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Graduate Catalog 08-09
Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education
McKelvie Hall, 102 W. Rosedale Avenue
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2943
fax: 610-436-2763
gradstudy@wcupa.edu
Revised March 2008
Master of Business Administration Program
| Faculty | Program Description | Degree Requirements |
Graduate Business Center
1160 McDermott Drive
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2608
Fax: 610-436-2439
E-mail: mba@wcupa.edu
Dr. Christ, M.B.A. Director
West Chester University offers an M.B.A. program which is
All courses meet at the off-campus Graduate Business Center. Requirements and courses vary by concentration. Students have full access to all University resources.
The University's M.B.A. program seeks motivated individuals with diverse backgrounds who have demonstrated quality performance as an undergraduate.
The West Chester University M.B.A. program is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, an international accrediting agency for quality business management programs.
Cohort M.B.A.
The cohort M.B.A. is designed for experienced professionals and mid- to upper-level managers who seek to pursue their degree within an executive-style learning format. The cohort M.B.A. is an accelerated learning approach that allows qualified students to earn their degree in as little as 20 months while continuing to work full time. To be eligible for the cohort M.B.A., students must have satisfied most or all of their foundation-level course requirements (grade of B or better if taken at the graduate level) and must possess a minimum of five years' work experience.
Evening
The evening M.B.A. program is designed for a wide range of participants who share a desire for professional growth and career advancement. Students have diverse backgrounds representing a wide variety of baccalaureate degrees, work experiences, and career goals.
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM
Recommended courses (See course titles and descriptions under Accounting, Economics and Finance, Management, and Marketing.)
Curriculum (33-51 semester hours)
I. Foundation Courses (maximum 15 semester hours)
Prerequisites are not applied to degree credit.
M.B.A. students are assumed to have a working knowledge of algebra.
ACC 500, ECO 501, FIN 500, MGT 501, and MKT 501
M.B.A. candidates may have satisfied these required courses if they received a C or better in an undergraduate equivalent as well as their undergraduate degree in the six years prior to acceptance. Before M.B.A. acceptance, applicants may take comparable undergraduate courses to meet the foundation requirements at any accredited two-year or four-year college.
Once accepted into West Chester University's M.B.A. program, students must take foundation courses at the graduate level either at West Chester University or another approved institution. Departments will offer waiver exams for foundation courses upon request. Applicants taking a waiver exam must earn a C grade or better to receive exemption from a foundation course. All foundation course work is expected to be completed before a student can take core or concentration courses. Exceptions to this requirement can only occur with prior written consent fo the M.B.A. director.
II. Core Courses (31 semester hours)
ACC 601; FIN 601; MGT 604, 611, 614, 661, 699 (1);
MKT 603, 605, 699; OR MIS 601
III. Elective Course (3)
Admission Requirements
Students with a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or with equivalent preparation acquired in another country are eligible to apply for admission to a graduate program. Evaluation for admission to the M.B.A. program is based on the following requirements:
M.B.A. Admission Formula Score
A significant portion of the criteria used to evaluate applicants for admission to the M.B.A. program is based on the following:
In general, admission to the WCU M.B.A. will be determined using the following M.B.A. admissions formula score:
(GPA x 200) + GMAT score > 1100
In addition to the criteria noted above, the formula score can be affected to a lesser degree by other factors including professional work experience, quality of previous educational experience, and additional indicators of success. Additionally, students are expected to score in the 20th percentile or higher on the GMAT for both the verbal and quantitative portions of the test.
Applicants possessing a formula score less than 1100 but greater or equal to 1000 may also be considered for admission to the University's M.B.A. program through the M.B.A. pre-qualifier program. Students following this route must meet all requirements of the M.B.A. pre-qualifier program before being admitted into the M.B.A. program. To be considered for admission through the M.B.A. pre-qualifier program, applicants must:
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit all undergraduate transcripts demonstrating quality performance at the undergraduate level; appropriate scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT); an essay on career plans; a current resume; and three letters of recommendation. Registration for M.B.A. courses must be approved by the M.B.A. director. Applicants to the cohort-based programs also are required to attend an information session and have a personal interview with the M.B.A. director.
Degree Candidacy
For degree candidacy approval, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in all M.B.A. courses and a 3.0 GPA in concentration courses, be fully matriculated, and have completed all foundation courses.
Graduation Requirement
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all M.B.A. courses and a 3.0 GPA in concentration courses.
Certificate in Business (15 semester hours)
Students who successfully complete the graduate business certificate may apply to the M.B.A. program; however, these applicants must still meet the requirements for admission to the M.B.A. Grades from courses in the graduate business certificate may be used to assess students' previous GPA as part of the M.B.A. admission evaluation.
The graduate business certificate consists of the M.B.A. program’s five foundation-level courses:
ACC 500, ECO 501, FIN 500, MGT 501, MKT 501.
Course Transfer or Waiver
Students may use previous course work to satisfy requirements for one course within the graduate business certificate.
The course work must match the requirements for the course and have been taken within the last six years from the time application is made for the certificate program.
Dr. Oehlers, Chairperson (610-436-3422)
Faculty listing and course descriptions for the Department of Accounting.
Dr. Benzing, Chairperson (610-436-3460)
Faculty listing and course descriptions for the Department of Economics and Finance.
Dr. McGee, Chairperson (610-436-2363)
Faculty listing and course descriptions for the Department of Management.
Dr. Arsenault, Chairperson (610-436-2304)
Faculty listing and course descriptions for the Department of Marketing.