| Master in Business Administration
The master of business administration at the University of Southern Maine is designed for students who wish to advance their careers and contribute to their companies. Partnering with the business community, the program emphasizes the skills needed to inform and guide organizational change. Students in the program develop cross-functional business solutions to “real-world” problems and cultivate a broad critical perspective, interpersonal skills, and the analytical tools of management. The program also emphasizes an appreciation of the international and ethical contexts of professional practice.
The MBA program is designed for part-time, working professionals; the program also accommodates those students wishing to pursue full-time study. Evening classes and summer course offerings make it possible for students to tailor the program to meet their individual needs.
The MBA program is comprised of 30 credit hours of core courses and 9 credit hours of elective courses. In addition, 15 credit hours of foundation courses may be required depending on a student’s previous academic background. The MBA is available with optional concentrations.
Admission Requirements
Several factors are evaluated in determining a candidate’s admissibility to the MBA program. Included in the assessment of a candidate’s potential to perform satisfactorily in the MBA program are the undergraduate grade point average (GPA), the rigor of the undergraduate’s field of study, the reputation of the institution awarding the baccalaureate degree, academic performance in any previous graduate coursework taken, demonstrated potential for successful completion of the program, the qualities likely to enhance educational environment at USM, demonstrated leadership, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score, three letters of recommendation, and a candidate’s record of successful business or professional experience. Fully-admitted students must have a formula score of 1100 or higher and absence of evidence of past conduct that is incompatible with the educational environment at USM. (The formula is: [GPA x 200] + GMAT total score.) Fully-admitted students should have a minimum GMAT score of 500. Applicants whose formula score falls below 1100 or whose GMAT score is lower than 500, but who show evidence of exceptional (a) performance in outside activities, or (b) creativity and leadership, or (c) accomplishment in business, and who show absence of evidence of past conduct that is incompatible with the educational environment at USM, may be granted admission.
Dual Degree Option
Once all prerequisites are successfully met for both the MBA degree and MS in Nursing, JD Degree, or MS in Health Policy and Management programs, a student admitted to each program may earn both an MBA and an MS degree.
3-2 Program
The MBA program allows interested and qualified students to complete a bachelor’s degree and an MBA in five years. Generally, students in the 3-2 program focus on their bachelor’s degree requirements during their first three years, a mix of bachelor’s and MBA requirements in the fourth year, and mostly MBA requirements in the fifth year. Each degree is awarded once the specific requirements are successfully met.
The Degree Requirements
Foundation Courses (15 credits)
MBA foundation courses are not applicable toward the 39 credits needed for graduation. These courses are required for students whose previous undergraduate education has not included the equivalent content. Any foundation course or equivalent in which a student earns less than a C grade (2.0) must be repeated.
For students whose recollection of foundation course content is questionable, the faculty strongly recommend foundation course(s) be retaken or, at a minimum, content material be reviewed independently prior to enrolling in core courses. Students may consult the School of Business Web site or course instructors for information on course content.
All courses listed are 3 credit hours:
BUS 340 - Managing Organizational Behavior
MBA 501 - Economic Analysis
MBA 502 - Fundamentals of Accounting
MBA 504 - Probability and Statistics for Business Decision Making
MBA 505 - Financial Management
Core Courses (39 credits)
Alpha Course (3 credits)
MBA 611 - Introduction to Organizational Change
Accounting (3 credits)
ACC 630 - Management Accounting Systems
Ethical and Legal Issues (3 credits)
MBA 615 Ethical and Legal Issues in Business
Finance (3 credits - select one)
MBA 625 - International Finance
MBA 626 - Strategic Valuation
MBA 627 - Investment Management
Marketing (3 credits)
MBA 660 - Managerial Marketing
Information Systems (3 credits)
MBA 674 - Topics in Information Systems Management
International (3 credits)
MBA 612 - Topics in International Business
Management Science (3 credits)
MBA 670 - Management Science
Operations Analysis (3 credits)
MBA 675 - Production/Operations Management
Capstone (3 credits)
MBA 698 - MBA Practicum
Elective Courses (9 credits - select three)
Courses used to fulfill core requirements above may not also be used to fulfill elective choices.
