NON-RESIDENT RESEARCH AND DISSERTATION

Catalog description

(Pass/Fail, 1 credit) THEO 699 RESIDENT RESEARCH AND DISSERTATION (Pass/Fail, 1 credit) Master of Business Administration (MBA) Chair and Director of the MBA Program: Professor John May, Executive-in-Residence and Professor of Practice in Business Mission The Master of Business Administration emphasizes analytical thinking and tools: the intellectual equipment and critical skills needed to understand and excel in business and in most other human endeavors. As a practical endeavor, a business education must include learning and appropriate mastery of the specific knowledge and skills of business, through specialized courses that give students the abilities needed for success. Indeed, business leaders constantly face critical issues that demand informed judgme nt calls, which put a premium on the acquisition of the habit of prudent action. This prudent judgment and action is acquired through professional formation and carried out through directed practice and mentoring. Business can be a tremendous force for good if pursued with right intention and a clear awareness of the truth of the human person. Exercised without a correct understanding of its purpose, business can become destructive and corrosive to the community. The Business program at Ave Maria aims to inspire students to become business leaders informed and governed by Christian ideals. The business program is animated by the Catholic view of the human person, his nature, and his ultimate destiny. The distinctive character of the program is its belief in the dignity of the human person, in the reality and importance of the common good, in subsidiarity and solidarity, in ownership as stewardship, and in responsibility for the environment. Because students learn to v alue human beings for what they are, not for what utility they bring, they are able to serve the Church and their society loyally and generously. Mary Hunt, Ph.D. (candidate), Assistant Professor of Business and Psychology Gabriel Martinez, Ph.D., Professor of Economics; Director of Online Education John May, MBA, Executive-in-Residence and Professor of Practice in Business Peter Whalen, Ph.D., Ungarino Associate Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship Contact Information Department of Business Professor John May, Executive-in-Residence and Professor of Practice Ave Maria University in Business 5050 Ave Maria Blvd. Email: [email protected] Ave Maria, FL 34142 Grading Scale and Quality Points A 93% 4.0 C 73% 2.0 A- 90% 3.7 F <73% 0.0 B+ 87% 3.3 AU Audit B 83% 3.0 I Incomplete B- 80% 2.7 P Pass C+ 77% 2.3 W Withdrew Incompletes will be granted only when circumstances beyond the student’s control interfere with timely completion of coursework. An “I” will be changed to an “F” if the coursework is not completed by the last day for submitting grades of the subsequent term. The grade of “W”—which does not affect the GPA, but does impact financial aid —is only given when the student withdraws before the last date to withdraw. After that point, a grade of “F” is given. Transcript Policy for Graduate Applicants with an AMU Degree Applicants to graduate programs at Ave Maria University who have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from AMU are not required to request or submit an official AMU transcript as part of the graduate application process. Graduate Admissions will obtain internal academic records directly from the Registrar’s Office to verify degree completion and evaluate eligibility for admission. If an applicant’s AMU degree has not yet been officially conferred at the time of application, a final transcript will be retrieved after graduation to confirm degree completion. Transcripts obtained internally by the university are treated as official for admission purposes. Applicants must still submit official transcripts from any other postsecondary institutions attended, whether for transfer credit, graduate-level coursework, or study abroad, if those credits are relevant to the admissions review or graduate program prerequisites Transfer Credits Upon approval of the program director, credits may be transferred from similar graduate programs at accredited institutions and applied toward the student’s program of study. Graduate students are required to earn 24 graduate credit hours at Ave Maria University to receive a degree from the institution. The student must have received a grade of B - or higher in the course(s) in question for a transfer of credits to be considered. A ‘P’ or ‘Pass’ grade from another institution generally will not be awarded credit towards a graduate degree. Total accepted transfer hours are shown on the transcript. Neither transfer credit hours nor grades are used in calculating cumulative grade point averages. Academic Honor Code The Ave Maria University Academic Honor Code applies in its entirety to graduate students as well as to undergraduates. Application for Graduation Candidates for a MBA degree must submit to the Registrar a degree application form and the graduation fee of $262 early in the term in which they intend to graduate. Application to Graduate Forms are available from the Registrar’s web page. Approvals are given by the academic administration. Any graduation application received after the published date on the application will incur a fee of $37. The university reserves the right to reject graduation applications that were received too late for processing. Institutional Policies and Procedures Unless otherwise specified in this Catalog, the undergraduate student life and academic policies and procedures of the University apply to the students enrolled in the graduate programs. This includes, but is not limited to, policies and procedures established by the Offices of Financial Aid, Bursar, Registrar, Student Life, Residence Life, Campus Security, and Library. Master of Business Administration (MBA) Student Learning Goal and Outcomes Goal 1: Graduates of the MBA Program will grow in competence in the management of strategic, financial, and organizational challenges and will learn how to place respect for the person at the core of management. Outcome 1: Students will enhance their business skills in accounting, finance, economics, quantitative analysis, marketing, management, and leadership. Outcome 2: Students will learn to manage on the basis of respect for individual human dignity (integrity, trust, commitment); awareness of the impact on the person of business decisions (ethical congruence, communication, motivation); and respect for people in service of human flourishing (value creation, opportunity, service orientation), including employees, co-workers, customers, investors, suppliers. Outcome 3: Students will advance their careers in entrepreneurial business management, family business, or social entrepreneurship (nonprofit management). Admission Requirements A candidate for admission to the MBA program must meet all of the following requirements before full admission. 1. A bachelor’s degree in any major from an accredited institution. 2. Seal-bearing transcripts (from all institutions attended) 3. Provide TOEFL Score Report from ETS (for international applicant if English is not the first language) 4. Foundational knowledge of accounting, finance, economics, and statistics. Students may demonstrate acquisition of this knowledge through: a. AMU graduate courses (ACCT 501, ECON 501, FINC 501, and STAT 530), enrolling with Conditional Admission as Non-Degree Seeking Students; b. AMU undergraduate courses (ACCT 201 and ACCT 202; ECON 201 and ECON 202; FINC 201; and STAT 230); or equivalent courses at a regionally accredited institution (or at an institution with an agreement with Ave Maria University). To satisfy the requirement, the courses must have been completed: a. within the last 4 years with a minimum grade of C-, or b. within the last 8 years with a minimum grade of C+, or c. within the last 12 years with a minimum grade of B. 5. An indication of the capability to perform graduate course work based on either: a. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher; b. A post-graduate degree in another discipline; c. At least three years of professional work experience that demonstrates either advancement within a particular competency or management responsibilities for budgets, projects, or personnel; or d. A B or better in each of ACCT 501, ECON 501, FINC 501, and STAT 530 at Ave Maria University (enrolling with Conditional Admission as a Non-Degree Seeking Student). 6. A demonstration of ability to communicate effectively, either: a. an essay in which the applicant communicates his or her motivation for pursuing the MBA; or b. a video in which the applicant explains his or her motivation for pursuing the MBA. Program Requirements There are two paths MBA candidates typically take in order to fulfill their necessary requirements. The paths listed below are usually completed in 12-16 months. All courses and electives are 4 credit hours each. Path #1: Candidates with Business Background 1. Satisfactory completion of the necessary prerequisites: ACCT 501 (undergraduate equivalents: ACCT 201 and ACCT 202), ECON 501 (undergraduate equivalents: ECON 201 and ECON 202), FINC 501 (undergraduate equivalent: FINC 201), and STAT 530 (undergraduate equivalent: STAT 230) prior to beginning the MBA program (see above for grade requirements). 2. 32 credit hours of graduate courses (or transferred equivalents), maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 3. Five required course