Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
About This Program
Program Purpose
The Master of Business Administration program is designed to prepare students for management and leadership positions in business enterprises, health care organizations, financial institutions or not-for-profit organizations. The program is designed with an emphasis on executive skills development, quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques and the knowledge and professional capabilities necessary for the execution of complex managerial duties in today’s global business environment. Imbedded in the MBA program is an appreciation for the role of business in a pluralistic society and the international community.
Program Competencies
Students will have an advanced level of applicable knowledge in the following areas, as appropriate to one’s field of study:
- Oral Communication
- Speak with confidence, clarity, and conciseness.
- Research, prepare, and deliver professional presentations.
- Written Communication
- Write clearly, concisely and appropriately using correct English grammar, punctuation, usage, mechanics, sentence structure, and vocabulary.
- Use appropriate APA format for scholarly writing.
- Disciplined Inquiry
- Use quantitative, qualitative and scientific reasoning to solve problems.
- Exercise critical thinking strategies, including reasoning, problem solving, analysis and evaluation and apply them appropriately to management.
- Define a problem or issue and develop questions and methods to address the problem or issue and/or to create new knowledge.
- Information Literacy
- Access, use, and evaluate information effectively, efficiently, and appropriately.
- Evaluate the reliability of information sources and content.
- Use technology to effectively locate and communicate information.
- Ethics
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of prescribed ethical code(s) and/or behaviors promoted by the profession.
- Professional
- Use financial management, economics principles, and modern marketing techniques to ensure the efficient operation and strong fiscal future of the organization.
- Prepare a strategic plan that will critically examine the organization’s internal and external environments and select creative, feasible business alternatives.
- Articulate personal values and goals as guideposts for professional behavior.
Program Design
The philosophy of the Wilmington University MBA program is closely aligned with its instructional format. The program is organized through a series of coordinated seven-week modules and is scheduled to accommodate the needs of people who maintain full-time employment while pursuing the degree. The program design permits students to complete the requirements for the MBA at their own pace. Classes at the Wilson Graduate Center are scheduled on weeknights and Saturdays. Classes at Georgetown and Dover are scheduled on weeknights.
Students who need the prerequisite undergraduate background in business may enroll in specially designed courses or appropriate undergraduate courses that carry no credit toward the MBA degree. With the approval of their advisor, students may have a prerequisite course waived through prior related course work or by registering for and successfully passing a challenge by examination.
MBA Program Requirements
The MBA program is based upon the belief that students must understand the complex relationships of the various organizational functions of economics, finance, marketing, operations, and management on a global basis. The program consists of 12 three-credit-hour courses. Ten courses are required and reflect in-depth and integrated exposure to the core areas of economics, finance, operations, management, and marketing. Students select two additional courses from the elective list to complement the core courses.
Admission to the MBA Program and
Advancement to Degree Candidacy
Students in the MBA Program are advanced to degree candidacy after completing four courses with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.0, provided they have:
- Submitted an official transcript from their undergraduate institution confirming receipt of their baccalaureate degree.
- Successfully completed a writing assessment.
- Completed at least three credits in undergraduate mathematics with a grade of “C” or better at the level of college algebra or higher, or successfully completed the Wilmington University elementary algebra skills analysis examination.
- Completed a credit or non-credit course in word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software applications or successfully completed the Wilmington University office software proficiency examination.
- Completed at least three credits in each of the following prerequisites (may be satisfied through challenge by examination) at the undergraduate level with a grade of “C” or better:
- Completed MGT 6501, Organization Theory and Design as one of their first four courses.
Students missing any of these items will not be permitted to continue their MBA studies until the deficiency or deficiencies have been eliminated.
Professional Certification Option
Wilmington University will award graduate-level credit for certain professional certifications. The credit for these professional certifications will be applied to a like course or courses in the curriculum or be accepted as an elective or electives if there are no corresponding courses in the respective program and the professional certification is in an appropriate field of study. Examples of professional certifications include: Certified Public Accountant; Certified Production and Inventory Manager; Certified Financial Planner; Six Sigma Green or Black Belt; and Senior Professional HR Manager. Students who wish to be considered for graduate-level credit should apply to the MBA Program Coordinator.
This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2009-2010 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2009 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.
