Proposal for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree Program
EXPEDITED PROGRAM APPROVAL
SUBMITTED TO THE
MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Submission Date: August 17, 2006
FRAMINGHAM STATE COLLEGE
100 STATE STREET
FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
I. PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
II. PURPOSE AND GOALS
III. NEED FOR THE PROGRAM
IV. CURRICULUM
Complete description of the curriculum
The Master of Business Administration is based on a generalist orientation, which stresses a strong theoretical foundation in business and economics as well as practical business applications. Philosophically, the program assumes that excellence in managerial decision-making requires an understanding of both the internal aspects of the modern business enterprise and the external environment in which it functions. To acquire this understanding, students in the program are exposed to both quantitative and non-quantitative problem-solving techniques within the context of broad economic and business principles. At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to analyze problems in business situations, to communicate proposed solutions clearly in both written and oral form, and to utilize specific techniques in the areas of economics, finance, marketing, and management.
All courses are four-credit courses.
The MBA consists of forty eight credits from ten required (core) courses, listed in Exhibit 20, and a choice of two elective courses from the list given as Exhibit 21.
Exhibit 20 - Required MBA Courses.
| Course Number | Course Title |
| 12.909 | Information Technology in Business |
| 12.915 | Business and Its Environment |
| 12.942 | Marketing Management |
| 12.951 | Human Resource Management |
| 12.962 | The Economics of Organizational Design |
| 12.974 | Operations Management |
| 12.976 | Quantitative Analysis |
| 12.978 | Financial Management |
| 24.904 | Management and Leadership |
| 12.984 | Seminar: Advanced Topics in Strategic Management |
Exhibit 21 - Elective MBA Courses.
| Course Number | Course Title |
| 12.930 | International Business |
| 12.945 | Investments |
| 12.950 | Labor Management Relations |
| 12.960 | Project Management |
The flowchart given as Exhibit 22 shows the sequencing of the core and elective courses.
Exhibit 22 Course Sequencing
The Seminar: Advanced Topics in Strategic Management (12.984) is the capstone course in the student’s program and can only be taken after all other core courses are completed. Students may take elective courses concurrently or subsequently with the written approval of their advisor. Registration for this course requires prior written approval from the Associate Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education. Students will not be permitted to fulfill the Capstone Seminar requirement with a course transferred from another institution.
All the courses are rigorous and fully meet graduate standards - see Section IV of this proposal.
In addition, students are expected to be familiar with the Microsoft Office Suite, or equivalent software, and are required to satisfy five foundation requirements - see Exhibit 23.
Exhibit 23 - Foundation Requirements
| Course Number | Course Title |
| 12.676 | Statistical Analysis for Managers |
| 12.610 | Economic Analysis |
| 12.621 | Financial Accounting for Administrators |
| 12.632 | Managerial Accounting |
| 12.643 | Marketing Theory |
Proficiency in the foundation material may be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
- Appropriate academic coursework completed at the undergraduate level. Such courses should have been completed no more than five (5) years before the student applies to the program, with a grade of at least B-. The Admissions Committee will evaluate each applicant’s academic record to determine whether foundation requirements have been met.
- Students without appropriate prior academic coursework but with proficiency in a particular foundation area may take a CLEP test in an appropriate subject area, or an internal examination set by the Admissions Committee, or may otherwise request a waiver from the Admissions Committee.
- Successful completion of the appropriate foundation course.
The MBA Steering Committee is considering an accelerated foundation program for students with significant knowledge acquired through work or military experience and in due course this program may provide a fourth way of demonstrating proficiency in the foundation material.
The flow-chart given as Exhibit 24 sets out the sequencing of foundation courses and the admissions process by which proficiency will be determined.
Exhibit 24 Foundation Courses and Admissions Process Flowchart
Number of credits required to complete program
Forty-eight (48) graduate credits including core course credits (40) and elective course credits (8) are required to complete the MBA degree program. Students must complete the foundation requirement before enrolling in the graduate level course for which the foundation area is a prerequisite. Each graduate course is offered for four credits.
Expected time from admission to graduation
A graduate student who enters the MBA degree program with all foundation courses completed is expected to be able to complete MBA core and elective courses in two years if taking two courses per semester as well as two courses during each summer and in four years if taking one course per semester and one course each summer.
