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2009–2011 Graduate Catalog

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Master of Business Administration Degree

The Master of Business Administration degree is designed to offer the opportunity for intensive education to qualified graduate students and is available to individuals with undergraduate degrees in the business administration areas, as well as to those with specializations outside the business field.

Students whose previous training has been in nonbusiness fields may be admitted to the M.B.A. program but are required, as a condition of admission, to complete (in total or in part, depending upon the background of each student) the M.B.A. leveling courses. Students whose background is in business, but who have completed the M.B.A. leveling courses seven or more years before entering the program, may be required by the Admissions Subcommittee of the Graduate Program Committee to successfully complete the M.B.A. leveling courses. These courses are open only to graduate students and are in addition to degree requirements of the M.B.A.

Students who enter the M.B.A. degree program must demonstrate proficiency with computer programs commonly used in business applications, including, but not limited to, spreadsheets, presentation, and word processing software. Special not-for-credit courses may be offered to address this need.

Program Admission Requirements. For admission to the M.B.A. program, applicants must meet University-wide graduate admission requirements. Applicants are further considered on the basis of demonstrated potential for success in graduate study in business administration as indicated by a combination of prior academic achievement, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, personal statement, résumé (optional), and references (optional).

The M.B.A. Program Committee evaluates each applicant individually based on the complete package of submitted materials.

A complete application package will include:

• a completed application form
• transcripts from all universities attended
• official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores
• a personal statement
• a current résumé with employment or other experience (optional)
• letters of reference (optional).

M.B.A. Leveling Courses. The following courses constitute the M.B.A. leveling and are required for students who do not have credit for equivalent undergraduate courses. However, no credit for these courses may count toward M.B.A. degree requirements.

Degree Requirements. The M.B.A. program requires 36 semester credit hours of work beyond any hours acquired in the M.B.A. leveling courses.

Candidates for the M.B.A. degree are required to successfully complete the M.B.A. Core courses, which are included in the following 24 semester credit hours:

Flexible or Full-time Status. The general M.B.A. degree allows students to take the program at their own pace, whether on a full-time or a part-time (flexible) basis. In addition, students may switch this status from semester to semester without additional approvals or admissions processes. Samples of flexible and full-time degree plans can be found at the College of Business graduate Web site: http://business.utsa.edu/graduate/.

Degree Options: Students seeking the M.B.A. degree may elect one of three options to complete the required 36 semester credit hours.

Option 1: General M.B.A. Nonthesis Option. Under Option 1, students are required to complete the 24 semester credit hours listed above and 12 semester credit hours of electives. These electives may be taken either in the College of Business (Departments of Accounting, Economics, Finance, Information Systems and Technology Management, Management, Management Science and Statistics, or Marketing) and include courses listed in the M.B.A. concentrations, or in areas outside of the College as approved by the Graduate Program Committee.

Option 2: General M.B.A. Thesis Option. Under Option 2, students are required to complete the 24 semester credit hours listed above, 6 semester credit hours of electives as approved by the Graduate Program Committee, and 6 semester credit hours of Master’s Thesis. See the University’s requirements for a thesis in Options for Master’s Degrees in Chapter 4.

Option 3: Nonthesis M.B.A. Concentration Option. Under Option 3, students have an opportunity to concentrate in a particular area. For the following concentrations, specific requirements for each are discussed under the departments of the College of Business: Accounting, Business Economics, Finance, Information Assurance, Information Systems, Management Science, Management of Technology, Marketing Management, Project Management, Real Estate Finance, and Tourism Destination Development. See below for details on the interdepartmental M.B.A. with a concentration in the Business of Health.

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Master of Business Administration Degree – Business of Health Concentration

This concentration is designed to offer the opportunity for qualified graduate students to study business administration at the graduate level with particular emphasis in the business of health. It will assist students who enter with a wide range of work experience in their quest for advanced leadership and managerial roles within a variety of types of health care organizations.

Students choosing to concentrate in the business of health must complete the 24 semester credit hours of courses containing the M.B.A. Core.

In addition, students choosing this concentration must complete 12 semester credit hours as follows:

1. Required courses (9 semester credit hours):
   
   

   ACC 6763	Legal and Tax Strategies for Healthcare Organizations
   ACC 6773	Seminar in Medicare Regulation
   MGT 6123	Health Care Management

   
   
2. Elective courses (3 semester credit hours chosen from the following):
   
   

   ACC 6783	Accounting for Healthcare Organizations
   BLW 6553	Legal, Ethical, and Social Issues of Healthcare Management
   ECO 6543	Health Care Economics and Policy
   MGT 6133	Organizational and Managerial Issues in Health Care Delivery
   MGT 6923	Health Care Management Internship

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Executive Master of Business Administration

The Executive Master of Business Administration (E.M.B.A.) is a version of the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree program structured specifically for executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs who have significant managerial experience. This five-semester plan of study features cohort classes, lock-step weekend class scheduling, and an emphasis on strategic leadership. The E.M.B.A. is accredited by the AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business—and conforms to its recommended guidelines.

