Business Administration

Department of Accounting faculty:
	Professors: Brian Carpenter, C.M.A., Daniel Mahoney, C.P.A., Michael Mensah Associate Professors: Ronald J. Grambo, C.P.A., Roxanne T Johnson, Robyn Lawrence (Chair) Assistant Professors: Steven A. Solieri
Department of Economics/Finance faculty:
	Professor: Satyajit P. Ghosh, Ioannis (John) Kallianiotis Associate Professors: Frank P. Corcione, Ralph W Grambo, Jr., Riaz Hussain, Hong V. Nguyen, Murli Rajan, CFA, Edward M. Scahill (Chair), Susan Trussler Assistant Professor: Iordanis Petsas
Department of Management/Marketing faculty:
	Professor: Gerald Biberman Associate Professors: Alan L. Brumagim, Cynthia Cann, Satya P. Chattopadhyay, Jafor Chowdhury, Irene Goll, Robert L. McKeage, Delia A. Sumrall, Len Tischler (Chair), John M. Zych
Department of Operations & Information Management faculty:
	Professors: Prasadarao V. Kakumanu (Chair), Rose Sebastianelli, Nabil Tamimi Associate Professors: Ying I. Chien, S. Kingsley Gnanendran, Deborah J. Gougeon, Saryanarayana Prattipati

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at The University of Scranton emphasizes the skills and perspectives necessary to succeed in today’s global and technology-based business environment. We attempt to develop in students of high intellectual caliber and leadership potential the knowledge, abilities and attitudes which will prepare them for further studies and/or management careers in this business environment. A significant emphasis is placed on providing an education which will benefit both the student and the local, national and/or international community through that student’s decision-making skills as developed by the program.

Accreditation

The MBA program at The University of Scranton is one of only 19 graduate programs in Pennsylvania which are accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Like other high quality MBA programs, The University of Scranton MBA provides a broad business education, requiring courses in a number of functional areas. At the same time, we permit a degree of customization and a choice of specialization.

The Program

The new, flexible, MBA Program can be designed to meet the specific needs of individual students and employers alike. The Program focuses on ensuring that every graduate meets minimum knowledge in critical areas, has ample opportunity to choose courses that meet self-defined career development objectives and has been informed about Jesuit positions on ethics, sustainability and economic justice.

• The MBA program includes qualifying courses, extending courses, and mission specific courses. If you hold an undergraduate degree in an area other than business, you will need qualifying course modules, to better prepare you for the extending MBA courses. You can also satisfy this requirement by taking a special examination.

• The program’s extending courses are designed to immerse you in the key functional areas of business: Accounting, Economics, EMT, Finance, Management, MIS, Mar­keting, and OM. You must select 10 extending courses.

• The extending courses provide you with the flexibility to tailor your MBA to your interests and requirements. By a suitable choice of courses, you can concentrate in any area. However, you cannot take more than four courses in one area.

• The mission specific courses integrate your knowledge in different areas into a cohesive learn­ing experience based on the Jesuit philosophy of responsibility and justice. They are required of all students.

Computer Literacy: Many courses in the MBA program assume knowledge of computers. Specifically, students are expected to be familiar with 1. Spreadsheet applications and techniques; 2. Database management; 3. Introductory VAX applications and 4. Use of the World Wide Web. Students lacking computer background should inquire into The University of Scranton continuing education courses.

Transfer of Credits

A maximum of six graduate credits may be transferred to The University of Scranton in fulfilling MBA course requirements from an AACSB International-accredited school. If the student is seeking to transfer courses from another Jesuit institution participating in the Multilateral MBA Agreement, the six-credit limit does not apply. The student may check with his/her mentor regarding credit transfer. For other regulations governing the transfer of graduate credits, see the Graduate School catalog.

Class Schedules

Normally class periods are 4:30-7:10 p.m. and 7:20-10:00 p.m. During the fall and spring semesters each course meets one night per week. (Consult summer and intersession schedules for class times in these terms.)