Recommended course sequencing
Exhibits 26 and 27 set out the recommended course sequencing for the courses consistent with the semesters in which it is planned to offer the courses for students taking two courses per semester and one course per semester respectively.
Exhibit 26 - Course Sequencing - 2 Year Program
| First Semester | Second Semester | Third Semester | |
| Year 0 | 12.621 Financial Accounting 12.610 Economic Analysis |
12.632 Managerial Accounting 12.643 Marketing Theory |
12.676 Statistical Analysis for Managers |
| Year 1 | 12.962 Economics of Organizational Design 12.976 Quantitative Analysis |
24.904 Management Leadership 12.915 Business and Its Environment |
12.974 Operations Management 12.909 Information Technology in Business |
| Year 2 | 12.978 Financial Management 12.951 Human Resource Management |
12.942 Marketing Management 12.984 Advanced Topics in Strategic Management |
12.960 Project Management* 12.945 Investments* 12.950 Labor Management Relations* 12.930 International Business* |
Exhibit 27 - Course Sequencing - 4 Year Program
| First Semester | Second Semester | Third Semester | |
| Year -1 | 12.621 Financial Accounting | 12.632 Managerial Accounting | 12.676 Statistical Analysis for Managers |
| Year 0 | 12.610 Economic Analysis | 12.643 Marketing Theory | 12.676 Statistical Analysis for Managers |
| Year 1 | 12.962 Economics of Organizational Design | 12.915 Business and Its Environment | 12.909 Information Technology in Business |
| Year 2 | 12.976 Quantitative Analysis | 24.904 Management Leadership | 12.974 Operations Management |
| Year 3 | 12.951 Human Resource Management | 12.942 Marketing Management | 12.960 Project Management* 12.945 Investments* 12.960 Project Management* 12.950 Labor Management Relations* 12.930 International Business* |
| Year 4 | 12.978 Financial Management | 12.984 Advanced Topics in Strategic Management | 12.960 Project Management* 12.945 Investments* 12.960 Project Management* 12.950 Labor Management Relations* 12.930 International Business* |
Summary display of credits by course category
Exhibit 25 gives a summary of the credits by course category.
| Courses | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| MBA Foundation Courses | 5 | 20 |
| MBA Core Courses | 10 | 40 |
| MBA Elective Courses | 2 | 8 |
Course descriptions
Full descriptions of core; elective and foundation courses are given in Appendix O.
Certification, licensures and specialized accreditation
Framingham State College will investigate accreditation for its undergraduate and graduate business programs within the next three years and is investigating the most appropriate accrediting organization for our program, mission, and type of institution.
Procedures and arrangements for independent work, internship or clinical placement
Special arrangements for a directed or independent study may be undertaken by a student under the auspices of a faculty member and approval by the MBA Coordinator, and by the Dean, Division of Graduate and Continuing Education.
MBA Advisory Council
In collaboration with the Department of Economics and Business Administration, the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education is in the process of establishing an MBA Advisory Council consisting of executives occupying key managerial roles in business, industry, government, education, health, and non-profit organizations. The Council will provide input to the MBA Steering Committee for use in program review and evaluation, formulation of innovative curricula, participation in MBA classes, identifying intern opportunities, and supporting faculty research and development. The Council will be chaired by a key executive and meet two times a year.
V. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND RIGOR
VI. FACULTY
VII. ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION
VIII. RESOURCES
IX. EXTERNAL REVIEW
Why have I included this page?
I included this page for three reasons:
- jQuery:
- Teamwork:
- Mary Rogers
- Janet Castleman*
- Ron Sundberg*
- Karen Perman
- Sandra Rahman
- Tom Anderson
- Fahlino Sjuib
- Andrew Hall
- A "quality" project:
It is an example of my use of the power of jQuery.
The document exemplifies teamwork.
I contributed significantly to the Team.
The Team Members
Faculty and *administrators at Framingham State College
The MBA Program was approved unanimously by the BHE in the Fall.
Framingham State College President, Tim Flanagan, wrote:
“I was told by Chancellor Plummer that her staff regarded the proposal as among the strongest that they have ever seen. Its unanimous approval by the Academic Affairs Committee and the BHE as a whole is testimony to the quality of your work.”
.svg.png)
site. Visit my
sites.