E.M.B.A. Program Admission Requirements. Because of the special focus of the E.M.B.A. program, the application process is separate from and independent of the regular M.B.A. program. Admission decisions are not reciprocal, class size is limited, and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis until all available class positions are filled.

For admission to the E.M.B.A. program, applicants must meet University-wide graduate admission requirements and the following College of Business requirements:

• In general, applicants are expected to meet M.B.A. program admission requirements with special additional consideration given to work experience, life accomplishments, and leadership potential.
• Applicants are expected to have approximately 10 years of work experience with increasing managerial responsibility. Less experienced applicants will be considered if they can demonstrate exceptional accomplishment.
• Applicants must submit three letters of professional reference attesting to leadership potential.
• Applicants are required to participate in a personal interview with the E.M.B.A. Admissions Subcommittee of the Graduate Program Committee.

Applicants who fail to meet these requirements can be admitted conditionally upon recommendation of the E.M.B.A. Admissions Subcommittee of the Executive Programs Committee and approval of the Dean of the Graduate School.

Students are expected to enter the E.M.B.A. program with basic computer skills, specifically in the use of Microsoft® Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Special not-for-credit courses may be offered to address this need. Because of the lock-step nature of the E.M.B.A., students must complete all required courses without exception. There will be no course waivers. In addition, students who leave the program before completion for any reason are not eligible to rejoin the same class in a subsequent semester. Admission to future E.M.B.A. classes is dependent upon successful reapplication. Acceptance in a future program is not guaranteed.

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Master of Business Administration Degree in International Business

The Master of Business Administration degree in International Business is designed to prepare students for successful careers in international management to meet the needs of businesses and economic development agencies at the regional, national, and global levels.

The M.B.A. program in International Business is offered in a full-time sequenced format that allows students to complete degree requirements in 13 months. Some courses require study outside of the United States, and additional travel costs are not included in the program tuition. Independent study and internships outside of the United States are encouraged but not required.

Students pursuing this degree must demonstrate current proficiency in one of the modern languages in addition to English.

Program Admission Requirements. Applicants for admission to the M.B.A. program in International Business are required to meet the same general admission requirements set out for the M.B.A. degree. Additionally, it is strongly recommended that students have two years of full-time work experience.

Degree Requirements. The M.B.A. program in International Business requires 34 semester credit hours of coursework. The program also requires three leveling courses (ACC 5003, MGT 5003 and MS 5003) for students whose undergraduate degree is not in international business. Students in the M.B.A. in International Business are required to take the international sections of all courses. The courses and their sequencing are as follows:

May Mini-mester

Summer Semester

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

M.B.A. International Capstone Experience

1. MGT 5903 Strategic Management and Policy (offered in 3-week mini-mester)
   
   or
   
   
2. With approval, one of the options listed below, to be completed from a non-U.S. location:
   
   
   • A capstone course offered at an approved school
   • An internship
   • An Independent Study (MGT 6953) supervised by a UTSA College of Business professor.

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M.B.A. Online

The M.B.A. Online program is a Web-based, asynchronous degree program offered by a consortium of eight University of Texas System institutions through The University of Texas TeleCampus. Courses taken in this program do not count toward the traditional UTSA M.B.A. degree. Students who cannot commute regularly to the UTSA campus because of distance or time constraints are encouraged to consider the M.B.A. Online program. While all UTSA students participating in the M.B.A. Online program will follow UTSA admission procedures, registration procedures and tuition and fees may differ. Students should consult the UT TeleCampus Web site at http://www.telecampus.utsystem.edu for current information on the M.B.A. Online program and its courses.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Business Administration

The College of Business offers opportunities for advanced study and research leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Business Administration. The degree program offers five areas of emphasis: Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, Marketing, and Organization and Management Studies. The Ph.D. in Business Administration is awarded to candidates who have displayed an in-depth understanding of the subject matter and demonstrated the ability to make an original contribution to knowledge in their field of specialty.

The regulations for this degree comply with the general University regulations (refer to Chapter 2, General Academic Regulations, and Chapter 5, Doctoral Degree Regulations).

Admission Requirements. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. The Doctoral Studies Committee in the major areas will evaluate applicants to the Ph.D. program based on several factors, including academic achievement, standardized test scores, employment history, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and possibly an interview. A student should hold a master’s degree in a business discipline before being granted admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration degree program. Applicants whose graduate degree is not in a business discipline will be required to satisfy M.B.A. Core requirements.

