Nov 23, 2024  
Fitchburg State University 2015-2016 Graduate Catalog 
    
Fitchburg State University 2015-2016 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Business Administration, Human Resources Management Concentration, M.B.A.


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MBA—Master of Business Administration


Graduate Program Chair

Joseph McAloon, MBA

Graduate Committee
Diane Caggiano, JD James T. Noonan, PhD
Beverley Hollingsworth, PhD Charles Wellens, MBA
Kwahng Kim, PhD Christine Shane, PhD
Michael Leamy, EdD  

Program Objectives

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program is  necessary to become leaders in business and in administration. It seeks to develop decision makers with strong analytical skills who are socially responsible, sensitive to cultural diversity and aware of the broadening world market. The MBA Program is also offered as a fully online program.

Program Description

The MBA program is comprised of three course clusters, including 24 credits of a foundation level core and 30 credits from an advanced core and specialized concentrations.

To complete the degree students must fulfill the following:

Eight courses (24 credits) at the foundation level

The foundation courses provide essential background knowledge regarding accounting, economics, management, marketing, finance, quantitative analysis, business law and  data processing. It is assumed that most students entering the program with an undergraduate degree in business administration will be able to waive these foundation courses. Life experience credit may be used for waiver of some of the foundation courses based on evaluation and recommendation of a faculty committee.

Six courses (18 credits) in advanced core

In the advanced core students acquire advanced skills and knowledge regarding current business and management practice and methodology.

Three specialized concentrations

The specialized concentrations are in the fields of accounting, human resources management and management. Each concentration includes three specialized courses and one free elective.

The Online MBA Program

The Online MBA Program is designed to provide the students with the same skills, knowledge and overall experience as students in the traditional program. The online version employs a cohort group model and is accelerated so that it may be completed in a seventeen month time frame. The Online MBA currently offers the Management and Human Resource Management concentrations.

Admissions Standards and Criteria

We are accredited by The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). To enroll in the Master of Business Administration Program, a student must submit documents as outlined in the graduate admissions section as well as:

  • The official results of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

In addition to the university’s standard admission requirements for Master’s degree programs, all applicants are expected to have:

  • An undergraduate GPA not less than 2.8
  • GMAT/GRE test results are expected to be in the 50th percentile or greater
  • TOEFL scores for natives of non-English speaking countries
  • A formula score of not less than 1000 Formula=(200 X undergraduate gpa) + GMAT/GRE score

Applicants whose formula score is less than 1000 but whose record exhibits promise in other ways may be admitted. No more than 10 to 20 percent of MBA candidates are accepted under these circumstances.

Applicants to the MBA program who hold a bachelor degree in business are usually ready to begin the graduate - level coursework immediately, assuming that they have suitable background through Undergraduate Foundation Core Courses:

  • BSAD 1700 - Introduction to Computer Information Systems for Business (or equiv.) 3 cr.
  • BSAD 3200 - Principles of Management 3 cr.
  • BSAD 3300 - Fundamentals of Marketing 3 cr.
  • BSAD 3400 - Basic Finance 3 cr.
  • BSAD 3500 - Business Law I 3 cr.
  • ECON 1200 - Principles of Economics, Micro 3 cr.

Students who do not hold a bachelor degree in business, or do not have the equivalent in professional experience, may need to take some or all of these foundational courses at the undergraduate level concurrently or before they can begin the graduate courses. Determination is made by the Graduate Program Chair.

Program of Study


Concentration Electives


The specialization in accounting, human resources management or management include a free elective. To satisfy the requirement, the student chooses a course from any of the MBA course offerings or, with permission of the Graduate Program Chair, a course from another graduate discipline. Selected topics courses may be counted as directed electives only with prior approval of the graduate program chair.

Specialized Concentrations


Human Resources Management Concentration


A. Advanced Core Courses 18 cr.


Subtotal 9 cr.

C. Approved Elective 3 cr.


Total for Degree: 30 cr


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