ACC 631 - Current Issues and Developments in Accounting
ACC 632 - Financial Statement Analysis
ACC 633 - Taxation for Business and Investment Planning
ACC 636 - Professional Responsibilities and Commercial Law
ACC 650 - Financial Statement Reporting: Accounting Standards Research and Analysis
MBA 625 - International Finance
MBA 626 - Strategic Valuation
MBA 627 - Investment Management
MBA 642 - Leadership
MBA 643 - Change and Creativity
MBA 644 - Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation
MBA 647 - Organizational Strategy
MBA 649 - Special Topics in Management: Introduction to System Dynamics
MBA 665 - Consumer Behavior
MBA 669 - Multivariate Methods for Marketing
MBA 672 - Supply Chain Management
MBA 691 - Independent Study
MBA 695 - Internship
Optional MBA Concentrations – Beginning Fall 2009
Two optional MBA concentrations are available beginning with the fall 2009 semester – Taxation or Finance. The nine credit concentration courses replace the MBA electives in the 39 credit hour program. Please see the online catalog for course descriptions not included below - http://usm.maine.edu/catalogs/graduate/index.htm
Finance - The finance concentration consists of nine credits of 600-level MBA Finance courses, beyond the course used to satisfy the MBA Finance requirement. MBA students earning a concentration in Finance will actually take 12 credits of MBA Finance (3 to satisfy the MBA Finance requirement and 9 for the concentration). Students select one from the following list to fulfill the MBA Finance requirement:
• MBA 625 International Finance (offered annually)
• MBA 626 Strategic Valuation (offered every other year)
• MBA 627 Investment Management (offered annually)
• MBA 699 Financial Modeling (offered every other year)
Students then select three courses from the remaining courses for the Finance concentration. Additional courses include:
• MBA 699 Special Topics in Finance
• MBA 691 Independent Study in Finance OR
• MBA 695 Internship in Finance
Taxation - The taxation concentration will consist of nine credits of 600-level MBA Taxation courses. The prerequisite for the concentration courses is ACC 413 Concepts and Strategies of Taxation (or equivalent course)
Two required 3 credit courses – six hours:
ACC 634 Advanced Business Taxation – (Revised description) This course begins with concepts of Federal tax research methodology including communication of research results. The second section of the course considers corporate tax topics including income taxation of corporations, pass-through entities (S corporations and partnerships), multi-state taxation and tax-exempt organizations. Students will write tax research memoranda and client letters as well as prepare relevant tax returns. Prerequisite: ACC 413/613 or equivalent.
ACC 635 Advanced Individual Taxation – (New course) This course begins with a review of Federal tax research methodology including the communication of research results. Then, the course considers topics in advanced individual taxation such as AMT issues, like-kind exchanges and installment sales. The final section of the course considers family tax planning issues including federal estate and gift taxation and the income taxation of trusts and estates. Students will write tax research memoranda and client letters as well as prepare relevant tax returns. Prerequisite: ACC 413/613 or equivalent.
Choose one of the following for the other 3 required credits:
ACC 633 Tax Policy and Administration – (New title and description) This course discusses tax policy, including such topics as how taxes affect the economy, guidelines for evaluating tax systems, and proposals to replace or reform tax systems. Tax administration process and professional tax practice will also be discussed. Course emphasis will be on federal taxes, with some exposure to state. Prerequisite: ACC 413/613 or equivalent.
ACC 699 Special Topics (in Tax)
ACC 691 Independent Study (in Tax) OR
ACC 695 Internship (in Tax)
School of Business Graduate Program Forms:
The above information is based on the 2009-2010 Program Catalog.
Contact Information
Alice B. Cash, M.B.A
Graduate Programs Director
University of Southern Maine
School of Business - MBA Program
P. O. Box 9300
Portland ME 04104-9300
Telephone: (207) 780-4184
1-800-800-4USM, ext. 4184
Fax: (207) 780-4662
E-mail: mba@usm.maine.edu |