All applicants must submit the following material for evaluation:

• official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework completed
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores from a recent (no more than five years old) administration of the examination
• three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources familiar with the applicant’s background
• a résumé or curriculum vitae and a statement of academic interests and goals
• international students must also submit a score of at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). TOEFL scores may not be more than two years old.

Admission normally requires appointment to a teaching assistantship, research assistantship, or research fellowship. The Doctoral Studies Committee, comprised of members selected from the graduate faculty, is responsible for advising students.

Degree Requirements. The degree requires a minimum of 69 semester credit hours beyond the master’s degree. If a student does not have a master’s degree in a business-related discipline, a minimum of 15 semester credit hours of M.B.A. Core coursework may be required. All students will be required to take 18 semester credit hours of Statistics and Research Methodology courses. Students will be required to take 19 semester credit hours of Ph.D.-level courses in the student’s major area of studies, as directed by the Doctoral Studies Committee. Students will take 9 semester credit hours of free electives. A minimum of 23 semester credit hours in doctoral research, including 1 hour for comprehensive examination and 12 hours for the Doctoral Dissertation, must be completed. No course for which a grade of less than “C” was earned can be applied to the Doctoral degree program and no more than two courses with a grade of “C” may be applied to the program.

Program of Study

1. M.B.A. Core Courses:
   
   This requirement may be met by a Master’s degree in Business or business-related discipline. If a student does not have the appropriate graduate degree, a minimum of 15 semester credit hours must be taken from the following list:
   
   

   ACC 5023	Accounting Analysis for Decision Making
   ECO 5023	Managerial Economics
   FIN 5023	Financial Management
   MGT 5043	Management and Behavior in Organizations
   MGT 5253	Ethics and Globalization
   MGT 5903	Strategic Management and Policy
   MKT 5023	Marketing Management
   MS 5023	Decision Analysis and Production Management

   
   
2. Statistics and Research Methodology (18 semester credit hours):
   
   1. Courses required of all students:
      
      

      STA 7013	Advanced Applied Business Statistical Methods
      STA 7023	Applied Linear Statistical Models

      
      
   2. 12 semester credit hours from the following as approved by the Doctoral Studies Committee:
      
      

      ECO 7013	Seminar in Microeconomic Theory
      ECO 7053	Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics
      ECO 7063	Econometrics
      GBA 7013	Research Methods I
      GBA 7023	Research Methods II
      MS 7033	Applications in Causal Structural Modeling
      STA 7033	Multivariate Statistical Analysis
      STA 7083	Time Series Analysis
      STA 7923	Bioinformatics and Data Mining II: Data Mining

      
      
3. Major Area Coursework:
   
   
   1. Four Ph.D.-level courses in major area; colloquium (13 semester credit hours).
   2. Two directed electives approved by the Doctoral Studies Committee from among graduate-level courses in major area (6 semester credit hours).


4. Free Electives (9 semester credit hours):
   
   Three courses to be approved by the Doctoral Studies Committee. If courses are in the College of Business, two are expected to be at the Ph.D. level. Courses from outside the College of Business must be at the graduate level and approved by the Committee.
   
   
5. Doctoral Research and Comprehensive Examination (11 semester credit hours): This requirement is met by doctoral research coursework and passing the comprehensive examination.
   
   
6. Dissertation Research (minimum 12 semester credit hours)

The initial Program of Study must be approved by the Doctoral Studies Committee and must be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School for final approval.

Advancement to Candidacy. Advancement to candidacy requires a student to complete University and program requirements and to pass a written qualifying examination following completion of course requirements in the candidate’s major field of study. The examination is administered by the Doctoral Studies Committee. No more than two attempts to pass qualifying examinations are allowed. Results of the written and oral examinations must be reported to the Doctoral Studies Committee, the Dean of the College, and the Dean of the Graduate School. Admission into the doctoral program does not guarantee advancement to candidacy.

Dissertation. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research by completing and defending an original dissertation. The research topic is determined by the student in consultation with his or her supervising professor. A dissertation committee, selected by the student and supervising professor, guides and critiques the candidate’s research. The completed dissertation must be formally presented to and approved by the Dissertation Committee.

Following an open presentation of the dissertation findings, the Dissertation Committee conducts a closed meeting to determine the adequacy of the research and any further requirements for completion of the dissertation. Results of the meeting must be reported to the Dean of the College and to the Dean of the Graduate School.

Awarding of the degree is based on the approval of the Dissertation Committee, approved by the Dean. The UTSA Dean of the Graduate School certifies the completion of all University-wide requirements.

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