Master of Business Administration Requirements

The Seidman MBA curriculum balances hands-on experience with solid business theory and principles. A faculty-driven emphasis on applied research and participation in working groups fosters an environment where you develop your ability to creatively solve problems, to innovate, to persuade, and to advocate ideas.

The Seidman MBA program is 33 credits, and at the heart of the program are four core classes to intensify and integrate the breadth and depth of business knowledge. The focus is applied, specific, and practical.

Core (13.5 Credits)
You must complete the following five courses.

BUS 610	Management Information Systems & Org. Processes	3 credits
BUS 631	Leadership and Organizational Dynamics	3 credits
BUS 671	Global Competitiveness	3 credits
BUS 677	Ethical Problems & Perspectives	1.5 credits
BUS 681	Strategy	3 credits

Directed Electives (12 Credits)
You must complete at least four of the following five courses designed to refine skills and knowledge in your areas of interest.

ACC 611	Managerial Accounting	3 credits
ECO 641	Managerial Economics	3 credits
FIN 621	Financial Policy for Managers	3 credits
MGT 661	Operations Management	3 credits
MKT 651	Marketing Management	3 credits

Electives (7.5 Credits)
You choose an additional three courses, bringing the total 600-level credits to 33.

The Five Core Courses

BUS 610-- Management Information Systems & Org Processes
This course will examine common, operational-level organizational processes to understand the nature of such processes and the role of data and management information systems (MIS) in facilitating and integrating organizational processes.  In addition, the course will provide an understanding of the strategic role of information systems in organizations and responsibilities of managers to effectively manage their information resources. Prerequisite: MGT 510.  Offered every semester.  Three credits.

BUS 631 -- Leadership and Organizational Dynamics
Develops skills essential to working effectively with others. Specific course objectives are to:  

• Analyze behavior in organizations
• Determine what actions are appropiate for different situations
• Acquire a larger repertoire of behavior or skills

BUS 671 -- Global Competitiveness
Explores how firms become global and sustain their global positions. The course integrates other areas of business, such as marketing and finance, into the basic idea of managing international organizations.

BUS 677-- Business Ethical Problems & Perspectives
The study of ethical problems commonly encountered in modern global business environments.  Students will study the ethical issues of character, leadership, decision-making, organizational governance and social responsibility. 

BUS 681 -- Strategy
The Seidman MBA capstone course in corporate and business strategy. It focuses on managing for high performance by examining how companies can sustain success through appropiate strategies.

The Directed and Other Electives

Beyond these CORE courses, candidates for a Seidman M.B.A. advance through a choice of DIRECTED ELECTIVES to refine skills and knowledge in areas of interest to each candidate.  Students select four DIRECTED ELECTIVES from the following list:

• Managerial Accounting
• Financial Policy for Managers
• Business Economics
• Marketing Management
• Operations Management

Seidman M.B.A. candidates also complete three other ELECTIVES to maximize personal and professional development, choosing from engaging and challenging graduate-level courses available at Grand Valley State University in the areas of accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing.

The MBA Emphasis Areas

The M.B.A. is a degree of breadth rather than depth.  However, for a variety of reasons, some M.B.A. candidates benefit by completing all electives in one area.  Students earning the Seidman M.B.A. may choose all three electives in one area if they choose to complement the breadth of the degree with some depth in a functional area.

The Seidman M.B.A. also offers students an official emphasis in Innovation and Technology Managment as well as an emphasis in Health Sector Management.

For brief descriptions of all graduate business courses, including elective options, please refer to page 252 of the 2007-08 Grand Valley State University catalog.
www.gvsu.edu/catalog/catalog0708.pdf