Students may attend on either a part-time or full-time basis. Most part-time students take two courses in each of the fall and spring terms. Most full-time students take three or four courses each fall and spring term, plus one or two courses each summer and intersession term.

Graduate Assistantships

A number of graduate assistantships are available for outstanding full-time MBA students in each year. The assistants may work with The Kania School of Management faculty in their research and other academic duties, in Information Resources or in other University offices. Assistants receive a stipend and are eligible for a tuition scholarship.

Qualifying Courses

Students entering the MBA program should have the background to take courses at the MBA level. Students who do not have the necessary background can remedy that by taking appropriate qualifying courses. The following courses are designed specifically to meet the needs of these students.

Each course is divided into three one-credit modules. The students can take different modules to satisfy specific requirements. Each module will run for approximately five weeks so that the three-credit course lasts for the entire semester. The letter of acceptance of a student will show the needed courses and modules that will fulfill the requirements.

A student may elect to take an equivalent undergraduate course rather than taking an MBA-level qualifying course. The student should review the qualifying requirements with a faculty mentor shortly after receiving the letter of acceptance. If there is any disagreement, the student should resolve it at that time with the Graduate Program. A student may not take the core course, or the advanced elective courses, without first completing the qualifying course requirement.

A student may elect to take an equivalent undergraduate course rather than taking an MBA-level qualifying course. Qualifying courses may be taken at The University of Scranton or any other accredited institution. There is no limit to the number of undergraduate qualifying courses that a student may take at other institutions. The grades of undergraduate qualifying courses are not counted in the calculation of graduate GPA. The grades of 500-level qualifying course are, however, included in the cumulative graduate GPA. A student may take qualifying, core, and advanced courses simultaneously.

A student may also satisfy qualifying-course requirements by taking a challenge examination to demonstrate the requisite ability to pass the core-level courses. A student should contact the appropriate Department Chair to schedule a challenge examination.

Admission Requirements

Submit a completed application form, $50 fee, three letters of recommendation, an official undergraduate degree transcript, and GMAT score.

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is a test designed to measure certain mental abilities which have been found to be indicators of success in graduate programs in business. This test is required of all students. Registration for the GMAT may be made via telephone (1-800-GMAT-NOW) or via web site (http://www.gmat.org). Visit the GMAT web site for more information about the computer-adaptive test.

Admission to the MBA program is based on a combination of four indicators: previous academic performance; the applicant’s GMAT score; letters of recommendation; and prior work experience, although prior work experience is not a precondition for admission. Particular attention is paid to the candidate’s previous academic record and performance on the GMAT.

International students, whose native language is not English, are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English by achieving a score of at least 500 on the paper-based TOEFL test or 173 on the computer-based TOEFL test. Applicants scoring less than the required scores are not admitted to the program. Applicants scoring less than 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test are required to complete satisfactorily a course in English Language Proficiency. Students who do not do so prior to their first semester must enroll in the University's English as a Second Language (ESL) course during their initial regular semester at the University of Scranton. Successful completion of the ESL course requires that students pass the TOEFL at the 550 (paper) or 213 (computer-based) level. Students who have not passed the ESL by the end of their second regular semester will not be permitted to continue their program until the English proficiency requirement has been met.

Combined B.S./M.B.A. Degree in Accounting

The Accounting Department offers a specialized program to undergraduate students majoring in accounting that enables them to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and an MBA. This bachelor’s/master’s program was designed in response to the adoption by most states of a 150-credit-hour educational requirement to become a Certified Public Accountant. With judicious course scheduling, students can complete this program within five academic years.

The opportunity to take graduate courses prior to completing a baccalaureate degree is conditional upon acceptance into The Graduate School. Minimum admission requirements include an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the major and 2.75 overall. During the junior year, interested undergraduate students should submit an application, three letters of reference, a prospectus of study, a GMAT score, and an application fee to The Graduate School. Students accepted into The Graduate School are expected to maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 for all graduate courses.