be used to pursue specialized interests in the following areas of concentration.

Business analytics
Business management (full-time, cohort MBA program)
Business studies (focus areas in international business, library science and technology, real estate, sports, entertainment and event management and sustainability)
Finance*
Health services management*
Information technology
Logistics and supply chain management
Marketing*
Marketing Analytics
Organizational behavior and human resource management (accelerated, 100% online program)
Strategic management (accelerated, 100% online program)

* may be taken online

Additional information

Program approval

Each graduate student should receive counseling prior to registration each term/semester.

During the first term/semester of a master’s program, the student must submit a degree plan through the departmental advisor. The degree plan must be approved by the associate dean of the CoB Graduate Programs Office and by the Toulouse Graduate School. A maximum of 9 hours of transfer work may be applied toward the 36-hour portion of the program. The final decision on applicability of transfer work rests with the departmental advisor.

To enroll in graduate courses, the student should be counseled by a departmental advisor. Any degree plan change must have prior consent. Specific information about degree plan changes may be obtained from the departmental advisor or the CoB Graduate Programs Office.

Admission to candidacy is granted by the dean of the Toulouse Graduate School only after the degree plan has been approved.

Concentrations for the MBA

The terms concentrations (MBA degree programs) and majors (MS degree programs) are used to designate the primary area of study.

For specific course and concentration/major requirements, see the respective departmental sections that follow.